Any temporal-lobe epileptics out there?

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Just curious...

I'm not sure at all that I'm one of them, but from what I've read about it has gotten me suspicious. Whether I'm one of them or not, my case is extremely mild one.

What I do have, is deja-vu's, very often. And as far as I know that could be considered as a symptom of temporal-lobe epilepsy. And every now and then I get these strange feelings that everything I see, every detail, every spec of dirt is infused with meaning, deep, enticing, hypnotizing so much so that I get goosebumps.

These feelings come about with an urge to shake, but which I can control so that I never do if I'm not alone. I cannot be sure if this shaking is just something I want to do, for it gives me a good feeling since it seems to take this pressure away when this feeling of strangeness comes about.

This is not something that really bothers me, that I would seek any medical attention for it and it's not something that affects my life, except perhaps the absent-mindedness that I've come to connect with these feelings of strangeness.

So if you know you are, then how can you be sure?

 

I get deja-vu's very often, get shaky goosebump feeling and find myself absentminded every now and then, but I blame my lack of sleep.
Your situations seem to be different, with the hypnotizing stuff...

(I do. I'm not making fun of this thread or turn it to an Insomnia-topic)

Btw, Sunset is approaching and birds are tjirping. I better get some sleep.

 

Sorry, but I can't really make any sense of your post. Every speck of dirt is infused with meaning? That sounds more like an Eastern philosophy than a medical condition. But I'm no doctor.

 

Yeah well, all sorts of strange experiences come to people who meditate often, but I don't. At least not in any kind of formal way.

It's not a state I'm trying to achieve, it comes without asking. And I'm not sure if strong, flickering lights might have some affect, but I've never had an epileptic seizure as such, that would be easily identifiable.

I also have sort of memory losses, and at least once I'm definitely sure I've said out loud something I've only thought about, having no recollection of saying it at all, leaving the other person in the room mystified at what I said, and me baffled at her questioning expression.

Sometimes I have some difficulty at understanding what other people say. I can hear them speaking but the meaning of what is said escapes me completely and soon I have no recollection of anything been said at all.

Guess it could have something to do with my capacity for attentiveness...

 

I have read a few books with pathological stuff. The most common thing people do while reading those, is scaring themselves with possible diseases they might have after they had recognized the symptoms.
Don't do that.

The things you told us are slightly unusual, though. So there's one question that pops up in my mind: What did the docter say?
Yes, you didn't seek any medical attention, but why asking a group of dragonslaying, undeadhunting roleplaying geeks iso the specialist?

 

Everyone knows we are experts in everything.

 

It's quite possible one of us is a medical doctor. I play a doctor in my D20 Modern campaign.

 

The things you say you are experiencing sound like you may be having some low-level seizure activity. Some ways this can be checked for are have an E.E.G. performed, be interviewed by a neuropsychiatrist, and (this is the hard part) find a family doctor who takes time to listen to what you say and works hard to resolve your problem and to gain your confidence and trust. If you are having seizures it is expesive to diagnose but easy to treat with medications such as Tagratol? (spelled wrong maybe). I developed these symptoms, and worse, after an concusion I don't even remember sustaining in a car crash. If you truly are having seizures it can lead to other serious problems mental and emotional. If it increases I would definitely consult a physician.

 

If you are concerned about TLE, you should seek medical advice. MRI scans often show a characteristic pattern in the hippocampal region of the brain (shaped vaguely like a seahorse, hence the name, and responsible for matching up memories to cues and emotions, sort-of). TLE is often difficult to treat with drugs alone (even Tegretol aka carbamazepine) and surgery may be indicated.

 

Since it's not that much of a problem, I'm really not into taking any medication let alone surgery for it.

I just want to know what's the cause of some the peculiarities I've been experiencing for as long as I can remember, since my early childhood.

I am going to see a neuropsychiatrist for my absent-mindedness, since this caused some larger setbacks in my earlier studies, since I don't want that to happen again. I've missed classes and courses for no apparent reason, only that I haven't even been aware that they've taken place, or that I've forgotten to assign myself to them, I haven't been able to locate the physical place where the course was, or the date when the course has began and of course that I've simply forgotten all about them.

I just want to know what's the cause, if there should be any reason to be concerned and how much, and that I'd have a plan to overcome possible difficulties I'm likely to encounter.

 

I forgot about MRIs, they are another good diagnostic tool. @ lasgalen, You seem to know a lot about this subject. as I stated I suffer from Post Concussive Syndrom and other closed head injuries.If you could detail some of you knowlage in this thread or here it would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. Iku-Turso I am not trying to highjack your topic it's just that un filtered info on such conditions is hard to find.

