questions??

[daisy.girl]

I have periods of zoning out/blank stare and difficult finding words.
I had one 20 minute EEG that showed spikes in the left parietal lobe.
I have to do a 3 day at home EEG now.

Can anyone tell me what this means, if anything at all? Do spikes on an EEG always mean seizure activity?

thanks

[dfwtexas]

My EEG showed seizure activity in left partiel lobe with generalized spiking throughout right side of brain. neurologist told me generalized spiking means I could be at risk for seizures within the entire right side of my brain. He also said 40% of his E patients will never show seizure activity on EEG.
Partiel lobe epilepsy is pretty rare.
I have both simple and complex partials. I do have staring spells and really have problems with words.

[Rae1889]

Spikes on an EEG doesnt ALWAYS mean seizures, although the likely hood is higher. There can be false positives and false negatives. So just make sure that you clarify with your neurologist what he thinks is going on and see if he/she knows a why.

Have you tried keepin a seizure diary?

[daisy.girl]

I don't even know what a seizure diary is? I know when I have difficulty finding words. but the zoning out, usually, my kids move their hands in front of my face, saying...mom, mom, hello mom.....then they say you were zoning out.

I have severe headaches/migraines. I am hoping that maybe this is related? I have been unable to find a med to control the headaches.

[Nakamova]

With a seizure diary you record when your seizures happen, what kind they are, how long they last, etc. In addition, it can be very helpful to track information related to diet, nutrition, metabolism, sleep, exercise, and stress of any kind (physical, physiological, psychological). That way you can potentially identify any seizure triggers to avoid.

[RobinN]

There was a study done in the Netherlands, where children with celiac were fed gluten and their EEGs were abnormal. So it appears that food sensitivities can also cause abnormal brain waves.

[daisy.girl]

thanks so much for the replys.

Anyone here suffer from severe constant headaches/migraines?

If yes, do you feel they are in any way related to your seizures? I have suffered greatly with the headaches/migraines with very little to no relief with medication.

Does the seizure medication help with the headaches/migraines?

[Nakamova]

Many folks with epilepsy suffer from migraines as well (they are considered close siblings, and can be triggered by the same things. Migraine auras and headaches are hard to distinguish from those associated with epilepsy.). As with epilepsy, what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another, but some of the anti-epileptic drugs, such as Topomax, are also prescribed for migraines. Taking an absorbable magnesium supplement can help with migraines. Avoiding certain foods (such as MSG, red wine, cheeses, etc.) can help prevent them too.

[Kansas Educator]

I have frequent migraines but haven't had a seizure since I was diagnosed about 1 1/2 years ago with complex partial seizures. Prior to that, I would go years between them with no medication and they only manifested themselves by my being unable to speak but never losing consciousness for a very brief period of time. My eeg just showed some abnormal spikes but no actual seizure. However, I do have some sort of scar tissue on my brain. But what is odd is that the scar tissue is on my right temporal lobe and the abnormal spikes show up on my left temporal lobe. Makes no sense to me at all. At my last neurology appt., I asked the neurologist if he's sure this is epilepsy and if it could be caused by my migraines. He said that neurology is a rather subjective science and open to interpretation and that, yes, it is possible it is migraines. I also asked him why the eeg showed a problem on the opposite side as the scar. He said the two may not be related -- the scar may be just that, a scar, and have nothing to do with any seizure activity. You might wonder why I even take medication. Well, I have three more years until I can receive my full early retirement benefits and I have to drive quite a lot for my job. I just don't want to jeopardize that at this time although in the future, I do plan to talk to my Dr. about discontinuing medicine.
In the meantime, the Depakote hasn't helped my migraines a whole lot but the strict avoidance of msg, chocolate, red wine as well as limiting exposure to computers, TV's and walking and meditating daily have. So, who really knows about this stuff. It gets confusing to me too.

[daisy.girl]

thanks again for all your replys....but I still have this question.

What is the difference between seizures on an EEG and spikes on an EEG?

[dfwtexas]

Well, you can think of it as a seizure is you are having a thunderstorm occuring and a spike is a warning that the conditions could be right to have a storm.

[Endless]

Hey, Relyonhim,

I have both headaches and migraines. I didn't think they were related to my seizures until I started keeping a seizure diary. I've only been keeping the diary for a little while now, but the cause and effect relationship (seizure-headache) is becoming crystal clear when I read back in it.

