Could my sisters have epilepsy? Please help..

[epilepsee]

Some odd things have been going on with a couple of my sisters lately. Epilepsy (generalized) runs in our family.

Yesterday, my Mom called me because my eleven year old sister was reading a book and while she was reading the words were flipping upside down and then going back right side up. I looked it up, and it seems that when the brain interprets images in the retina it is easier for the brain to interpret images right side up, so why is her brain taking the more difficult route? It makes me think there may be some cognitive impairment.

Today, another one of my sisters (who is twenty and away at college) called me from her doctors office. She was in class and started to feel incredibly nauseous. She figured she could wait it out for forty more minutes, but ended up having to go to the bathroom. In the bathroom, she went blind for approximately five to ten minutes. She was utterly unable to see. The doctor took her blood pressure and found it high, but sent her home without checking her blood because she was worried she would pass out. I have had the same thing happen to me although not for as long, and had normal (even on the high side) iron in my blood. She recommended she schedule an appointment with a neurologist. Would this warrant a visit to an epileptologist or neurologist?

Both of these sisters are very much like me, and even my Mom calls them by my name sometimes...I worry they may have epilepsy too, but don't know much about these types of seizures, if that is what is going on. Does anyone have any suggestions? My twenty year old sister wants me to schedule the appointment for her, and she is going to fly out so I can do so...but I am not sure what kind of doctor to schedule it with, and doubt I can even get one in time (2 weeks).

Anyone have any suggestions? onder:

 

[Meetz1064]

Best suggestion

would be to get them both in for a workup. Period. At a neurologist. And see what's what.

 

[Nakamova]

I agree with Meetz. The symptoms you describe sound a bit like migraines, a bit like partial seizures, so checking in with a neurologist would be a great way to get a handle on things.

 

[Cint]

I agree with Meetz and Nakamova. The 11 year old's symptoms do sound like migraines. Epilepsy and migraines are cousins.

I had something similar happen like your 20 year old sister did years ago when I was in my 20's. I went blind for approximately 5 minutes, but I had been sick prior to that. Anyway, later that day I ended up going status and staying in the hospital for a few days. I also have Type 1 diabetes, and when my glucose falls to quick, I sometimes get sudden blurred vision and for some, it is temporary blindness.

So have the dr. check out her glucose and A1c, also.

 

[epilepsee]

Thank you so more for all your advice...I will take the 20 yr old in but as for the eleven year old, unfortunately my Mom is a little, um, lenient and she doesn't think it's necessary so I will have to work on that.

Cint, my twenty year old sister was just getting over an illness as well, so that is interesting. I hope she doesn't go into status, is there something to look out for? Did you go into convulsions during status, or was it non-convulsive?

 

[mlbandura]

During my Son's second known seizure he went blind for about 5-7 minutes and then about 10 minutes later he had another one. He was diagnosed with Complex Partials a week later. I agree, I would definitely have them see a neurologist, if anything just to be on the safe side.

 

[Cint]

Cint, my twenty year old sister was just getting over an illness as well, so that is interesting. I hope she doesn't go into status, is there something to look out for? Did you go into convulsions during status, or was it non-convulsive?

I did have convulsions during that seizure.

If she is diagnosed with epilepsy, make sure she is treated with the right medication so she doesn't go status. If she's unusually nauseated, dizzy, goes blind, faints, anything abnormal, call the dr. ASAP

From http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/types/statusepilepticus.cfm

About 25 percent of status epilepticus cases occur in people who have been diagnosed with epilepsy. At some point in their lives, 15 percent of people with epilepsy will experience an episode of status epilepticus. The most common precipitating factor in these cases in adults is withdrawal from medication or noncompliance with the regimen. There may,however, be no obvious cause for the episode. Ten percent of people who later progress to epilepsy experience their first seizure as a status episode.

 

[Endless]

I agree with everyone else. She needs to see a neurologist and get checked out, pronto. It could be any of a number of things. She should see her primary care phsyician, too, so she can be tested for any of the other things that could have caused it. Her PCP could be valuable in making a call to get her in to see the neurologist sooner than the normal waiting period.

That said, one of my earliest memories of a seizure was when I first lost my sight, then after a minute or two my hearing, as well. It was all so odd - I couldn't see or hear, but I could talk to the person with me and tell her what was happening. But couldn't see her or hear her reply, just feel her hand on my elbow. I didn't know what was going on and was really scared. Sight/hearing both came back a couple of minutes later and I was just fine. I haven't had another seizure like that since.

 

[epilepsee]

Thank you all very much. She is being tested for anemia, and she doesn't eat very well but just in case I will try to schedule her an appt with a neurologist- if I can on such short notice. (she will be here in less than two weeks) If not, I am going to attempt to at least get her in for an EEG.

While I can't say for sure, I honestly doubt that she will have more seizures (if that was one) as this is happening during a time of a lot of stress in her life with school. But just to be safe...at least it would encourage her to take preventative measures or extra care of her health. Thanks again guys, you are all very helpful.