{"id":10577,"date":"2026-04-23T18:30:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T01:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/?p=10577"},"modified":"2026-04-23T18:32:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T01:32:14","slug":"the-focal-ghost-when-seizures-go-invisible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/2026\/04\/23\/the-focal-ghost-when-seizures-go-invisible\/","title":{"rendered":"The &#8220;Focal Ghost&#8221; &#8211; When Seizures Go Invisible"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\"><span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">Not talked about the &#8220;shaking.&#8221; Now, let\u2019s talk about the &#8220;silence.&#8221; <span class=\"html-span xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xat24cr xm2jcoa x1mpyi22 xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"xz74otr x15mokao x1ga7v0g x16uus16 xbiv7yw\" src=\"https:\/\/static.xx.fbcdn.net\/images\/emoji.php\/v9\/t1\/1\/16\/1f92b.png\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd2b\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\">Most people picture epilepsy as a dramatic, full-body event. But the truth is, some of the most profound moments are\u00a0<span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">invisible<\/strong><\/span>. Today, I&#8217;m dropping the clinical &#8220;technical expert&#8221; voice to unmask a different kind of neurological &#8220;surge&#8221;:\u00a0<span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">Absence Seizures<\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\">I like to call it the\u00a0<span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">&#8220;Focal Ghost.&#8221;<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0And if you don&#8217;t know what to look for, you\u2019d walk right past it.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\"><span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">What You DO See:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0A 10-second pause in conversation.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"html-li xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1n2onr6 x1sle589\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\">A distant, wide-eyed gaze.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"html-li xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1n2onr6 x1sle589\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\">Maybe some rapid blinking or slight lip-smacking.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\"><span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">What\u2019s REALLY Happening (The EMT Fact):<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0It&#8217;s an electrical short-circuit that\u00a0<span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><em class=\"html-em xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\">blanks the entire screen<\/em><\/span>. The brain is temporarily &#8220;offline.&#8221; Imagine a computer that is physically &#8220;on,&#8221; but the monitor just went totally black. That is the 1 in 26 living with absence epilepsy.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\"><span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">The &#8220;Invisible&#8221; Triggers (Fact Sheet):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"html-li xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1n2onr6 x1sle589\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\"><span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">Emotional Swings:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Big stress or even big excitement can trigger a &#8220;surge.&#8221;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"html-li xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1n2onr6 x1sle589\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\"><span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">Illness:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0High fevers aren&#8217;t just uncomfortable; they can lower the seizure threshold.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"html-li xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1n2onr6 x1sle589\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\"><span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">The &#8220;Wait, Did I Take My Meds?&#8221; Moment:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Skipping doses is the #1 cause of breakthrough seizures.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\">This is exactly why I&#8217;m pushing for <span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">&#8220;Seizure Safe&#8221;<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0training. If a teacher or coworker doesn&#8217;t know about absence seizures, they see a student who is &#8220;daydreaming&#8221; or &#8220;rude&#8221; instead of a person who needs safety.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\">My mission\u00a0is to make sure we treat these &#8220;silent surges&#8221; with the same seriousness as a physical fall.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\"><span class=\"html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs\"><strong class=\"html-strong xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x1s688f\">Tim Ulmer <\/strong><\/span>to talk about the &#8220;First Responder&#8221; perspective on all forms of epilepsy\u2014visible and invisible.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"html-div xdj266r x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1e56ztr\"><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\">Let\u2019s get loud for the people living in silence.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not talked about the &#8220;shaking.&#8221; Now, let\u2019s talk about the &#8220;silence.&#8221; Most people picture epilepsy as a dramatic,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[43],"tags":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975.jpg",421,563,false],"thumbnail":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975.jpg",421,563,false],"medium_large":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975.jpg",421,563,false],"large":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975.jpg",421,563,false],"1536x1536":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975.jpg",421,563,false],"2048x2048":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975.jpg",421,563,false],"darknews-slider-full":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975.jpg",421,563,false],"darknews-featured":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975.jpg",421,563,false],"darknews-medium":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975-421x530.jpg",421,530,true],"darknews-medium-square":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ScreenHunter-5975-350x350.jpg",350,350,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"News MoLo","author_link":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/author\/admin\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/News\/alarcon\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Alarcon<\/a>","tag_info":"Alarcon","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10577"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10577"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10577\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10581,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10577\/revisions\/10581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}