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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Funny turn. AIBU to call it a one-off? Focal Seizure?

52 replies

Chairshame · 27/12/2019 02:51

Name changed. I’m a bit embarrassed.

Big family dinner today, plus massive period plus getting over a rotten cold. All a bit stress but not overly so.
I felt a bit odd, like the floor was coming up towards me so I had a sit down and then powered on. Mentioned to DH the floor felt like it was moving.
I got a visual migraine, jagged flashing lights and no pain. For the absolute life of me I couldn’t work out how many chairs we needed. I knew we needed to seat 9 for dinner and had 9 plates ready but I couldn’t work out that therefore 9 people = 9 chairs. Then I forgot the cutlery. I felt so odd that I asked my mum to carve and plate up the dinners instead of everyone serving themselves, and I sat in the front room and gave myself a talking to.

Then I went back in the kitchen/dining room and DH said that there was lots of hubbub, the kids coming in and out and I’d just stopped in the middle of the room. He asked me a question and said I took ages to answer and the words came out very slow. I knew something was odd but I was busy focussing on everyone else. I also felt incredibly hot and tingly, like when you’ve got into a warm bath. DH said he thought I was having a stroke or something (he has no idea about what that might be, just that something was going on) but then I felt MCUH better and was happy and chatty and had a lovely dinner and played cards with everyone. I am totally knackered now but I can’t sleep.

My friend with a child with epilepsy thinks it’s a focal seizure, DH is a bit rattled but I’m thinking it’s a combo of too much rich food and general Christmas stress that’s given me a mutant migraine. I had no head pain at all.

Do I call it a one off or do as my friend suggested and pester the doc about it?

OP posts:
Rubyupbeat · 27/12/2019 08:14

Could it be a hemiplegic migraine? My friend suffers these, at first she thought she was having a stroke each time, but further investigation showed she was suffering hemiplegic migraines.

Her symptoms practically identical to yours, she also gets one sided weakness.
Obviously you must get it checked out, hope all goes well.

Writersblock2 · 27/12/2019 08:14

Auras to migraines and seizures can be very similar, so unless you’ve displayed other seizure activity, I would assume this is migraine related. Nonetheless, I would go to the doctor.

Rubyupbeat · 27/12/2019 08:16

@bretonleopard
Just read yours, same symptoms as my friend, very scary.

purplemunkey · 27/12/2019 08:30

Could have been a mini stroke. I had a similar episode a while ago. I was sent to the stroke clinic and had an MRI as an urgent referral. Turned out everything was fine but I’d waited a week to go to the docs - same as you I didn’t think much of it much then couldn’t stop thinking about it all week. Docs were adamant I should have gone straight to a&e and that I must if it ever happened again. If it was a mini stroke a full on stroke would have been very likely over the next 72 hours. Definitely get it checked out.

crosspelican · 27/12/2019 08:35

Get your husband to write down exactly what happened from his perspective too & bring that with you.

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 27/12/2019 08:51

What I always think is best to do when someone's DH thinks they may have had a stroke, is to ignore it for a bit then seek medical advice from strangers on an Internet forum. If you do see a GP it's fine to leave it for a couple of weeks. Especially if you're busy.

Come on OP. Fuck sake.

Not knocking MNers at all, they have a wealth of knowledge on lots of subjects, but not it's suitable for situations like this! Take some responsibility and get checked out properly ASAP.

(I say that as someone with a serious neurological issue that developed as an adult. Nothing is more important than your health. Nothing. I know it's scary but you have to be responsible and get it checked ASAP. Also please don't feel any embarrassment)

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 27/12/2019 08:53

It's also good advice to get your DH's account written down, or to come with you. I actually ended up being transferred to hospital straight away and they asked my DH to come in to speak to the doctors so they could ask him questions about what happened.

Yeahnah2020 · 27/12/2019 09:28

Could be a tia, epilepsy,bad migraine. Who knows. Go to the Dr.

LostInTesco · 27/12/2019 09:34

It is serious enough for an emergency appointment.

Your brain did something weird. How weird, we don't know. You need your brain to work well. Someone more qualified than us needs to tell you. I'd be looking at a TIA

Doggodogington · 27/12/2019 09:38

I have NEADS (non epileptic attack disorder) can it can be brought on at times of stress/illness/ high anxiety. Keep that in mind, it’s not very well known.

concernedforthefuture · 27/12/2019 09:38

I don't want to scare you but these were early symptoms for a relative who had developed a very serious neurological problem. Please make an urgent appointment to see your GP and get it checked out.

