Finding out what's wrong

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Red1

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I after, about 20 years of having no clue what is wrong, am going to a Neurologist tomorrow to find out. I have had what I called flashbacks since I was in about 8th grade. Had no clue what they were or how to describe them. In the last couple of months they have gotten a lot more frequent. After finding this forum, I finally realize that it is likely simple partial seizures. I still really do not know how to describe them to the doctor, but I am willing to try so they can help me figure out what is truly wrong. I have had a lot on my plate work wise. Does stress seem to make these worse?
 
Stress can affect the likelihood of seizures. Just explain them as best you can, your neurologist will be an expert in the field and will be able to understand. You're unlikely to be the first person with the kind of seizures your having. So he's probably heard it before. Hopefully he is able to find a cause. I wish you luck.

I do understand how you feel, until I started having Tonic Clonics and started to research Epilepsy I didn't realise I'd been having partial seizures for about 18 months. I thought people would think I was just going crazy or the doctors would look at me like I was stupid if I described my episodes, and I wasn't sure how to actually describe them. The first time I saw my doctor I told him as best I could and he just nodded, and knew exactly what they were.
 
Stress is a huge seizure trigger for me, and a lot of other people.

Try writing down what you are feeling like and what's going on. This could make it easier for you to know what you want to say while you are with the dr rather than trying to describe it on the spot. Write down any questions you want to ask too.

Hope things go well.
 
Good luck, Red1. I hope you get answers, and the help you need. I remember the feeling of not knowing what was going on, and trying to find a way to describe it. Take care.
 
Well I went to the Neurologist yesterday and she is of course sending me for a 4 hour EEG and and MRI next week. Said it sounds like Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, but will determine that with these test. She also asked about my thyroid and said she would consider doing bloodwork if these test come back ok. But isn't it common for the test to come back ok? Do you have to have a simple partial seizure during the EEG for it to show up? So 2 more weeks of not knowing, guess that isn't a big deal since it has been 20 years since it started happening.
 
There are different kind of brainwave patterns that characterize seizures -- not only during an actual seizure, but also at in-between times. Ideally, you'll have a few simple partials during the actual test. One thing that can help is if you are sleep-deprived before the EEG. Did your neurologist mention that? It is true that the EEG doesn't always pick up seizure activity, especially simple partials, and it can sometimes occur too deep in the brain to register. Just keep your fingers crossed that the EEG produces useful info, and be prepared to have a good talk with your neurologist about the results whatever they may be.

Testing the thyroid isn't a bad idea, regardless of the EEG results, since hormonal issues can sometimes act as a trigger. If you are hypo- or hyper-thyroid it's worth knowing. have you been having symptoms that point to thyroid issues?
 
They told me to go to bed 2 hours later than usual, so I guess that is why. And I don't really know of any symptoms I have for thyroid problems, but I have been tested in the past and my grandmother has thyroid problems and has for years so that maybe why, I did tell the dr. about that.
 
For all my EEGs I was told to stay up the night before -- no sleep whatsoever. If you can safely do so, try sleeping as little as possible. (Though not if it will make it unsafe for you to travel to your EEG appointment). Studies are very clear that sleep-deprived EEGs are more likely to yield abnormal EEG results, particularly for partial seizures.

See: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2111070
 
I get flash backs! im same as u cant describe it and ur actually first person ive seen who has said about this too! mine feel like flash backs it always ends up being the same moment im in but i just think ive had a sezure at this time b4, if that makes since! then i get times where im happy doing something then boom i just have flash backs of previous t/c out of the blue hate it!
 
That makes sense, I will they to sleep as little as possible the night before.

The flashbacks, as I call them, lately have been the same one every time. However, I can't remember the details of it at all just the main thing it's about. They don't upset me anymore because I know in a few moments it will be over. And for me they almost always happen in the morning when I am getting ready.
 
Completed the 4 hour EEG yesterday and just found out this morning that the MRI with contrast they did on Tuesday, came back normal. I am very thankful for that, but I am anxious about the results of the EEG. I will not get the results until next Thursday when I am scheduled to go back to the Neurologist. So what usually happens if that comes back normal too? I feel very strongly that I am having Auras and as of the last week or two, I feel very foggy as well. Just cannot focus at all, seem like I am in a haze. I assume that is part of it as well. I am just ready to know what is wrong so I can hopefully get on the road to getting better and able to manage it.
 
If the EEG comes back normal, you and your neurologist will discuss whether to treat for epilepsy anyway. I assume this is what you want to do. Your neurologist may agree with you, or he may suggest the possibility of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, in which case you might be referred to a psychologist. Depending on how you feel about this, you might want to be prepared with questions about how certain the neuro is of the diagnosis, and what happens if he's wrong.
 
Thanks for the heads up. The neurologist had mentioned bloodwork for thyroid as well, my Grandmother has a thyroid issue in which she takes medicine for. Also I am hypoglycemic so we have discussed looking into that as well. So I am not really sure what direction the doctor plans to go, guess I will have to wait until Thursday to see. I would prefer to not be on medication for epilepsy. The only symptoms I have had, until now, have been Auras and I have had those for years and can deal with them. It is the foggy headed, can't concentrate on anything, that I am having a hard time dealing with.
 
Hi Red,
Sounds like the classic simple partials, your story really mimics mine.
Started out as flashbacks in grade 10, and same as you... 'have been the same one every time. However, I can't remember the details of it at all just the main thing it's about.' YEP. I've had them for over 18 years now and they more or less are the same every time, but when I come out of one good luck explaining it. Makes no sense to the listener, but that's okay, it's not supposed to.

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/invaluable-article-simple-partials-auras-13324/

Definately good you're getting your thyroid followed, it runs in my family too and my docs test it once a year to be sure. And yeah, just b/c your eeg comes back normal, if that's the case, doesn't mean E is defo ruled out.
I do wish you the best of luck with the partials staying at just that tho; I had them for nine years before tonic clonics entered my world - and they are hell.
 
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Hope everything works out. Simple partials can get pretty intense, I use to work through them on not Drugs, so I hope they can figure out exactly what is going on. Worse case scenario, you can always try a low dose and not have to deal with any bad side affects. Best of luck!
 
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