Now if I could only figure out how to stop a seizure from progressing into a headache. In one of the other threads (thread name????) someone suggested oxygen helps. I've got that on my "to do" list.

Some of my migraines are grusome. They usually last about 3 days, and the longest one for me lasted about 3 weeks. In hindsight I should have gone to the ER and gotten a shot, but I wasn't thinking clearly at the time.

Something else that has gotten clearer over the last month when it comes to my headaches - intervene early, intervene big, or more often than not it turns into a migraine.

Oh~ on another of the above topics, since I was seeing the gastroenterologist and having those routine tests we all hate anyway, she tested me for celiac's disease. I'm happy to say I'm all clear. So gluten's happily here to stay for me.

[daisy.girl]

Hi endless,
thank you so much for answering. I don't know what cause my migraines...but I have 2-4 a week, it has become very disabling. At this point I don't even know if I have seizures. Just that one EEG that showed spikes.

I do wish they could find out what causes them...even if it is seizures.
What do you take? and does it help your migraines? I have been on more then 10 different migraine meds. they may work sometimes....but not always.

Also, I was dx with MS in Jan....not sure if everything is connected or not?

About the seizure diary...I don't know when or what I would record. I do zone out/blank stare...but only know about if someone else sees it. I do have times when I have great difficulty finding the word I want to say...but that may be MS related.

[Endless]

Did you tell your neurologist about your blank stares? That could be a seizure. I know what you mean about not knowing about possible seizures. That's the devil, isn't it? I don't know if some of mine are under control, because I don't know if I'm having them!

For migraines. I start with tylenol and ibuprofin, and if that doesn't work graduate to imitrex and I pack my head and neck in ice. If that doesn't work then out comes the serious pain meds. All of this may or may not work. There's a train of thought that says I should throw everything I have at it at the beginning and just kill the headache dead, dead, dead. But if I did that I'd be doing it all the time. I try to stay away from the serious pain meds because I'm afraid of addiction. So I only trot those out when I'm beyond being able to take it anymore. But once a month max, in any case. I have a headache almost every day, and 2-3 migraines a week, so I guess my head just hurts a lot. Arrrrrrg.

I have been on some migraine prevention meds, but they didn't agree with me. Would love to type them here but the names escape me.

[Meetz1064]

Rely. I'm one of those who's a bit of a mess, but have found control through a mix of meds AND diet. I am also a celiac patient, so controlling my celiac has immensely helped control my E. There's a fine line, there, though.

As for migraines.........yup, I've got those, too. They're now classed in the same family as seizures. But, I've noticed that as long as I keep my diet balanced, especially with the right vitamins and minerals--especially magnesium--the migraines stay away.

E journals are not as difficult as they sound. I'm going to put in a list of things that you might consider using for an E journal. There are also some that you can use online......one is at www.seizuretracker.com. I can't think of the other link off the top of my head though. If someone else can, please pipe up.

Here's the list.

****************************

1. Sleep. List how much & when.

2. Eating. List how much, when & what. It's possible to have seizures caused by allergies to food.

3. TV/computer/video games. Yup, they can affect you if you're photosensitive, so list when, what, and HOW LONG.

4. Menses (for women). Start tracking your cycles. CATAMENIAL epilepsy does exist, sometimes it's tied to ovulation, sometimes its right at the TOM. Also, LADIES, DO get a thorough check of ALL your hormones done—female, thyroid, and any others. Believe it or not, they do factor in on seizures.

5. Stress List when it occurred, and what happened.

6. Exercise List what you did, when, and any reactions.

7. Seizures/auras. If you have either, DOCUMENT THEM. Auras--note what they're like--do you smell or taste something that others don't? Hear something? Seizures--how long, when, where, what happened. If you don't KNOW what happened, get eyewitness accounts when possible and DOCUMENT THEM. ****side note**** Auras ARE partial seizures!!!

