This section is about symptoms of focal seizures that happen in the different lobes (areas) of your brain.
Focal (partial) seizures in the temporal lobes
Focal seizures starting in the temporal lobes are common.
The temporal lobes are responsible for many functions. Some examples of these functions are hearing, speech, memory, and emotions.
Here are some common symptoms of focal seizures in the temporal lobes
- Flushing, sweating, going very pale, having a churning feeling in your stomach
- Seeing things as smaller or bigger than they really are
- Seeing or hearing something that is not actually happening
- Smelling non-existent smells
- Tasting non-existent tastes
- Feeling frightened, panicky, sad or happy
- Feeling detached from what is going on around you
- Feeling sick
- Having vivid memory ‘flashbacks’
- Having an intense feeling of ‘deja vu’, when you are convinced you have experienced something before – even when you haven’t
- Being unable to recognise things that are very familiar to you - sometimes referred to as ‘jamais vu’
- Chewing, smacking your lips, swallowing or scratching your head
- Fumbling with your buttons or removing items of your clothing
- Wandering off, without any awareness of what you are doing, or where you are going
Focal (partial) seizures in the frontal lobes
Focal seizures starting in the frontal lobes are common.
Your frontal lobes are responsible for many different functions. These include movement, emotions, memory, language, and social and sexual behaviour. The frontal lobes are also considered to be home to your personality.
Not all frontal lobe seizures will be noticed by an onlooker. However, some frontal lobe seizures can look quite dramatic and unusual. Because of this it is common for them to be wrongly diagnosed as something other than epilepsy.
Here are some common symptoms of focal seizures in the frontal lobes
- Turning your head to one side
- Your arms or hands becoming stiff and drawing upwards
- Cycling movements of your legs
- Thrashing of your arms
- Carrying out strange and complicated body movements
- Having problems speaking or understanding
- Experiencing sexual feelings and showing sexual behaviour
- Screaming, swearing or crying out
- Losing control of your bladder and/or bowels
Jacksonian seizures
A particular type of frontal lobe seizure is a ‘Jacksonian’ seizure. This is usually brief and consists of jerking or trembling movement. These begin in a finger and then slowly march upwards to the whole hand and arm. Afterwards, there could be a short period of muscle weakness.
Todd’s paralysis or Todd’s paresis
Following a focal seizure, particularly a frontal lobe seizure, some people have what is known as Todd’s paralysis or Todd’s paresis. This is paralysis, lasting from minutes to hours, in the area of your body that was involved in the seizure.
Focal (partial) seizures in the parietal lobes
Focal seizures starting in the parietal lobes are uncommon.
The parietal lobes are responsible for your bodily sensations. Focal seizures in this part of your brain cause strange physical feelings. A tingling or warm feeling down one side of your body is typical. These types of seizures are also known as ‘sensory’ seizures.
Focal (partial) seizures in the occipital lobes
Focal seizures starting in the occipital lobes are uncommon.
The occipital lobes are responsible for your vision. Focal seizures happening in this part of your brain affect the way you see things. Seeing flashes, or balls of light, or having brief loss of vision, are typical symptoms.
Focal (partial) seizures progressing to generalised seizures
Some people have a warning - known as an aura - that they are about to have a tonic-clonic seizure. The warning is usually very brief and, if you have a warning, you tend to have the same warning every time. This warning is, in fact, epileptic activity in a part of your brain (a focal seizure). Once the epileptic activity spreads to both halves of your brain, you have a tonic-clonic seizure. If you have a warning, you tend to have the same warning every time. And the warning is usually brief.
The warning can be very useful, as it may give you time to get to a place of safety, or to alert someone else that you are going to have a seizure. Sometimes, however, the epileptic activity spreads to both halves of your brain so quickly that you appear to go straight into a tonic-clonic seizure.
We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.
This information has been produced under the terms of The Information Standard.
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Updated July 2011To be reviewed July 2013
Comments: read the 22 comments or add yours
Comments
I felt I had to comment on this page because it gave so much info on different problems I have with my epilepsy, ( right tempral lobe ) which is difficult to explain to doctors as there is no one reason for my seizures,
It was such a relief when I realised the doctor DID know what I was trying so hard to explain, 'weird feelings, like I don't understand simple things or being aware that someone has noticed me acting strange but being able to do nothing about it until the 'feeling' passes'. Trying to talk but feeling like I'd forgotten the language? Before I knew this was epilepsy I tried to keep this to myself by completely ignoring everyone and everything when I got 'that feeling', it was such a relief to find out that I was not going mad! People should be made more aware that epilepsy is not just when someone falls to the floor and fits, I wish I aware as I would have been diognosed a lot sooner.
Through reading this website, I have finally learnt that I have 'Jacksonian' epilepsy. What starts as a tingling feeling down the left side of my body, soon becomes stiff then jerky movements in my left leg and side. This passes in seconds, though I do feel weak, shaky and sometimes detached for about 20mins after. Trying to explain this feeling to my Dr (& people I know well) had me describing it as " Rather like the build up to an orgasm and after, but I get a build up, then rhythmatical jerking of my leg"-a subject that most people can relate to works! I find they can figure out how they feel after that and know that I do become 'normal' after a while.
