Seizure Phases Seizures take on many different forms and have a beginning (prodrome and aura), middle (ictal) and end (post-ictal) stage. These phases are described below. Beginning phase Prodrome stage During the prodromal stage some people can tell when a seizure is on its way. Not all people experience this stage. Some common signs can include: Mood changes Anxiety Feeling lightheaded Difficulty sleeping Difficulty staying focused Behaviour changes. Aura Auras are generally considered an early part of the seizure. Symptoms of an aura may include: Déjà vu (a sense that something has happened before when in fact it hasn’t) Jamais vu (a feeling that you’re seeing something you know well for the first time) Odd smells, sounds or tastes Dizziness Vision difficulties Numbness or ‘pins and needles’ in parts of the body Nausea Headache Panic Feelings of intense fear Sometimes a person may have an aura which doesn’t progress to become a more severe or prolonged seizure. Some people don’t experience an aura at all, and their seizure has no early warning signs. Middle (ictal) phase The middle (ictal) stage of a seizure is called the ictal phase. It’s the time from the first symptom to the end of the seizure activity. It is during this time that intense electrical activity is occurring in the brain. Some common signs of this phase include: Loss of awareness Memory lapse Feeling confused Difficulty hearing Odd smells, sounds or tastes Difficulty speaking or saying strange words Twitching Loss of muscle control Repeated movements (such as lip smacking or chewing) Body convulsions Racing heart Trouble breathing Ending (post-ictal) phase The final post-ictal stage occurs after the active (ictal) part of the seizure. This is the recovery stage and during this phase any physical after effects of the seizure are felt. The type of seizure and the part of the brain involved will determine how long it takes for a person to return to their usual self. Some common signs of this phase include: Confusion Lack of consciousness Tiredness (fatigue) Exhaustion Headache Loss of bladder or bowel control Fear and anxiety Frustration Shame or embarrassment Thirst Nausea Sore muscles Weakness in parts of the body Injury (head, cuts, broken bones) Once the seizure is over, some people may remember having one, remember parts of it, or not remember at all.

For most uteri-bearing people, the paın begins one to three days before the start of an individual’s perıod, peaks 24 hours after bleeding starts, and stops two to three days after bleeding stops. Most people feel it as a continuous dull ache. 40-90% of women of reproductive age suffer from perıod pain. For most women, premenstrual symptoms can start anywhere from one to two weeks before their period begins. Symptoms can vary from woman to woman and may include: Paın: Cramps, backache, headaçhes or migraines, other aches and pains Digestive prob1ems: Bloating, náuseas or upset stߋmach, dıarrhea Feelings: Stress, not feeling like yourself, trouble sleepıng, fqtigue Other: Food cravings, swelling, acne These symptøms usually disappear once your perıod starts. For some women, though, certain symptoms of PMS, such as painful cramping, may last for the first few days of their period.