Equanimitas · 27/12/2019 09:56

If I went to the doc what could she say though? Come back if it happens again?

She can sort out investigations. If it was something like a TIA or a seizure, medication may well be appropriate to prevent a recurrence.

WinifredTorrance · 27/12/2019 10:14

I am in hospital now following a weird seizure that sounds very similar to yours. Lunchtime on Christmas Day my vision went blurry. I would reach out to touch things but be reaching some distance away from them. I became confused and couldn’t unlock my phone to call 111 for advice. That’s the last thing I remember. Next thing, I wake up on my bedroom floor surrounded by paramedics. I can’t remember anything from the episode. My husband says I went stiff, shaky, tense, speaking nonsense. I was blue lighted in and I’m still here. MRI and CT clear. Mine could be related to high blood pressure - have you recently had medical checks for things like BP?

Chillyourbeans · 27/12/2019 10:33

I have hemiplegic migraine and your symptoms sound incredibly similar but please get checked out.

Hotpinkangel19 · 27/12/2019 10:37

Until the 'couldn't work out about the chairs' part I would have said Migraine with Aura. But this completely hit me as being like my Mum's mini strokes, she had two of these, just like yours, then 2-3 days later had a large stroke, lost her mobility, independence, speech.
She died 3 years later.
Please get checked out today.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 27/12/2019 10:37

If you're not going to get this checked out as a priority, please don't drive anywhere until you have.

I can appreciate being busy and not wanting endless investigations, but you only get one brain, and this could be something serious. It's worth checking.

Ginfordinner · 27/12/2019 10:39

Can you get a telephone appointment with the GP today? Tell them that you suspect that you have had a TIA. That will get you a face to face appointment today.

Please take the advice of the posters who are suggesting an urgent GP appointment.

RuffleCrow · 27/12/2019 10:47

Get yourself to A&E for an EEG etc.

You may have had a minor stroke but these can come in clusters and actually lead to early onset dementia if left untreated. I'm not saying this to alarm you but because this happened to a relative who went on to die needlessly from alzheimers in his 50s. Please go and get yourself checked out op. Now! Flowers

Aragog · 27/12/2019 10:47

If this had happened to your Dh or one of your children how would you react? Would you want them seen ASAP or would you be happy to leave it for a couple of weeks and wait?

It could be nothing to worry or about or it could be something that needs sorting ASAP. No one on mn can diagnose you.

Everyone is busy at this time of year.
No one wants to have to deal with medical investigations.

However that's the only way you will know what it is and if there is anything you need to be doing to prevent it happening again.

Please organise an appointment and do it sooner rather than later. It would be appropriate to use an emergency appointment for this.

Aragog · 27/12/2019 10:48

Tbh if it had been my Dh I'd have been calling 111 when it happened or heading to a and e.

MontStMichel · 27/12/2019 11:14

DD has epilepsy - she can easily have 6 focal seizures in a day. She often has one and just carries on. She may be tired, but she is awake. It cannot be assumed it’s not a focal seizure, just because somebody does not go to sleep afterwards!

Luckingfovely · 27/12/2019 11:28

Call 111 for advice. Now. Or book an emergency GP today if you can.

We can't diagnose or test for what caused it, but you need to investigate urgently.

JadeDragon23 · 27/12/2019 11:33

Like others I think it sounds like some kind of migraine op. I occasionally suffer with what’s been officially diagnosed as an occcular migraine with ‘additional symptoms’ (which don’t entirely fit the boxes of other types of migraine and change every time slightly).

The first time I had one I’ve never been more terrified and dh drove me to A&E thinking I was having a stroke. I went blind in one eye, kept tripping over and phasing out for several seconds and I was getting my words muddled up.

Ive had several since, and they’ve always been at times of stress - after working a full weekend of overtime and so tired I couldn’t say bread, whilst cramming for an exam, the night before a meeting I was dreading.

I wouldn’t freak out but it’s probably worth a GP visit.

itsgettingweird · 27/12/2019 11:44

My ds is 15yo and had many of these over the years and usually always during periods of stress. He was ruled out for epilepsy as it was thought they were focal seizures. Current thinking is that they are migraines and his blood sugar is linked somehow (drop) because giving him something sugary and then some carbs does help him recover.
Without them he would go into a deep sleep for 3-5 hours with myoclonus. (He gets myoclonus anyway when relaxed due to a neuro muscular disorder.)

But you need a GP to confirm this. I'd want a referral to neurology.

Witchend · 27/12/2019 12:15

So your Dh thought it was a stroke, but happily continued serving dinner rather than calling 999?
I suggest he needs to do a first aid course in the new year.