What wonderful explanations, I have many of seizures including uncommon ones as I have low threshold, it makes them feel less "mine" to see others have them too.
i was diagnosed with focal epilepsy (leading to generalised seizures) this week. i am 26 and never had a fit in my life until last week when i had 3! its so scary i go unconcious, stop breathing and my whole body shakes. luckily for me i only remember before and after a seizure but its awful ae
It is now known that I've had epilepsy all of my life - I am 64 years old.
I've been through a few doctors in my time, and tried nearly all the epilepsy medications, but the epilepsy continues.
I was referred by my latest consultant to a specialist epilepsy clinic at my local hospital (Torbay). The specialist asked me a series of questions relating to my epilepsy, and to my surprise gave me a diagnosis - temporal lobe epilepsy. She explained what was happening to the brain when I have an episode, and recommended surgery to alleviate the problem. She said that the type of epilepsy resonds well to surgery, having a total success rate in the order of 70%, and was surprised It had not been recommended before! It was all a bit too much to take in at the time - I knew I had temporal lobe epilepsy, but I have never had it explained in simple terms (just keep taking the pills, and it may go away!).
I am now waiting for my first assessment, and looking forward to possibly being fit-free, pill-free, and possibly even driving again after over 20 years!
Your explanation of temporal lobe epilepsy is very good - it puts into words my feelings when I have a petit mal or seizure!
Thank you again.
Barry
My daughter has been suffering from epilepsy for 20 years no mediciation helps as she gets as she suffers side effects e.g mouth lesions, lesions on hands an feet and an increase of siezuers. she has been refered to the scottish epilepsy centre for more indepth tests. Prior to this she will under go surgery for pcos which she has developed recently. is there any connection with this condition an her epilespy. i would be grateful for some help, i can be contacted on the above email address
I developed epilepsy in 2007 during pregnancy, I found having to give up driving after 10 years of freedom was the worst part of it. I'm fairly well controlled now through medication but lately I've started having new symotoms. I usually have tonic/clonic seizures, I have the aura's before I know I'm going on a total flake out, I feel the room spinning start panicking and smell non existant smells... I've now started with dissispells, so the point of having to sit on the floor whereever I am (I'm over the embarassment now, I'd rather sit while I can than drop like a sack of spuds), and night seizures. Sometimes I have total blackout and don't remember a thing until the next morning when all my muscles are sore and I've bitten my tongue (I always bite my tongue during a seizure), this new type though I'm fully aware that I'm going to have a fit, like my mind's working but it can't control my body, I try to shout for my husbands and it's literally deafening to me but I don't make a sound, or shake, or do anything, it's really freaking me out has anyone had anything similar? It's making me nervous about going out alone (something I don't do very often as it is and I live in a village where everyone knows everyone so people know I'm epileptic)... I'm lucky to have a good group of friends but it's so frustrating as I was such an independent person
I have TLE which started totally out of the blue 5 years ago. I think it is hormone-related but doctors have been reluctant to confirm this. I have tried Lamotrigine, Keppra and Tegratol, all without success. I saw a neurologist (privately) 2 months ago as I was starting to fall over and lose consciousness and it was really starting to affect my life. He prescribed Pregabalin and I have had no seizures since I started taking it and feel wonderful, the best I have felt in 5 years. I know it won't work for everyone but if you have tried and failed with the more common drugs, ask about this one. I know it is still early days for me but even if I did have a seizure now, I would not be too disappointed as I feel fantastic on it. Ask about Pregabalin!!
Ive had grand mal / major epilepsy since I was 3 yrs old. I'm now 38.
But I've now noticed the auras or warnings sometimes lead onto longer partial seizures, not always grand mals as happened previously.
The recovery time I get is now nearer a week - 10 days and I've been in countless ambulances in my time.
I've been offered Lacosamide or Vimpat by a specialist nurse & having read the side effects Im not too keen to try it. I'd like to know if anyone else has had it or found it helped their partial onset grand mals.
Thanks.
Jill.
Interesting to learn about different drugs its hard to get the correct treatment for your own individual form of epilepsy and it still seems to some people that its something to be ashamed of! We can't expect GP's to have all this knowledge & even some specialists who don't have a "special interest" in Epilepsy can choose the wrong type of drug! Especially with "Complex Partial Temporal Lobe" I have personal experience e.g. "Go away & just keep taking the tablets"!
Ive had epilepsy since I was very young around 4 or 5. This has been very helpful has I have a mixture of diffrent types of epilepsy. I was I didnt realise there was a name for the muscle spasms I knew it was connected to my fits but that was all. I suffer badly to cuts in my mouth and tougue due to my fits. But no one here mentions how utterly tired you are after a fit. Am the only one wjo feels totaly drained? Thank you all for sharing I dont feel alone out there xx
Greetings, I am just realizing after having focal seizure while receiving chemo. That I have had these on off all life.
am a 47 yr old American/Mexican female. But never pursued "why". Until this last episode, when it happened right front of my nurse. And I didn't realize there were nurses hovering over trying get me come around. So I started research and found that I have a combination of seizures.I plan discuss these findings with Dr. Since has ordered eeg.... this site been very helpful. The types I found are photosensitive & tonic clonic,
Any input would be greatly appreciate...
