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What does it mean: " To have no loss of awareness during a seizure." Characteristics of Seizure behaviour. The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. It is made up almost entirely of nerve cells. At any given moment there are millions of electrical impulses running through the brain. The brain is constantly receiving and responding to hundreds of messages from the environment and the internal organs of our body. A seizure is a disruption in the normal pattern of these electrical impulses in the brain, caused by the brain cells firing simultaneously at a much faster rate. Depending on where a seizure starts and spreads in the brain, they can result in changes in:
Some seizures are severe and recognised as a seizure, whilst others are subtle and may not be noticed by most people. Picture it: See the diagram of the brain below here.
There are two major groups of seizures. 1 Partial seizures
2 Generalised seizures Generalised seizures are the result of abnormal activity in the whole brain simultaneously. Because of this, consciousness is lost at the onset of the seizure. There are many types of generalised seizures.
Click the picture below to enlarge it for a diagram of Seizure Classification.
Someone may experience a seizure and realise that they are having one without also losing awareness of the world around them or the task at hand. As opposed to losing awareness during another type of seizure such as a complex partial seizure. |
Characteristics of Seizure behaviour. Seizures are characterised by changes in the following areas:
tingling or burning
Jerking of legs and arms, chomping and grinding of teeth. Pulling at hair or clothes.
increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, blushing, nausea, pallor
Sometimes the feeling of having been here before. Hallucinations - seeing or hearing things which are not there., A characteristic taste or smell, sometimes of strong tea or metal etc - which may be the confirmation or Aura for the seizure), Emotions such as fear or dread of nothing in particular, which makes no logical sense to others or to the person having the seizure.
These are the most generally recognised of all seizures. They may begin with a shout, by the sufferer followed by falling to the ground. Consciousness is lost during which the person becomes tonic or stiff and then becomes clonic or commences to jerk. Breathing is shallow or may stop for a short period causing the lips and complexion to look grey/bluish. If the tongue is bitten saliva and or blood may come out of the mouth, and there may be loss of bladder and or bowel control. The seizure usually lasts approximately 2 minutes, though up to ten minutes is not unusual for some sufferers, and this is followed by a period of confusion, agitation, or sleep. Headaches and soreness are common afterwards.
These seizures
usually begin in childhood, and there is sometimes a family history. They
are commonly mistaken for daydreaming and in-attentiveness.
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Atonic seizures are a very sudden, brief loss of muscle tone of the
whole body. Once again, the person will abruptly collapse to the ground;
usually head first, so facial, and head injuries are common. No
noticeable loss of consciousness, and usually a swift recovery unless
injured. As I have said, I began having seizures as a child. The ones I experience nearly every day are these three types.
All throughout my life it has been impossible to control my seizures. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on the circumstances, I was able to hide the fact that I have epilepsy most of my working life. I lived a full and very exciting life in which I held a class B licence as well as a pilot's license. As I have said, my seizures were never controllable yet always gave me enough time to evade capture - so to speak. Since I retired and since the Pituitary Tumour has been active my seizures have become progressively worse. These days they are set off by stress, worry, pain as well as from low blood glucose, conversely, when I have a spate of seizures they will cause my blood glucose to go up too high. My life is very stressful because whatever I do, at home or away from home, is governed by my diabetes and epilepsy. i actually experience less restrictions due to my poor vision than I do with the other issues. |
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Seizures are frightening. When experiencing someone else having a seizure most of us would say that it is a nerve-racking experience, that we don't quite know what to do, we are glad to hand over tot he experts etc. I agree here because I am unsettled when Andrew seizures because I am on the outside. It is very scary from my side too! Whether I get a warning or not it is unsettling to say the least because when I am having a seizure I lose all control of the situation, not to mention control over my bodily functions. I t is like being in another world, or being morphed, sometimes I am not sure where I am or what city I am in or even who the people are whom I am with. I sometimes hear things or see things which frighten me - although they are not there, Andrew assures me. Fortunately, unlike Andrew, I recover quickly from my seizures and return almost immediately to whatever I was doing at the time of onset.
Epilepsy First Aid Jessica’s Epileptic Seizures Things to remember, NOTE, In a Seizure, or with a low B.G.L: Answers, I’m ok, to all questions. Pulls at her hair. Pulls at her cloths. Also giggles, when she is hurt or in pain. Giggles, even In a Seizure. May have a change in awareness, behaviour. May have a loss of awareness May also show abnormal activity or behaviour. Has side tremors in her right hand or right foot or both right hand and foot Epilepsy First Aid DO Remain calm DO Gently guide to avoid harm DO Place something soft under head DO Protect from harm DO Loosen tight neckwear DO Maintain privacy and dignity DO Time the seizure DO Roll onto side only after jerking stops OR immediately if vomited DO Observe and reassure until recovered DO Stay with person DO Repeat missed information DO NOT DO NOT Apply CPR/EAR, until the jerking stops. DO NOT Move person unless in danger DO NOT Put anything in their mouth DO NOT Restrain unless in danger If seizure occurs in a car If seizure occurs while seated in a car, support their head and leave safely strapped in seat until seizure is finished. If there is food, water or vomit in their mouth, remove person from seat and roll onto their side immediately In an Emergency. The carer may override Jessica’s decisions, and take appropriate action and If you are worried, or in any doubt, call an ambulance (000) and Say, “This is, an Epilepsy emergency” Jessica must follow the advice of the ambulance officers at all times!
When to call an ambulance (000): When you need to call an ambulance what to do and say 1. Dial 000 (Police Fire or ambulance) when answered ask for ambulance 2. when the ambulance operator answers, Say, “This is, a Diabetic Emergency” 3. Say the address were you are, any Land marks, and nearest cross Streets
You must call an ambulance if: 1. IF: A seizure lasts longer than 10 minutes 2. IF: The jerking lasts longer than 5 mins 3. IF: Another seizure follows quickly 4. IF: Food or water is in mouth during seizure 5. IF: The seizure has occurred in water 6. IF: The person has breathing difficulties after the jerking stops 7. IF: You arrive after the seizure has started 8. IF: Injury has occurred 9. If: Jessica does not recover within 15 minutes: 10. If: Jessica is unconscious, 11. If: Jessica Is Unable to co-operate or respond, 12. If: Jessica will not co-operate or respond, 13. If: Jessica cannot co-operate or respond,
If you are unable to get 000, on a mobile try dialling 112 Signed A J Blair.
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