Symptoms Return to top
The early warning symptoms (called an aura) include:
* Abnormal sensations
* Epigastric sensations ("a funny feeling in my gut," "stomach rising,")
* Hallucinations or illusions (vision, smells, tastes, or other sensory illusions)
* Sensation of deja vu, recalled emotions or memories
* Sudden, intense emotion not related to anything occurring at the time
* Consciousness maintained during the seizure or spell (partial)
* Consciousness reduced or lost during the seizure or spell (partial complex)
Movement disturbances include:
* Abnormal mouth behaviors
o Lip smacking
o Chewing or swallowing without cause
o Profuse salivation "slobbering"
* Abnormal head movements
o Forced turning of the head
o Forced turning of the eyes
o Usually in the direction opposite of the location of the lesion
* Repetitive movements, such as picking at clothing
* Rhythmic muscle contraction and relaxation (rare) -- affecting one side of the body, one arm, leg, part of face, or other isolated area
Abnormal sensations include:
* Numbness, tingling, crawling sensation
* Occurring in only one part of the body or spreading
* Preceding motor symptoms
* Sensory hallucinations (visual, hearing, touch, etc.)
Autonomic symptoms include:
* Abdominal pain or discomfort
* Nausea
* Sweating
* Flushed face
* Dilated pupils (eyes)
* Rapid heart rate/pulse
Other symptoms include:
* Changes in vision, speech, thought, awareness, personality
* Loss of memory (amnesia) regarding events around the seizure (partial complex seizure)