 

And it's pretty hard to diagnose as well, so my hopes of getting some good answers is pretty slim, so no worries. Any info related on the subject is appreciated.

[ July 12, 2006, 18:58: Message edited by: Iku-Turso ]

 

Sounds more like you have the symptoms of Photosensitive epilepsy.
Photosensitive epilepsy

Statistically speaking 2 out 10,000 people have it so there is a good chance that someone on the boards could have it. (Although since video games are one of the triggers for seizures, it becomes less statistically probable).

It is actually so common that video games come with Epileptic warnings and good websites are designed to comply with W3C Epilepsy Guidlines .

TVs and even flourescent lighting can set it of.

I used to know someone with it which is how I recognise what you are talking about, though I am definitely no expert.

There is a lot of info on the web about it, hopefully more now than when I looked it up many years ago.

On a more personal level I can tell you that the seizures I witnessed were not the severe incapaciting ones, the grand mal, but were very mild petit mal.

During these I was told that objects and walls seemed to move and distort, but I suppose the effects can be as manifold as there as pathways in the brain.

Using a computer and watching TV were difficult for my friend.

Ramping up the refresh rate on your monitor to 75hz or more (which sometimes requires you to lower your screen resolution and color depth)helps I was told, as does using a LCD monitor (as they do not refresh in the same ways as CRT monitors)

A small portable TV is easier to watch than a large widescreen.

High frequency fluorescent light fittings are used in many workplaces now as even non-photosensitive people were getting headaches from regular fluorescents.

There is a lot more, but that's what the web is for.

I will say that you have to get yourself tested. My friend had a grand mal in their 20s when their career was already established. Only then did they realise that they had epilepsy.

Due to the responsibilty that their job carried, they had to give up their career and retrain in a completely different field.

I am probably completely wrong and there is only one thing I can say for sure. My friend was diagnosed with epilepsy (not hard to spot after they had had a siezure) and then left to fend for themself without any information about avoiding potential triggers (and with no notion about what 20Hz even meant). Seeking out info on the net is always a good idea (except maybe from www.theonion.com).

[ August 13, 2006, 00:04: Message edited by: Ahrontil ]

 

Uh, I've had this one...quite frequently. It's kinda groovy, in an eye-watering kind of sense...

And this would explain why I have a strong dislike to discos. It's not the music or anything I could put my finger on exactly, but I avoid going to those places as an agoraphobic might going to open places with plenty of people in them, wihtout the fear of something of course.

It's not that I don't like the kind of music they play or dancing, but something in there always puts me in a funny mood, a feeling of displacement...I guess it could be the strobe-lights...

 

As far as I recall, the lights pulse to the beat of the music, and then the electrical activity in your brain starts pulsing in time with the lights.

It all happens on an unconcious reflex level, so that you are not aware of it, anymore than you are aware of the effect that any light pulse would have on the iris in your eye.

If I remember correctly, early white strobe lights (as opposed to coloured spinning disco lights) did cause people to have siezures, becauses they were used at a medium frequency (about 25Hz). That is why modern strobes flash really slowly (4Hz). So even though the white stobes are the most obvious suspect, it more likely to be the insipid red, green and blue disco lights that are mildly hi-jacking your brains neural network.

Any steady pattern of flashing light can do it though. Even the sun shining though a pallisade fence as you are travelling along in a car can do it.

There is a lot you can do with computers to make them less photosensitive unfriendly. Cover any flashing LEDs in your workspace. Set gifs to play only once. Make sure that screen refresh rates are above 85 MHz or more (no problem on a modern game cards with the latest card and monitor drivers loaded). If you are highly photosensitive you will be able to see a 60Hz CRT screen's refresh artifacts and be able to tell when an LCD screen is out of phase even by the smallest of margins.

You can use XPs accessibilty options to change the display to comfortable contrast setting and you should work in a well lit room so that the impact of large on-screen flashes is reduced.

These things can help people who are not photosensitive also as everyone has the same unconcious reflex reactions to flickering light (without having their brain pick up the beat), and the reflex may be a hidden source of headaches to people who use computers for hours on end.

I'll have to visit my own doc too, I think I am becoming eclectic.

 

I've noticed this on sunny days when I'm cycling on streets lined with trees. The sunshine flickering gives me this same funny feeling I get in discos. And travelling on sunny days in a fast moving vehicle, like a train, bus or a car always makes me exhausted. I usually "pass out" on such trips; I fall asleep suddenly, without being any more tired than usual. Of course the stedy sounds of a train might do this as well, but this doesn't happen if it's a cloudy day, even if I'd be tired. And after these trips I'm so tired I can't get anything done for the rest of the day.

I'm definitely bringing this out when I eventually get to see a neurologist. This may take a while though. Thanks Ahrontil.