Doc has referred me to neurology for a scan and EEG. I'm really worried. Come prop me up a bit.

[dragonbutter]

I collapsed in the middle of the night (again .

Previously i've been told this is a vaso-vagal syncope (a faint) caused by having a poo during the night. In this case explosive diarrhoea (TMI!)

But because i lose consciousness for a little while and am rigid and possibly shaking while i'm unconscious, doc wants me to have a scan and EEG.

The worst part is when I came round i could hear DH crying. It's worse for him. But i stupidly apologise as soon as I come round [wtf?] like i'm doing it on purpose.

'oh i do apologise, i appear to have shit on the floor and made you think i was dying, terribly sorry about that ol' chap'

I'm so worried now, I can barely talk to DH and the kids. I want to curl up in a ball and cry. It's a beautiful day out there and i'm indoors wearing a cosy cardigan feeling horrid.

Come prop me up a bit and tell me what to expect from neurology.

hello?

Jeez, tough crowd!

it sounds awful and very worrying for you both. It is good though that it is going to be investigated - youre on the right path now to getting it sorted.

How horrible for you I have no useful info about neurology but really hope you get seen quickly and it turns out to be some kind of easily fixable minor issue (I was about to say 'hope it turns out to be nothing' but that would probably be more worrying in some ways).

Oh, and I know what you mean about being too worried to talk but if you do manage to talk to your DH it will probably make everything seem less scary. For him too.

Are they worried about epilepsy? My DH - king of Man Flu - has had EEG and a scan and said it was fine.

Oh you poor thing

Were you feeling ill anyway if you had diarrhea? How many times has it happened?

yes, they are looking for epilepsy.

i have to drive for my job too.

Has your GP referred you just for a scan or actually to a consultant neurologist? If the latter (which tbh is what I would expect) then you may find you see the doctor before having any investigations. If you are in England then you have to be seen, investigated and have treatment start within 18 weeks.

I imagine this is very sacry for you all - but it is a good thing that you are being lokked at and hopefully should shortly know what is going on. Then you can look at stopping it. There's no point saying don't worry - so I won't! But do try to stay positive - this is obviously something which needs sorting and you're doing everything you can.

i wasn't feeling ill until i had indigestion early evening, then the stomach cramps during the night that felt like i was in labour.

it happened six months ago, and 2 years before that.

the diarrhoea came and went with the faint/fit. got rid in one huge explosion. (sorry)

GP said he would refer me to neurology for a scan and EEG. he said they will want to investigate further because the symptoms are a bit odd.

of course i can't tell him what happens because i'm not aware of it. I feel i'm going then the next thing i'm on the floor waking up.

this has happened to dp a few times in teh night when he gets up to have a wee.About once every 2 yrs like you Vscary for the onlooker and all over so quick he also says not sure how to describe it.Hope you get it resolved and am going to tell dp to speak to the doctor

If you have epilepsy, you can still drive. You are banned after a fit, but after one year of no fits, you are allowed to drive again. Someone in my family has epilepsy and is allowed to drive.

In fact, I think the law is different for night-time epilepsy, you get your license back within 6 months (I think -- might have got that a bit wrong).

Remember, you will be put on medication if it is epilepsy and it has a very good chance of stopping the episodes completely, so PLEASE don't think you'll never be allowed to drive again as that is not true!

thanks beautiful. i know it doesn't mean not driving forever. but my job really does mean i need to drive around seeing people at home, so i wouldn't be able to do my job for as long as it would take to get my license back.

i know, epilepsy isn't the end of the world really as i know a few people who have it well controlled. but i'm just scared.

what's involved in the EEG?

db - someone close to me has had similar experiences. he hasn;t yet had a diagnosis or all the test results - but they've already given him medication and he says he's feeling massively better. he almost didn;t realise how bad he was feeling until the medication kicked in. He can;t drive at the moment but hopefully that might be revised. it's a lot more common than you think - as soon as I mention it to friends they all seem to know someone in a similar boat - and they're all coping. my top tip for seeing consultants (I wheel it out all the time) is to ask them who you can phone if you have questions - because almost certainly you will have, and you'll think of them the next day/week and won't know what to do. second tip is take dh or a friend with you - in your case important because dh sees what happens when you loose consciousness, but always important for thinking of questions, remembering what the consultant said, and general support.

thanks hatwoman (and everyone else)
i don't feel ill today, just tired from all the shenanigans last night.
but i'm so teary. suppose that will be shock. i'm feeling sorry for myself now.
and i can't tell my mum, she'll worry and she has enough on her plate right now.
thank goodness for mumsnet.

My DP has attacks similar to those you describe. It starts with violent stomach pains and then the runs and he feels 'not quite right', he knows something is going to happen. It usually ends with a collapse and then he is violently sick. When he comes round he is worn out for hours and just has to sleep.

It's almost two years now since he last had an attack which is good as it was happening two or three times a year, for no apparent reason and just out of the blue and had been going on for a number of years.

He was hospitalized for tests when it first happened and was given a dx of atrial fibrillation but more recent and very extensive tests showed nothing to worry about. Epilepsy was also ruled out. The consultant said he was simply suffering from fainting fits, nothing more than that. It is still very shocking and very worrying when it happens though. Luckily, he is now able to tell when it is going to happen because of the stomach pains, the diarrhea and feeling 'not quite right'.

I hope this helps a little and I hope you get sorted soon x

thanks timeforme.
yes i recognised it was going to happen.
DH moved things out of the bathroom and put towels down for a softer landing.
i also started to try to get on the floor so i didn't fall to far.

I have a pounding headache now.
The main worry is what if i was alone when it happened?

can i have some more stories from people who've experienced this and it turn out to be nothing.
hopeful.

Poor you. It could simply be fainting, and being unconcious causes the shaking. My dd1 had fainting fits (reflex anoxic seizures), which is something similar, and she is perfectly helathy.

If you are worried about being alone when it happens, maybe consider an alarm button around your neck?

STARS website might help here

It does sound really scary. Could it be something as simple as migraines? Obv very severe ones.

I have had an EEG (2 in fact) after vasovagal fainting (though obviously I didnt know at the time that was what it was). The EEG itself was fine, not painful or anything. The worst thing about it was the smell of the stuff they put in my hair to stick the electrodes to my scalp, it stunk, and I had a 90 min journey home before I could wash it, so the second time I took a bottle of shampoo and washed my hair at the hospital.
I didnt get the results at the time of the EEG, I had an appointment with the neurologist a couple of months later for that.

dragonbutter - are you driving at the moment? If your GP thinks that what you have had is a fit then you probably wouldnt be covered to drive at the moment - your GP would ba able to confirm if it hasnt been discussed already.

And believe it or not the only time DP ever gets a headache is after one of these episodes. He has the shakes immediately afterwards too and he goes the most terrible colour, really ashen. It knocks him for six for a while.

The last time it happened we were at Flamingoland. He felt funny before we set off but he didn't want to spoil our day Well when he passed out and landed head first on a pointy fence he managed to do a good job of it. He made a right mess of his face. Everyone who rushed to help him took a huge step back when he threw up all over the place

Try not to worry too much, easier said than done I know but worrying does only serve to make things worse

GP saic he wouldn't call it a seizure yet as this would affect driving like you say.
so far he's calling it unexplained loss of consciousness.

i've only ever done this from the loo though. never out and about. although used to faint a lot when my period was heavy as a teenager.

bump