I have a type of epilepsy called complex partial. Yes, I also have had one or two grand mal (classic epilepsy), but these were in my sleep. I am a sleepwalker and non-hypnotisable. Very interesting, but irrelevant at this time. I regularly have petit mal (as they were known), simple partials and myoclonic. Twice I had an atonic seizure and it wasn't pleasant. This didn't seem to be enough to prompt me to see the doctor, although I did mention it at a medical meeting elsewhere. They referred me, but I heard nothing. Someone mentioned it to my doctor and he told me to go in, but they had subsided at that time so I never did. They tend to come around in sets of 1-4 months (in a row) and then mild symptoms for about 5 months or so. My blue-yellow colourblindness is a symptom of this disorder.

It must be very severe right now, so I've taken all precautions e.g. no video games, low stress (as much as I can in this home environment), low caffeine, no alcohol. I can't go to the doctor as I have no nhs fee exemption and at £7.20/item it's a big bill. My doctor loves to go overboard with the prescriptions. He'd rather be safe than sorry.

I suppose, if it was just that, I would go and pay the huge bill...claim it back later. But I know I will get referred to the hospital again...and I hate hospitals. If I had to stay the night I...just wouldn't. To tell you the truth I'm also really worried about this, it's not just interfering with my life....it gets too much to know that you run the risk- should someone express emotion around you- that you may black-out and become aggressive, violent and mean. The worst is that I can't even remember it, I don't know how many times I have done this where there has been no evidence except people treating me weirdly.

http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/complex.html

That's not the best link, but it does basically hold some information about two of the types I have.

I've told myself many times before that if I have an 'aura' of a complex partial, I should get away from others immediately. Sadly, sometimes it is not a real warning and I've learned to not take it seriously. My auras don't leave enough time before the main event and I often have simple partials without going on to a myoclonic/complex partial/atypical absence/atonic/tonic.

May 24 was a notorious day when I knew they were back. I had been awake a long while, consuming caffeine and playing flash games. I was under a lot of pressure with assignment deadlines and such. You know what happened next, you know the score. I went into chat to say 'bye' to someone, although this goodbye took a lot longer eventually and I ended up missing class the next day from 'coming out' of seizure after seizure. I was going to go to the doctor right then. But didn't. In my family we were taught to get on with it. I remember just after this episode/set of episodes, I could taste lead and started feeling weird, that's how I knew I was going to have more that day.

My friend's father has epilepsy (mainly grand mal though), so I could talk to my friend about it aswell. If anyone knows the route to go to get assistance with these types of seizures, please tell me. I've pretty much had enough of these and will do anything to stop them happening again (especially the CPS, which are causing most of my problems). I was much happier before I started having them (when I was 16).

Well I've got a headache, the sign of having had a seizure...or an impending one. I'm sure it's the former. So before I pass out from tiredness, or have another one, I'd better hide myself away from the world. I've had 2 (?) in a week and that's a sign that I'm not in a good physical state.

I just wanted to write to spread the word about these less commonly heard forms of epileptic seizure. We all know about grand mal, but not many hear about the lesser forms, which can have just as serious consequences (they are also harder to diagnose). I sure have learnt the full effect of having one of these untreated forms. Never leave the damn thing untreated.

 

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/types/partialSeizures/complexpartial.cfm

 

(poi: mine do tend to occur for 3-4 hours if under a lot of pressure. This is because I'm in and out of conscious thought, when I'm 'in' though, it's confused thought...so because I'm stressed from the confusion at what I'm actually trying to do I will fall back into another. This doesn't usually happen when I'm not interacting much with others.)