Generalized seizures which involve a wide spread electrical discharge across both sides of the brain come in variety of forms. Let us look at some common types.
Generalized seizures are characterized by synchronous electrical activity throughout the brain. But each type of generalized seizure has a different effect on people. Here is a typical story from the parent of someone who gets tonic clonic seizures which were once called gran mal seizures.
This seizures only last a minute or two but it seems like forever. It begins with an unnatural shriek and she falls and every muscles seems to be activated. Her teeth clenched, shortly after she falls, her arms and upper body start jerking while her legs remain stiff, finally it stops and she falls fast asleep.
A tonic clonic seizure is what most people think of when they hear the word seizure. Although this seizures are distressing to watch, the person having them is unaware. We do not believe that the seizures are painful but people can injure themselves by biting their tongue or straining their muscles. The tonic or stiffening phase comes first. All the muscle stiffens. Air being forced past the vocal cords causes a cry or a groan. The person loses consciousness and falls down. The tongue or cheek maybe bitten so bloody saliva may emerge from the mouth, the person may turn blue in the face. After the tonic phase comes the clonic or jerking phase. The arms and usually the legs jerk rapidly and rhythmically bending and relaxing. After a few minutes, the jerking slows and stops. Bladder or bowel control sometimes is loss as the body relaxes leading to incontinence. Consciousness return slowly and the person maybe drowsy, confused, agitated or depressed. Sometimes, seizures do not have a tonic stiffening and clonic jerking sequence but atonic only or clonic only. Absence seizures used to be called petit mal seizures. Here is a typical story.
Frank, a young man often blanks out for up to 20 seconds at a time. During a seizure, Frank does not seem to hear anyone. He blinks repetitively and his eyes role up a bit. During shorter seizures, he just stares then he continues as if nothing happened. Some days, Frank has over 50 of this spells. Absence seizures usually begin between ages four and 14. they can resemble episodes of day dreaming. If they go on for more than 30 seconds or if there is a lot of movement, then the seizure is called atypical absence which is harder to treat. Here is a story from someone who gets myoclonic seizures.
Each morning, I get these jumps. My arms fly up for a second and I often drop what I am holding. Sometimes my mouth shots for a split second. Once I have been up for a few hours, the jumps stop.
Myoclonic seizures usually last only a second or two. There can be just one jerk or series of several. Consciousness maybe loss but seizures are usually so brief that it is hard to tell. Here is typical story from someone whose husband has atonic seizures.
When Bob has a drop seizure, he falls to the ground and often hits his head and bruises himself. Even if I am right next to him and prepared, I may not catch him.
The sudden loss of muscle tone during an atonic seizure can cause the head to drop suddenly, objects to fall from the hands or the legs to loss strength. This type of seizure is also called an akinetic seizure or an epileptic drop attack. If you have or think you may have one of these types of epileptic seizures, please see your doctor.
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