8. Smoking and alcohol. Ditch them--both are neurotoxins for our brains.

9. Meds (of ANY kind). List the dosages, and when taken.


***********************

Replies to Above List

1. You MUST get 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep as a MINIMUM, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

2. Eating--one of the other mods, Skillefer, (we call her Skilly), promotes eating 6 small meals a day, using a dessert plate, filling it with a carb and a protein. Good idea, I think. However, some people, like me are allergic to certain foods. You might want to look into various diets. Ketogenic, Modified Atkins, Low Glycemix Index, Gluten Free Casein Free (see www.dogtorj.com where the actual given name is GARD—it stands for Gut Absorption Recovery Diet).

3. Look into a glare screen for your computer or blue tinted polarized GLASSES (available by prescription from eye doctor). These can help cut down on seizures that are caused by photosensitive epilepsy.

4. GUYS--you may not have a cycle, but you DO have hormones. DO get your doc to do a full hormone screen, check thyroid, etc, just to make sure.

5. Use things like yoga, music, walking, whatever it is that you do to bust out your stress. Keep a separate journal to write in so that you can write out your feelings in--and keep it for your eyes only. Write it out by hand, two or three pages at a time. It helps A LOT. DO IT EVERY DAY.

6. REFLEX E can be caused by exercise, so DO track what you do. Keep in mind that you SHOULD NOT swim, bike, hike or bungee jump by yourself. Same goes for mountain climbing.

7, 8 & 9. 'Nuff said.

OK, the journal IS a pain in the arse. No doubt about that one. BUT it DOES help the doctors track things down.

**********************

Welcome to CWE, btw. I'm sure you're going to like it here. Plenty of people to meet, a great dinner party that our host, Mr B is throwing, and lots of information to learn. The house is AWESOME, and feel free to kick back. We'll be here for you, no matter what.

Take care.

Meetz

[daisy.girl]

Did you tell your neurologist about your blank stares? That could be a seizure. I know what you mean about not knowing about possible seizures. That's the devil, isn't it? I don't know if some of mine are under control, because I don't know if I'm having them!

Yes...that is what made him do the 20 min EEG that show spikes. He wants me to now have a 73 hr EEG.

I have taken many migraine preventives too. zonegran, verapimil, inderal, zanaflex (but I still take zanaflex for my legs)...I think there are more.
For meds I have tried relpax, maxalt, forva, amerge, treximet, zomig....
I think the maxalt and zomig work the best.

Meetz...thanks for all the info. I did not know auras were seizures? Do you mean my migraines auras too? I get visual ones, lights and wavy lines.
What do you mean they are NOW classified in the same family? When did they do that?

[Zoofemme]

I have gotten migraines since I was 8 yrs old. The only trigger ever been found is artificial sweeteners (ALL) so I avoid them like the plague. Previously I'd been dignosed with cluster migraines. They attempted to put me on preventatives when I was younger...I had a near fatal reaction to one (Midrin: thank goodness I was in the clinic ER!) and broke out in hives with the other. They wouldn't try anything else after that...just told me to go to the ER for a shot of epinephrine or caffergot from now on. I learned to cope cause that gets expensive. Dark rooms, sunglasses, no sound, tons of tylenol, lay perfectly still except to get sick. I don't get auras but am extremely light sensitive or maybe I do and don't notice because i am so light sensitive (?).

My longest bought with headaches has probably been the most recent...6 mos, daily-either full blown cluster migraines, what neurologist told me were classic migraines or something in the stages between. Now I'm on 100 mg Topomax daily and it has helped immensely. I have had a few breakthrus...I can tell when it is getting close to time to take my next dose.

[Meetz1064]

yes, auras are a form a seizure--typically a simple partial. Migraines were classed in the seizure family recently--I don't know an exact date tho.

And the wavy lines, etc you're seeing....yup. You should talk to doc about those.

Consider you might be photosensitive, and try wearing glasses designed to help cut down on those--blue tinted lenses usually are the best for helping. Ask your eye doctor about that.

Have you considered taking some magnesium to help with the migraines??

[daisy.girl]

thank you for the replies:
Zoof....do you have seizures too? and where is greenville? I am from ohio, but live in florida now.

Meetz....I will talk to my neurologist about the wavy lines. I also have been researching supplements to take for my MS....but will definitely look into Magnesium. How much do you take?

[RobinN]

I had 30+ yrs of migraines. I tried almost every med on the books and finally was frustrated having to take prescriptions. I found a doctor that recommended magnesium.
I have not had a migraine in 5 yrs.