If you think you’ve had a seizure, see your doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is important for effective treatment and symptom management. Banner Health’s experienced neurosciences team is here to help you every step of the way. We ensure you receive comprehensive and accurate testing for epilepsy and seizure disorders to get you the answers you need.
Epilepsy is usually diagnosed if you have two or more seizures. Your doctor may recommend various tests to rule out other seizure causes and confirm epilepsy diagnosis, including:
Epilepsy affects people in different ways. Not everyone experiences every epilepsy stage. Furthermore, a person’s seizure symptoms may vary each time.
An aura is like a warning sign. Not everyone with epilepsy experiences this first phase, which involves changes to smell, taste, vision, hearing and emotions. The extent to which awareness becomes impaired can vary. An aura is a small, focal (partial) seizure that can develop into a larger, general seizure. Auras can last anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour.
Common aura symptoms:
The ictus stage is the seizure itself. Symptoms of this stage depend on the part of the brain affected. Learn more about focal (partial) and generalized seizures.
Common ictus symptoms:
Your brain is in recovery. During the postictal state, you may feel tired or disoriented. How long the postictal state lasts varies, which some people recovering almost immediately.
Common postictal state symptoms:
Because you never know when a seizure may happen, epilepsy can cause you to lose some independence. Although there’s no cure, early treatment for epilepsy can help you manage your symptoms.
Although rare, other complications of epilepsy may include:
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