Parts of the seizure

Aura:
• Not all patients have auras.
• An aura is a feeling that usually tells the person that a seizure will follow. An aura is really the first manifestation of the seizure.
• It is a felling that could be isolated or could be followed by the main part of the seizure.
• Most of the times, the aura will have the same characteristics, will last for a few seconds and the person will remember it very well.
• Examples of auras are “feeling butterflies in the stomach”, having a “strange thought”, feeling “numb”, etc.
• Not all patients have auras.
• Auras only occur in patients with partial epilepsy. 

Main seizure
• A seizure could manifest in different ways. From a very quiet one, like staring and staying still seizure to a grand mal seizure with very violent movements. The clinical manifestations will depend on the type of seizure and on which part of the brain is involved.
• The seizures could last from seconds to minutes.
• The person could have recollection of it or have absolutely no memory of the event.

Postictal
• What happens when the seizure is over.
• With most seizures there is a postictal phase (time to recovery) which could last from few seconds to minutes and very rarely even hours or days.
• The main characteristics include confusion, sleepiness and headaches. In some occasions, focal paralysis may occur.