The perfect start to my first directing job: Seizure/Migrane

[Kholi]

I KNEW something was gonna happen. I woke up this morning to the sounds of crows screaming at me. They were all lined up on the power line RIGHT outside of the window.

The second before I step outside of the car to unload... I start going blind. So the first half of the shoot on my FIRST DIRECTING GIG... I'm blind AND numb. I get these weird migrane seizure things where I go numb so i was working with one hand, a numb tongue, half a voice, and half my vision.

I managed to make it through the day, but man... it sucked. Head's still splitting, eyesight and sense of touch/taste is back.

[Kirk Gillock]

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully things will improve by tomorrow.

[Kholi]

Tomorrow nothin! I only had to shoot one day. Lol. Nice money, and it was fun.

I just wish I would have been more up-and-at-em in the beginning. I couldn't really do much but I pretended to!!!

The footage came out soooo good. Clean, clear.

[Kirk Gillock]

Did the crew know you had a migrane or did they just think you were afraid of light and loud noises. :) Glad to hear the footage came out alright.

[Kholi]

LOL. The client was there but I am assuming had no idea I was broken. I tried to act as normal as possible and speak as little so that I wouldn't slur too badly.

I did have a little trouble putting the camera on a tripod with a dummy had.

[Cynic821]

d00d

[Tom Marshall]

Damn. Is that something that happens to you a lot?

[Kholi]

Not too often. I widdled it down to being something that I either eat or do the day before it happens. I can't figure out if it's sleeping with headphones on and music going, or eating the wrong kinda spices.

I had to stop eating barbecue sauce about seven or eight years ago because I found out that it really kicked me in the brain the next day.

It's been two years since the last "attack", and that was when I frst moved to California. I was VERY surprised by this one because I just really wasn't expecting it; I guess the crows were warning me.

-- ARAGON!!! Are you on AIM? --

[LloydC]

that ain't normal man... maybe it's stress related? I'd get that checked out

[ugafan]

I'm blind AND numb. I get these weird migrane seizure things where I go numb so i was working with one hand, a numb tongue, half a voice, and half my vision.

I managed to make it through the day, but man... it sucked. Head's still splitting, eyesight and sense of touch/taste is back.

these sound like the warning signs of a stroke. you need to get this checked out by a doctor, asap.

[JRAnderson]

these sound like the warning signs of a stroke. you need to get this checked out by a doctor, asap.


Ugafan's right...these are classic stroke symptoms. Please, get checked out NOW.

From Yahoo Medical:

Before having a stroke, you may have one or more transient ischemic attacks (http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw224638#) (TIAs), which are a warning signal that a stroke may soon occur. TIAs are often called mini strokes because their symptoms are similar to those of a stroke. However, unlike stroke symptoms, TIA symptoms usually disappear within 10 to 20 minutes, although they may last up to 24 hours.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of a stroke begin suddenly and may include:

Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Vision problems in one or both eyes, such as double vision or loss of vision.
Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Severe headache.

[Mark Harris]

Kholi, do not fuck around. Go to a Dr. NOW. I want to have you to bag on for a long time to come...

[TimurCivan]

doesnt sound like a migrane. Sounds like a blood preassure issue. (which can lead to more serious stuff later). DR. man... go to a doctor.

[Barry_Green]

I was gonna say "stroke" too. Don't fool around, run to a doc and get checked out.

[They Live]

Sounds like it could've been a panic attack too. I'm glad you got through it though, sounds miserable.

[ryan brown]

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of a stroke begin suddenly and may include:

Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Vision problems in one or both eyes, such as double vision or loss of vision.
Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Severe headache.

I'm gonna have to agree here. The symptoms here are almost EXACTLY what you described.

[Kholi]

It's not a stroke guys. There's another term for it that I can't remember but the symptoms are very similar to a stroke.

It's a type of seizure that actually effects a smaller population, and it's also a type of migraine. I just can't remember the name.

