What are Focal Seizures?

Welcome to our Understanding Epilepsy Series where our founder Natalie Boehm will discuss what focal seizures are, symptoms of focal seizures, what to do if someone has a focal seizure, and treatment options available.

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[DrOmarDanoun]

Thank you for sharing this useful information... The refractory focal epilepsy is best treated by surgical resection taking out the scar or the origin of the seizures whenever possible and safe to do so. If that is not feasible due to presence of eloquent cortex that is responsible for talking to moving the body then responsive neurostimulation is used if we can identify the focus or vagus nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation devices if we have multiple spots or can't localize the spots.

[dougcrouse]

Great to know, makes perfect sense too good content

[LadieBjj]

I am pretty sure I had this all my life. I used to tell my mom about my feelings and she would ignore it because I couldn’t explain. I have it while sleeping too. I know it’s coming when my stomach drop and I have a strong feeling of deja vu. My vision becomes blurry like I entered a dream. I cannot swallow my food if I’m eating. My EEG came out normal. But when I did it. I didn’t have an episode. My symptoms last for about 30 seconds and afterwards I have blur vision, headaches and tired. I changed neurologists because whatever I have, I want it to stop! I am pretty sure it has something to do with my memory loss and I get scared if i have one while driving. Sometimes I can’t turn and as soon as I feel my stomach drop, I have to park anywhere soon.

[destroyester]

I can feel it coming in my head, like a pressure feeling, so
I relax, and prepare myself to loose control over my body, I lie or sit down otherwise am going to fall, it feels as if am drawing back into my self, i feel like am in the Center of my head while it becomes dark around me. It takes all my energy away while its happening. I feel panicky and scared.
I can feel it in my head at first it’s like a some sort of pressure coming down and consuming me. My brain starts to shut of and I am very sleepy . I get very sleepy and tired when it’s happening. My head falls down to side when am laying down or forward if am sitting up straight, and my eyes close
I start saying prayers in my head because I get anxious.
I can hear things happening around me so am conscious but at the same time I am detached. I can’t talk while it’s happening nor can I respond to anyone or move my body, my body feels limp and weak.. i get a rising feeling in my stomach like when you are in a roller coaster and it’s going down fast, also i get this feeling of nauseousness in my stomach. I start to swallow a lot during it and for abit more after it. It last for about minute and a half max or 15 secs minimum, then I come back again slowly to myself. I feel weak and tired after it.
I feel fine 10 minutes later
When it’s for 15 sec or so less symptoms present themselves and when it longer like a min or so then all the symptoms show.

Or

Annabelle Lande what is witnessed exactly if you you don’t mind sharing hun x

This is what I experience below

I get a warning that it’s going to happen, the warning feels like am going to blackout.
some sort of sensation comes down from my brain and consumes my head and body.
It’s very hard to explain
I get a feeling of extreme dread and fear.
I have started to relax now, and prepare myself to loose control over my body, so I lie or sit down, when it is happening.
(My last one I didn’t have a warning )
The next stage feels as if am drawing back into myself as if am fainting, while my eyes become dark so I close them. Am still aware of what’s happening, I dont loose consciousness. This experience takes all my energy away.
My brain starts to shut of and I get very sleepy and beyond exhausted while it’s happening and afterwards aswell.
My head falls down to side.
I tell my self to be calm and that it will be over soon (in my head) I feel very anxious and fearful during it, a feeling like am about to die. I get a feeling like when your stomach drop when you are on a really fast rollercoaster going downward. It’s aaccompanied with a feeling of nausea.
I start to swallow rapidly during the episode and also a while after it has finished.
I can’t talk while it’s happening nor can I respond to anyone or move my body, and I don’t have the ability to snap out of it
my body feels limp and weak I can’t lift my arms or legs and I can only stare blankly. I don’t have control over my body so
I have to let it run its cause.
As am going more and more into this state, any noises, eg tv, any small talk, cars, radio or whatever else quietens down and for split second I dont hear anything at all but before long they start to pick up the volume again as am coming back to myself.
It lasts for about minute max and 30 secs min
I am aware of everything happening from start to finish
I come back again slowly to my normal self. I feel weak, sleepy and tired after it.

[anissakafka]

Thank you for the info 😓😔😢i just found out I have this

[jessicapospolita]

I Have Them Since I Was I 13 Years Old

[rndom]

Hi, so, after reading these comments, I have found my people😂. But, I'm out like 2 hrs, literally. When I come out of it, my speech is slurry & slow. They can go from 30-120 minutes. I'm out! I get cold, pass out... & I feel like I'm thaw ing out, I get hot.. It takes about an hr to come back full circle. I can clearly hear & understand you, but, I feel like I have to force words out to be understood. I sound like a person who had a stroke. Or I have to use sign language. How come these many people go thru this, but, " there's not enough research !?". I was told, if I had better insurance, I can get better treatment! I've been going thru this since 2011/13. Ish. Can't remember that's another problem. I've had all the EKG & ultra sound & whatever test u can name, 7 sleep studies & many holter test. They can't find anything. Is there a cause or reason? Can it be stopped or controlled? Naturally? I'm often depressed a little, after. It looks like I'm daydreaming, from what I've been told. I can have whole conversations, & pass out, when I come out of it, I can't tell you WHAT we were talking about. I wish I could get at least a answer to what kind & how do I stop em. I'm glad to know I'm NOT self diagnosing & am not crazy. Thanks for posting this!

[vasupareek]

Can you explain what symptoms in focal epilepsy ?

[Irfanraza]

If someone’s hand and one side mouth starts shaking is that a seizure? Repeat time to time Epilepsy 5-10 sec and stops

[aarone]

As much as sezures suck; I am glad that I have focal!

[rndom]

I also thought it was Vasco vagal syncope. They told me, its not, we're the docs, we would know.

[robertm]

I have had a few simple focal seizures. I recently had one recently, but hadn’t had one for over a year and a half. My doctor wants to put me on medicine, but I think I should
Wait. Please any thoughts?

[shardaibailey]

What if you experienced all of the different types of simple focal seizure

[mahey]

My wife have this problem of focal epilepsy please help me