1. Grand Mal Affects It All
During a generalized or grand mal seizure, all areas of the epileptic's brain are involved. Epilepsy symptoms during this type of seizure include loss of consciousness, jerking movements of the arms and legs, biting of the tongue, loss of bladder control and confusion. During a grand mal seizure, the epileptic patient will go through two different stages: the tonic phase and clonic phase. In the tonic phase, the person loses consciousness. An epileptic will then enter the clonic phase during which the muscles convulse for several minutes.
2. Small but Dangerous
Some epileptics experience petite mal seizures. The seizure may last only a few seconds and involve rhythmic blinking and blank staring. Many epilepsy patients are unaware when a petite mal seizure occurs, because it only seems as though they zoned out for a minute. A petit mal seizure is especially dangerous when the patient's driving or swimming. Children with epilepsy will have this type of seizure more often than other types.
3. Partial Seizures Can Evolve
When you have a partial seizure, only part of your brain is affected and you may have mild seizure symptoms. You'll feel confused and experience a slight loss of mobility while still maintaining consciousness. However, in some cases, your epilepsy symptoms may worsen during an episode. A partial seizure can turn into a grand mal seizure within minutes. During a grand mal seizure, you'll lose consciousness and experience severe convulsions.
4. Epilepsy: More Than Physical
Many people focus on the convulsions that affect an epileptic patient during an episode. However, epileptic patients also have symptoms that alter their sensory and psychological perception. You may find your five senses altered during a seizure. Your vision may get blurry or you could think that you hear a noise that isn't really there. Your psychological mindset can also change during a seizure. You may have a strange sense of deja vu, feel irrational or overcome with joy. Sensory and psychological symptoms are more commonplace during partial epileptic seizures.
5. Expect Predictable Symptoms
Patients with epilepsy have a tendency to have the same symptoms each time they have an episode. If you always have partial seizures that cause your hands to jerk, then the next seizure you have will likely consist of the same symptoms. In rare cases, epileptics have different types of seizures each time they have an episode.
