I have not had a seizure but the doctor said my Sleep Deprivation EEg is abnormal and I am in the lower end of the realm. He said the EEG did show that I had a seizure during the test either. But I am on topamax for 8 weeks and then i go back to him. I wonder why he didn`t order a Cat Scan or MRI. I just have been having these speels...near fainting but not fainting. About 6 weeks now. I was in the hopistal for 4 days. The cardiologist did all kind so tests and everything cardiac is ruled out. I also have been going to an Endocrinologist and everything has been ruled out. I am confused.
Newbie, confused and scared.
- Thread starter minky55
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Ruth
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Hi Minky,
Welcome to the forum. Bernard made it out of love for his wife Stacy. That love permeates throughout the whole forum.
Have a Video-EEG done, it will be more accurate. Did you start fainting before you were put on the medicine? Does your doctor know about these fainting spells?
Fainting can be caused by many different illnesses. Your doctor will have to find out what is the cause. What makes you think it is epilepsy? There must be something more going on for you to think that.
Welcome to the forum. Bernard made it out of love for his wife Stacy. That love permeates throughout the whole forum.
Have a Video-EEG done, it will be more accurate. Did you start fainting before you were put on the medicine? Does your doctor know about these fainting spells?
Fainting can be caused by many different illnesses. Your doctor will have to find out what is the cause. What makes you think it is epilepsy? There must be something more going on for you to think that.
Great site! How wonderful bernie did this for his wife Stacy! Nice to meet you Ruth. I just figures that because the EEG is abnormal...doesn`t that show seizure activity and that is what the topamax is for? The neurologist said I am in the lower realm of seizure activity. I am going to the neurologist because of the near fainting spells. Yes he knows about them.
I have been on Topamax for 3 years...for a permanent nerve damage and RSd...I was on 75mg twice a day...so this neurologist I was sent to has increased it to 100mg twice a day. he did not order any other test. He wants to see if the increase of med for 8 weeks will diminish the spells.. I just think he should do more tests on me right away.. but he said no. I still don`t understand..but he said he wants to see how the medicine works first.
I have been on Topamax for 3 years...for a permanent nerve damage and RSd...I was on 75mg twice a day...so this neurologist I was sent to has increased it to 100mg twice a day. he did not order any other test. He wants to see if the increase of med for 8 weeks will diminish the spells.. I just think he should do more tests on me right away.. but he said no. I still don`t understand..but he said he wants to see how the medicine works first.
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Hi minky55, welcome to CWE!
When there isn't conclusive EEG evidence, doctors have to take a look at the clinical evidence -- your actual symptoms -- and make a provisional diagnosis. If epilepsy seems likely, then the usual next step is to prescribe an anti-seizure med (or in your case, to up the dose of an existing one), to see if it helps control the symptoms. If it does help, then that can retroactively confirm that epilepsy is what's going on.
Your doctor may have held off on a CT or MRI because you already have known neurological issues (nerve damage and RSd) that may be playing a role. But it never hurts to ask your doc for clarification, and you should feel free to do so.
Best,
Nakamova
When there isn't conclusive EEG evidence, doctors have to take a look at the clinical evidence -- your actual symptoms -- and make a provisional diagnosis. If epilepsy seems likely, then the usual next step is to prescribe an anti-seizure med (or in your case, to up the dose of an existing one), to see if it helps control the symptoms. If it does help, then that can retroactively confirm that epilepsy is what's going on.
Your doctor may have held off on a CT or MRI because you already have known neurological issues (nerve damage and RSd) that may be playing a role. But it never hurts to ask your doc for clarification, and you should feel free to do so.
Best,
Nakamova