But about 20 percent (last I remember) of Migraine sufferers actually suffer from this extreme type of migraine:

Auras. Auras are sensory disturbances that occur before the migraine attack in one in 5 patients. Visually, auras are referred to as being positive or negative:
Positive auras include bright or shimmering light or shapes at the edge of their field of vision called scintillating scotoma. They can enlarge and fill the line of vision. Other positive aura experiences are zigzag lines or stars.
Negative auras are dark holes, blind spots, or tunnel vision (inability to see to the side).
Patients may have mixed positive and negative auras. This is a visual experience that is sometimes described as a fortress with sharp angles around a dark center.Other neurologic symptoms may occur at the same time as the aura, although they are less common. They include the following:
Speech disturbances.
Tingling, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg.
Perceptual disturbances such as space or size distortions.
Confusion.Migraine Attack. If untreated, attacks usually last from four to 72 hours. A typical migraine attack produces the following symptoms:
Throbbing pain on one side of the head. The word migraine, in fact, is derived from the Greek word hemikrania, meaning half of the head because the pain of migraine often occurs on one side. Pain also sometimes spreads to affect the entire head.
Pain worsened by physical activity.
Nausea, sometimes with vomiting.
Visual symptoms.
Facial tingling or numbness.
Extreme sensitivity to light and noise.
Looking pale and feeling cold.
Less common symptoms include tearing and redness in one eye, swelling of the eyelid, and nasal congestion, including runny nose. (Such symptoms are more common in certain other headaches, notably cluster headaches. In one study, however, they occurred in over 40% of migraine sufferers.)Postdrome. After a migraine attack, there is usually a postdrome phase, in which patients may feel exhausted and mentally foggy for a while.



---



It's pretty scary. My mom also suffers from them and she turns into a completely different person. She's like just not herself and I've been told I do the same. I've also been suffering from them since about twelve or thirteen. Sucks.

[rook]

dude, that is awful. So sorry to hear that but stoked that the shots turned out well.

Man it sucks when things like that. It's a bit of a wake up call for me to see how well natured you have stayed about the whole thing. I get ppissed when something goes wrong on set and when it's my own body working against me I'd likly gouge out my own eyes.

Thanks for the post and the perspective,
rook

[Tom Marshall]

It would seem to me that there would be certain foods to avoid or supplements (vitamins, minerals, etc) that you could take which would really help the situation. Maybe a doctor can help you with that.

[ryan brown]

It would seem to me that there would be certain foods to avoid or supplements (vitamins, minerals, etc) that you could take which would really help the situation. Maybe a doctor can help you with that.

Or a good Dietitian...

[Kholi]

Yeah it's my Diet. I don't exactly eat like I'm supposed to.

And yeah, Rook. In Hindsight I'm very surprised I wasn't whining and complaining during the shoot. Having to work with kids was tough enough, but I kinda just pretended that I was a-okay. And in the end, I was-- just a little hitch.

Not to mention the rental company screwed me on a tripod plate and a Wireless Lav. But oh well, I think I can fix the issues.

[TimurCivan]

Yea man, i swear migranes are causes by something in our processed foods. My dad gets them, he takes "Cafergot" and it clears them up in minutes. "ask your doctor"

[Arson]

Cafergot is caffeine and ergotamine (and LSD precursor) does your dad hallucinate?

[Kholi]

I really agree with the thought that it's something in the food. I was TOLD a while back that it had something to do with MSG or whatever. I dunno, to be honest.

I just stay away from the stuff that ain't no good. It's kinda like how I could drink milk a long time ago, but now I can't because it destroys me.

Old age or processing?

[Tom Marshall]

It could very well be an allergy that you don't know about, like the milk allergy you mention. I mean, if changing your eating habits helps keep you healthy, then that's kind of a no-brainer.

[TimurCivan]

yea man lay off the Moogoo Gai pan. And stop drinking White russians.