Out of the blue (possible) seizure?

[ProudScot84]

Really just trying to get my head around this. So on Friday, heading north on the train and for about 40 minutes I have no recollection of the journey. That’s to say I can remember what I was doing, then the next thing is the train station staff are trying to get me off the train - that’s about 40 minutes after I last remember anything.

The whole thing feels very surreal, and I’ve had to get back in touch with the station staff to confirm it did actually happen. They didn’t say I had passed out, but had to help me up from the floor and I wasn’t making any sense. Some how they managed to unlock my phone and ring my wife who came and got me. One wasted 10 hour visit to the hospital later I was home and as if nothing ever happened.

I have had a few days to process everything, and I still can’t quite figure it all out. The hospital did say I would need to inform the DVLA and I wouldn’t be allowed to drive for a while. I can kind of understand that in one respect, but then on the other I’m not actually sure what happened. I was really tired, I had managed about 5 hours sleep over 2 nights, but otherwise everything was fine before and is back to normal again.

I am not sure what I am looking for from this post, maybe just a sense check

Has the hospital or your GP suggested a neurologist follow up just to be on the safe side? If not, can you get the GP to do so?

It could also have been tiredness / low blood sugar so not necessarily neurological though.

Glad you’re feeling better now.

You should go to the GP and ask for neurology. I had a couple seizures and it was really scary. Neurologist found nothing wrong though. Really weird.

Hope you don't have another one x

Yeah the hospital have suggested a CT scan and EEG. I’m very fortunate that work offer me private health care, so I’ve already booked to see a neurologist next week. My other big issue is I’m in a heavy machine industry and my job directly involves 200-300 people on any given day, so I suspect with no obvious explanation that I’ll probably have to finish the career on medical grounds. Others have had to be seizure free for 10 years before being able to return to this particular role

Loss of consciousness and seizures aren’t the same thing. So I’d recommend waiting until you have more test results before telling work you’ve had seizures. Perhaps tell them you had a medical episode but right now you’re not sure what.

It’s good you’re seeing a neurologist but bear in mind you may have a clear MRI/eeg and it still may have been a seizure. I have epilepsy and my tests were clear - my neurologist said that often is the case.
I’ve only had seizures since peri - my brain just decided to go loopy! I had a recent episode which was nothing like my regular seizures so the jury is out on that one. I’d already surrendered my licence anyway - the episode scared me so much (in that I had no warning and can’t remember the lead up), that I’m not sure I’ll be confident to drive again even if the DVLA deem it safe.

Ps: I felt normal v quickly after my episode but unfortunately I had injured myself badly so had to go to hospital anyway.

Good that you’re seeing a neurologist and getting the appropriate tests. Could it have been a dissociative episode?

Thanks for the kind replies.

I am trying to keep an open mind about what actually happened, and the cause. I’ve spoken to the train station staff again, and they’ve now said I took about 15 minutes to get up off the floor, and they thought I was intoxicated by the way I was behaving and acting.

Letter is ready to post to the DVLA, And work have suspended me indefinitely on medical grounds already. Interesting few weeks/months ahead.

The hospital did say I would need to inform the DVLA and I wouldn’t be allowed to drive for a while. I can kind of understand that in one respect, but then on the other I’m not actually sure what happened. I was really tired, I had managed about 5 hours sleep over 2 nights, but otherwise everything was fine before and is back to normal again

You must inform the DVLA. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t had a diagnosis or if you feel ok now. You tell them you had an episode which might have been a seizure. This happened to a friend. She had a one-off seizure, lost her licence but got it back after she hadn’t had another seizure for X amount of time and after medical investigation. I want to say she got it back after 12 months but it might have been a bit longer. Hers was a one-off seizure and she hasn’t had another one since.

Try not to worry. I hope you’ve managed get an answer as to what it was.

You need to tell work that something has happened- and put on other duties

you can’t keep this information secret as there could be ramifications for you personally if you dont

im really sorry that this has happy you but for your own safety you need to tell them

as fir dvla again you need to let them know

you are eligible for a free bus pass, obviously this is not the same as being a driver but it will give you free access to transport

this would be very hard to accept and can understand your hesitation but it’s needs to be done

My Dd loses time after a seizure. The post ictal phase. Can last up to half an hour. Did no one witness the episode? No one saw you fall?? They just found you?

How did you feel over the following days? Do you feel normal??

How did you feel over the following days? Do you feel normal??

Have you started any new medication recently? One of my parents had an unusual reaction to eye drops that caused low blood pressure and loss of consciousness, no one made the link to the drops until the loss of consciousness and fall (had been feeling a bit out of sorts for a few months after starting them).

Yeah I have advised DVLA by letter today, and hung up the car keys since the event.

My work is highly regulated so I’ve went through the appropriate channels in that respect too.

As for the train station, so I’m not aware if any passengers on the train assisted or if they raised rh alarm or what. The station staff member I spoke to yesterday says that he was advised by the train crew and that I was on the floor about 15 minutes before I came round. As mentioned above, they thought I was drunk so it would appear it wasn’t treated very seriously, but I don’t really know. Very difficult to get an actual account, and of course trying to contact the train company for CCTV footage is almost impossible!!

In terms of how I have been feeling - generally fine / just vary achey - particularly “inside” my body.

Not on any medication. I did however have a couple of mugs of water that were tasting very chlorinated in the couple of hours prior to the event - they had made be feel a little sick. Of course could be completely unrelated.

It sounds a lot like a seizure to me afraid.
No signs of having bitten mouth or tongue? I’m guessing you didn’t lose bladder control?
How has your mental capacity been?
The body aches could be from the clonic phase.

This is so very hard for you, but you've done the right things. Such a shame you can't get more information from the train staff and that they thought you were drunk.

