Go ahead and take a glance at this web page which talks about the different types of seizures.

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/types/

I'll save the suspense and tell you that the types of seizures I'm vulnerable to are called simple and complex partial seizures. What's the difference between simple and complex? Well, its easy - when I'd have a simple partial seizure, I'd be conscious. When I had the complex partial seizure, I was unconscious. On June 21, I had about five simple partial seizures, one complex partial seizure, and one grand mal seizure. Like the complex partial seizure, a person is unconscious when they have a grand mal seizure.

Not to divulge other people's juicy secrets, but I've heard testimony from the mouths of other epileptics, and what they've said is fascinating. I've met someone who suffers from myoclonic seizures, or, seizures that cause the muscles to involuntarily contract. This occurs frequently with juvenile epilepsy, which, for many who have the condition, often ceases with adulthood. As it turns out, this particular person had myoclonic seizures when she was tired - either while in bed or early in the morning. I understand how that is, since my seizures occurred at night or in a light sleep. I've also spoken with a person who experiences hourly absence seizures - which often shows itself as a lapse in thought or awareness for any length of time. Both of the seizure types I've mentioned are considered generalized seizures. But, no discussion of generalized seizures would be complete without the honorary mention of the tonic clonic, or grand mal seizure. This is what most people think of when they think of seizures. Convulsions, drooling, eyes rolled back, grunting, biting down on the tongue - all characteristics of a tonic clonic seizure. However, its important to remember that the dramatic difference between this seizure and others is that the misfiring neurons have managed to declare anarchy in the brain and the entire brain starts firing commands to different parts of the body. Its the most extreme version of a seizure, but it all stems from the initial misfiring of neurons, which makes all seizures the same, although symptoms vary. Partial seizures occur in one side of the brain - and are not necessarily the same as generalized seizures, although they may become a generalized seizure. For that to happen, as it did to me on June 21, the seizure begins in one side of the brain and eventually spreads to other parts of the brain, causing other seizure symptoms before reaching every part of the brain in a grand mal seizure.

So, there you go. Not all seizures follow the same patterns. They are as unique as the individuals who have them. Seizure symptoms are just as varied, and include smacking, chewing, and staring. People can be fully aware or completely unaware - and sometimes they get to a point where they can no longer comprehend what's being said to them. People have reported hearing babble when someone spoke to them, even if it was in their native tongue. People have also reported hearing music, smelling odors, and seeing visions - it all depends on what part of the brain is affected the most aggressively by the misfiring neurons. Like I said before, on the night of June 21, the partial seizure began in my left frontal lobe, which caused me to lose my ability to speak and control my arm movement.

This is likely the most technical I'll get at this time, regarding the seizures. My main point is to educate you briefly on the types of seizures as well as refer you to a website that can give you more detailed information than what I've given. Before I end this entry, I wish to share a story with you. I met someone awhile back who suffers from frequent tonic clonic seizures. As you could deduce, tonic clonic seizures can be extremely debilitating, especially when they are repetitive. Medication is not a solution for some people, and unfortunately for this person, medication has little effect on the seizure activity in his brain. One day, he shared the lack of support from his parents, particularly, his mother. He is forced to live with and deal with his seizures alone, because his mother is too afraid of "catching epilepsy" to care for him the way he needs her to. I pray that this woman's heart has changed, but, this story is not only unique to him. People are born with a tendency towards epilepsy - it cannot be caught like the common cold. In case anyone reading this had any doubt or curiosity about how one develops epilepsy, know that its not because they were exposed to it when they visited a friend in the hospital. Its a condition that develops due to one's neurological makeup.

And one more point of value: people can have seizures and NOT be epileptic. Seizures may occur as a result of an illness, such as an infection. It could also be a result of a head injury. It can even occur as a result of other psychological/neurological/physical conditions. For instance, I have a friend who has a type of disorder in which her heart stops - and her body produces a seizure in order to restart it. In her case, the seizure saves her life. Imagine that.