Hi
It’s surprising how many types of seizures there is. Its only when people research epilepsy, they become aware of the many different types. We have heard of people who realise they may have been having seizures for years before their diagnosis. This may happen if someone is having focal seizures.
As you are arranging tests to see if you have epilepsy, you may find our information on getting a diagnosis helpful. Please remember our information is relevant to the UK. It may be different in America. For this reason, you may find it helpful to view the http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/ of America website. They have details on tests and treatments in America.
Diane
Advice and Information Team
I'm an older A&E doctor who is now being asked to give talks on different subjects. Your site is a gift for me, the information is concise, easy to read and understand and I've learnt such a lot about the different types of seizures and how to recognize them. Also good to see the comments for others who have the condition and how society treats them including the medical professionals. Thank you for this excellent site.
I had a Brain Tumour removed a few years ago and occasionally have funny turns. ''THEY WILL PASS'' they didn't and eventually I was told I am an EPILEPTIC, and that was that. Yesterday I was watching TV while on Facebook, I believe I had a Seizure and again while watching the same programme at the same spot when it was repeated later in the Evening, Could be that some thing (Cars racing) in the Programme (Diagnosis Murder) something in my head is saying this has happened before with this scene.. Is it possible that the Hustle and Bussle be one of my Trigger?
Hi
Epilepsy is such an individual condition and can make itself felt in various ways. As there’s so much information in your comment, it would be really useful to talk things through. Would you be able to phone the Epilepsy Helpline, 0808 800 5050 so we can discuss this further and hopefully do our best to answer your question? Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Diane
Advice and Information team
Could you please take a look on youtube of 3year old Mitchells undiagnosed movement disorders as this condition has not been diagnosed. He has had numerous EEG's and 47 pages of tests which have still not resulted in an answer. We are unsure weather this is a seizure or a movement disorder. PLEASE HELP AS WE ARE DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS.. Thank you..
Hi Tracie
What a terrible situation to be in. I’m sure you’re very anxious to get a diagnosis for Mitchell. I’ve had a look at his video’s on Youtube, he tends to point his finger at his face, roll his eyes and blink doesn’t he?
The difficulty when diagnosing epilepsy is that the symptoms can be similar to a number of other medical conditions. So, to be given a diagnosis of epilepsy it’s important to have test results to back up the diagnosis. You did say that Mitchell sees a paediatric neurologist. A paediatric neurologist is the specialist to see when a child has epilepsy. They can also see children with other neurological conditions.
You didn’t say what tests Mitchell has had, just that he’s had many. There are different types of EEGs that can be done such as a video-telemetry http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/diagnosis/eeg-electroencephalogram#video-telemetry and an ambulatory EEG http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/diagnosis/eeg-electroencephalogram#ambulatory-eeg-tests . If he hasn’t had these it might be something to consider asking his specialist about. You can read about these tests on our website.
If you feel you haven’t had the right treatment for Mitchell, you could ask his GP or paediatric neurologist for a re-assessment at one of the children’s epilepsy assessment units. It might mean travelling, this would depend on where you live. You could contact the Epilepsy Helpline, 0808 800 5050 and speak to one of our trained advisers for further information about assessment units for children.
Rosanna
Advice and Information Team
When I was a baby I was allergic to egg whites. My maternal grandmother was a Christian Scientist and believed in the "Hair of the Dog that Bit You" so she fed me 4 egg whites and I swelled right up and could have died, but I didn't and afterwards I wasn't allergic to egg whites ever again. However when I was 10 1/2 I starting having seizures and I beleive it stems from this allegy to egg whites. The last full convulsion I had (what I termed as tongue fits) was when I was doing my O Levels in 1969. Since then I have only had petite mal attacks, which have lessened in their frequency until I only get one or two every 4 to 6 months. However, sometimes I get a very bad one, like on Monday I suffered a severe case of food poisoning and had two fits, the 2nd on the bus home. They called a paramedic and he wanted me to go to hospital but there is so much stigma over epilepsy that I would have lost my job and any chance of any future jobs so I stuck it out all week, continue in my present job, even though it was hard, and eventually recovered. This has been the story of my life - always compromising because I can't go back on any medication because I need to be mentally alert in order to do my job properly.
as a child from about 11 I had bad seizures every month or so for about nearly 2 years, I took medication until I was about 14 and have been fine since, however, I am now 16 and I'm unsure if I'm suffering partial seizures in the temporal lobes, and I'm really scared that my epilepsy may be returning.
Deanna
The only way to find out is to talk to your doctor. They might want to refer you back to an epilepsy specialist, to find out whether you are having focal seizures.
If you want to talk to an adviser about your fears, please call the Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050, and we will do our best to help you.
Kathy
Advice and Information Team