Do get the details of how to get a free buss pass as you've had to give up your driving licence

Yes, if your driving licence has been revoked by the
DVLA on medical grounds, you are often eligible for a free disabled person's bus pass in the UK, as this proves you meet the criteria for having a long-term medical condition that stops you from driving safely. You need to apply through your local council and provide evidence like the official DVLA letter confirming the revocation, along with proof of your condition, for your bus pass application.
How to Apply

1. Check Eligibility: Confirm your condition meets the criteria (e.g., permanent or long-term disability) for a disabled person's bus pass in your local authority.
2. Gather Evidence:
3. DVLA Letter: A letter from the DVLA stating your licence was refused or revoked due to medical reasons.
4. Medical Professional Letter: A letter from your GP or consultant confirming your disability and that you'd be refused a licence, as described in this article.
5. Other Proof: Evidence of receiving certain disability benefits, like the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
6. Contact Your Local Council: Apply through your specific council (e.g., Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire for examples) for the official application form and submission details.

Key Considerations

• Local Variations: Eligibility and required proof can vary slightly by council, so always check your local authority's website.
• Duration: You may need to show if the condition is permanent or temporary, as this can affect the pass.
• Carer Pass: You might also qualify for a pass that allows a carer to travel free if you meet specific criteria, such as needing 24-hour care or help getting on/off buses.

Thanks for all the info, very much appreciated :)

yeah I’ve got the tongue bite too unfortunately

I hope you are ok. This sounds like a very scary event.
I hope my experience helps. I had been working very hard, not drinking eating much in the day. Sat down and dealing with stressful work event. I then finished work and stood up suddenly, I felt really faint but then really sick. I remember opening a window then I woke up on the floor with someone on the phone to ambulance service saying I had a seizure. Jerky movement and bit tongue. I was confused and remember thinking they weren't talking about me and then became insistent that I was fine and feeling like was overreaction. I was told this was normal response. Long story short, investigation done and it wasn't a seizure. I was told it was a vaso vagal attack. Due to blood pressure been sat, combined with adrenaline of work event then sudden relief at work event being rectified the relief and sudden standing up, combined with low blood sugar started cascade of events and basically blood flow, dehydration meant my body tried to protect itself and it got confused.
I think I remembered being told my body due to external stimuli and dehydration, low sugar responded in a way that was like a faint and because the faint didn't quickly help correct blood flow had a seizure like response. However was told it was not a seizure coming from condition from brain, stroke etc.
It really scared me and colleagues all think because our team had to deal with a very sudden crisis was like the body got overwhelmed but my self care and being on work mode and not stopping created perfect storm.
Deffo get neurologist but I would ask for diabetes checks, at very least complete blood profile. Urine etc. you could have had virus putting extra load on the body.
Sad to hear that they presumed you were drunk but it sounds like staff got you good support so reassuring that train staff looked after you. If it makes you feel better while getting tests look at wearing a medical bracelet explaining recent seizure and what to do. If it did happen again then you can be reassured noone would not help and hopefully treatment support is prompt. Good luck.
I've since heard of and met a couple of people who have had random ones and never again. Definitely look into vaso vagal attacks.

Thanks ever so much for your experience - its certainly give some food for thought and some things to consider.

im trying to obtain the cctv footage from the train - neurologist thinks that really may help to paint a picture of what happened, or certainly add a visual prospective as it doesn’t seem to have been witnessed.

DVLA has suspended licence for 12 months, but will review when reports to hand. Interestingly I’ve had pins and needles in one arm and hand in recent weeks, so it’s added a slight extra worry to things - not sure yet if it’s linked or not.

interesting times

Have they referred you tests?

It does sound like a vaso vagal attack. If you were stood and the train was warm then it would more likely to be. Please don't scare yourself too much. I experienced anxiety afterwards just worried it would happen again. But over time I trusted the drs that it was a faint and seizure like response. It is daunting. Try not to worry about DVLA. Good you informed them but I'm sure some basic texts will likely suggest was vaso vagal. Hopefully you carry on as normal.
A good thing you could do to be proactive is to get a BP home kit. You could have naturally lower BP which could predispose you to an attack.
I drink so much water now as my putting foot to floor and not being aware this could happen has changed my entire outlook on making sure I eat drink more water.
If you feel anxious about it, it will pass. I think blood work and scenario history will illuminate any issue more than seeing CTV. Vaso vagal can mimic seizure but the process is different. I hope you get some answers. Scary event but maybe a flag that can be positive that we can't push through work or carry workaholic attitudes without self care like you do in your 20s. Good luck.

Tingling can be a sign of diabetes. Make sure they do thorough blood work. It's also something you can experience with low BP.

Just thought I would update this thread.

Saw neurologist Thursday, and with the symptoms I experienced has suggested it’s very likely to be a tonic clonic seizure.

The numbness I’m experiencing down one side of my body she think is linked - so I’ve been referred for an urgent MRI/EEG. She’s currently working on two potential theories. The most likely is a cavernoma, apparentlyy symptoms fit with that well. Secondly is a lesion, but until these scans are done they are only theories. I’m trying not to get too bogged down with the “what ifs” but I must may it’s hard.

Still waiting for written correspondence from the DVLA re my ban, which I hope appears this week so I can apply for a railcard. Would be helpful as I use the train often.

Work have been great, and I’m signed off Indefinitely. Until we know exactly what’s what I can’t do my usual roll. It’s highly regulated, and I do need to face the reality that there is a very high chance I won’t be able to return too it. Even being on anti seizure medication (if it was needed) stops my role for a minimum of 10 years, and that’s when you stop the medication. So there’s a massive question mark over how that will play out.

Anyway, just thought I’d keep you you updated. Hoping for scans and a diagnosis within 4 weeks or so from now.