Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 June 2026
A 22-year-old, 30-weeks pregnant woman with history of migraine, anxiety, depression, and PTSD presents to the emergency department after a seizure-like activity. Her boyfriend witnessed it and reports she was in her normal state of health when she left for work this morning, but returned from work early – crying and saying she had been fired. She then developed abdominal pain, felt one of her “typical migraines,” and told him she felt like she might pass out. She lowered herself to the floor, closed her eyes, and “started shaking all over.” He describes the shaking as starting in her bilateral hands, then both her legs, followed by her head turning left and right. He called emergency services, and the event ended after 5 minutes. It took about one more minute for her to “come back,” and she was back to normal by the time the ambulance arrived. She recalls the entire event, remembers feeling lightheaded, and says she could hear her boyfriend talking to her during the event – but could not stop shaking.
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