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ejxxx1966

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My dad has had epilepsy since he was a child. Dr's believe it started after a blow to the head. It has been well controlled for 40+ years.
About a month ago he fell down after having 3 drinks. It appeared that he just fainted because his feet were still on the first two steps of the stairs. No one saw him fall so we can't say for certain if he hit his head. He did not convulse or have any other epileptic symptoms. He has no recollection of the day after he fell. He was disoriented for the rest of that day and was not himself, constantly swearing at everyone. The next day he was doing well except for being very tired. It has been about a month now and he has some odd symptoms occurring: he frequently gets dizzy, he is often very tired, and forgets things often. Just the other day he could not remember how to spell his first name. He has seen a neurologist who believes he suffered a concussion during the day of the fall.
Do any of the symptoms sound like they are related to an epileptic episode?

I've read through prior posts and want to thank you ahead of time for your thoughts.
Thank you.
 
:hello: EJ

Welcome to CWE, I surely hope your father has
followed up and thoroughly with a Neurologist and
his Doctors. If there's been tests performed and he's
still having problems, then I strongly suggest that if
you can - bring this up to his Primary Care Physician
and make notes of what you have observed and make
a log or a diary of such events and time it, and don't
forget the date too. So the Doctor can review it to
see how frequent they are - so if further test(s) are
needed - the Doctor will then be able to go from there,
and likewise, if your father has a Neurologist, make a
duplicate copy of the same report to the Neurologist as
well (so that both Primary and Neurologist have the same
report). I also strongly recommend that you consult
with your father's Primary and Neurologist to be in tune
with each other.

Also - please make a note of all current medication(s)
he is taking as well - and any other Physicians (Specialists)
he may be also seeing and medication(s) that he may be
taking as well by them. This is very important.

Once they have all this information together, from that
standpoint - they can go "back to square one" (because
reality is - they can't go by what he had in the past, even
though knowing what he had in the past does help
tremendously, but what they need to deal with is what
is happening right now at this present moment is what
they are going to have to deal with). Make sure you write
down all the medical history if you know it on both sides of
his family (cancer, diabetics, epilepsy, mental issues, cardiac,
etc...) so they can review it to make sure your father didn't
leave anything out (people do tend to "forget" sometimes).

And hopefully from there - they can help your father and
find out the bottom line of everything, and get him back
into health - his medical condition could be anything from
Epilepsy to Stroke to T.I.A. to Diabetics to Tumor/Cancer
to Aneurysm to ????

We are NOT MEDICAL DOCTORS here ... but at least what
I have given you is a BIG HEAD START to get you going!

Best wishes to your father and hope this jump shot gets
things rolling for you!
 
Welcome, EJ:)
First, the tiredness & mood swings sound like side effects of meds used to control seizures, but I'm a teacher, not a neurologist. I like Brain's advice & if he takes any over the counter meds make note of that, too. Has his neurologist or primary care M.D. ordered any tests? I'm sorry I'm not much help. Remember you're always welcome here & if you wish to do so, please update us on his condition. Take care, EJ.
Best Wishes to you & your father!;) ~Ann T
 
Ann T. said:
Welcome, EJ:)
First, the tiredness & mood swings sound like side effects of meds used to control seizures, but I'm a teacher, not a neurologist. I like Brain's advice & if he takes any over the counter meds make note of that, too. Has his neurologist or primary care M.D. ordered any tests? I'm sorry I'm not much help. Remember you're always welcome here & if you wish to do so, please update us on his condition. Take care, EJ.
Best Wishes to you & your father!;) ~Ann T
Click to expand...

Ann is correct on this too, as well as any
Supplements as well - including vitamins and herbal;
whether pills or formula types (powder or liquid drinks).
 
We cannot diagnoise as we are not medically educated but we can tell you from our own experiances. My best friend's mother just had a devistating stroke, and her symptoms started out very simular.

He needs to be evaluated for a stroke. Any type of personality change, severe mood swing, cannot remember information like name address etc., loss of consinessness is neruological in nature. Especially at his age. Get him to the hospital ASAP!


Stroke Warning Signs

If you notice one or more of these signs, don't wait. Stroke is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 or your emergency medical services. Get to a hospital right away!
The American Stroke Association wants you to learn the warning signs of stroke:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Take action in an emergency.

Not all the warning signs occur in every stroke. Don't ignore signs of stroke, even if they go away!
Check the time. When did the first warning sign or symptom start?
You'll be asked this important question later.
If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay!
Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical service (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can quickly be sent for you.
If you're with someone who may be having stroke symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or the EMS. Expect the person to protest — denial is common. Don't take "no" for an answer. Insist on taking prompt action.



http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4742
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I agree with Birdbomb and brain. Yes he needs to be evaluated for a stroke. His symptoms sound like some of what I had. After that I was in the hospital for about two weeks for a stroke several years ago. Get him to his doctor or E.R. ASAP. We're not doctors,most of us talk from what happened to us.
 
Thanks for the tips and advice.

We've been in contact with his primary care physician and his neurologist (2 actually). Both of them cannot find anything "wrong" with him. He was in the ER after he lost consciousness and spent a night in the hospital. The next morning the the doctors said, "I see no signs why he should be here" and he was discharged. They were aware of all the symptoms I wrote above.

What kinds of tests are performed when someone is evaluated for a stroke? I would assume that the neurologist performed a stroke evaluation but I should never assume.
 



Click on the above banner and it
will take you the site and you can
gather more information and then
some ... and more!
 
One More Thing ...

I have Epilepsy, but I am also a T.I.A. Survivor
too - so this isn't something to be taken lightly.

I must also add - they DO have a telephone number
at the website where you can even call them and
inquire within and ask more questions and go from
there - and they are Medical Professionals and Team
of Experts that can assist you and even direct you
if necessary - even if it means to get your father
to the proper Hospital / Facility!
 
Hi ejxxx1966, welcome to the forum. :hello:

ejxxx1966 said:
About a month ago he fell down after having 3 drinks. It appeared that he just fainted because his feet were still on the first two steps of the stairs. No one saw him fall so we can't say for certain if he hit his head. He did not convulse or have any other epileptic symptoms.
Click to expand...

It's possible that this was a tonic or atonic seizure, but it could also be a stroke, syncope or other things.

ejxxx1966 said:
... It has been about a month now and he has some odd symptoms occurring: he frequently gets dizzy, he is often very tired, and forgets things often.
Click to expand...

Has he had his blood pressure checked? This sounds a lot like high blood pressure leading to TIAs (mini-strokes).
 
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