First Time Seizure

You think you have had a seizure for the very first time ever or even witnessed someone else having a seizure for the first time. The first thing to do immediately is seek medical attention and go to a hospital emergency unit or phone 911. Check to see if they have a  medical ID, for example, a MedicAlert bracelet. Even more importantly, if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, an injury has occurred, it occurs in water, or the person has a high fever, has diabetes, is pregnant, does not regain consciousness, or another seizure starts.

If you suspect you are witnessing someone else having a seizure for the first time. Stay calm, stay with the person, protect the person from injury by removing sharp objects out of the way, loosen any tight clothing, gently guide them to the floor if they are standing and cushion their head. Do not try to restrain them, hold them down or put anything in their mouth. If possible, time the seizure, video the seizure and stay with them until the seizure ends and they are fully alert. Afterwards, reassure the person and explain to them what has happened to them.

Download the necessary first aid guides, below.

After a medical evaluation has been done, a scheduled follow-up with a primary healthcare provider needs to be done to be referred to a neurologist / epileptologist (an epilepsy specialist) for proper diagnosis, treatment and tests, including an electroencephalogram (EEG) test.

To be referred to our clinic by your primary healthcare provider, complete both an EEG test and be followed-up by Dr. Bercovici, simultaneously. Download the FORM below to start the referral process.

The Importance of the First Time Seizure and EEG Test

Having a single first time seizure does not necessarily mean you or anyone else has epilepsy. It can be a difficult and uncertain time for anyone when no diagnosis has been made yet. Usually, epilepsy is diagnosed after two or more seizures. It is a tendency to have repeated seizures that originate in the brain. Sometimes, it may take a while to find out what caused the seizure.

A first time seizure is a critical medical event that requires a comprehensive evaluation, including an electroencephalogram (EEG) test, primarily to determine the cause and the risk of future seizures. The importance of the first time seizure evaluation and the EEG test lies in their ability to guide diagnosis, classify the seizure type, and inform treatment decisions. The EEG test is a foundational diagnostic tool in this process. It records the electrical activity of the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp.

To learn more about the EEG test, go to our EEG Test page and watch our explainer video, click  below.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Seizures?

What does a seizure look like and what do you need to be aware of?

Signs and symptoms of a seizure can range from minor to severe and can vary from person to person. A seizure can look like many different things depending on the person and type of seizure, including:

• Momentary confusion
• Staring at a point for longer than usual or a staring spell
• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the body
• Loss of awareness or consciousness
• Rapid or racing thoughts
• Emotional or cognitive symptoms such as, ‘strange feelings”, panic, anxiety or fear
• A sense of déjà vu or jamais vu
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
• Falling down
• Uncontrollable bowel movement
• Breathing difficulties
• Unconsciousness or unresponsiveness
• Headache or nausea
• Numbness or tingling
• Arching of the back
• Clenching of teeth
• Blurred or loss of vision
• Sudden and rapid eye movements