trying to find answers for my daughter

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pam472

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My 17 y/o daughter had her first seizure on Jan 25. We were at a concert. When the 3rd band came on, they had bright, white flashing lights as part of their show and we had 4th row seats. About 45 seconds into their set, she was on the floor convulsing with a tonic-clonic seizure. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital and was admitted. She had a few more seizures over the two days she was there but her EEG was normal.

She was transferred to Riley's Children's hospital at IU Medical Center for a 24 hr video EEG and had a grand mal seizure in the ambulance on the way to Indianapolis.

During the 24 hr EEG, which was really only about 16 hours, they were able to induce a seizure with a strobe. However, the Dr said the EEG was completely normal. We were told they must be stress related, was sent home with no meds, was told to practice deep breathing, and to see a psychiatrist. She has been in counseling for several years and her counselor says there is no way they could be stress related. He says she is his most stable patient. He's been doing then for more than a couple decades, so I would think he knows what he's talking about.

Since then the seizures haven't stopped. She was averaging one seizure about every 3 days until last Friday. Since last Friday it has been at least one each day. Wednesday she had 4 seizures back to back in the hallway of the high school and was taken to the ER by ambulance. Since she was scheduled to see a local neurologist on the 28th for a follow-up, the ER Dr gave her a prescription for Ativan to place under her tongue if she felt she may have a seizure. Not the best solution because she usually doesn't know when she may have one and she could choke on the pill.

Later that afternoon, the local neurologist's office called to cancel my daughter's appointment because Riley's diagnosed them as stress related pseudo seizures. She said it would be like someone coming to them for a broken foot.

Sunday she had 9 seizures in 5 hours. After the 4th one, I took her to the ER. When the ER Dr saw the seizures, he said they were definitely 'real seizures' and gave her 1000 mg of Dilantin and transferred her to a hospital with a neurology unit. They did another EEG that was found to be normal again. But this neurologist did prescribe Tegretol and it may be helping. She hasn't had a seizure in 45 hours and she isn't jerking like she had been since the first seizure. However, we were told to follow up with our family Dr because it wasn't necessary to see a neurologist since they are pseudo seizures.

Has anyone else had this much trouble getting someone to take them seriously because the EEGs are normal??? What should I do???
 
Im so sorry you're getting no where with doctors. My EEGs come back with activity on them, all my MRIs come back normal though. ive been on anti seizure drugs all my life. has your daughter had an MRI yet?
 
Yes. CT scan and MRI are normal.
She has had to quit her job and withdraw from school because her seizures were too frequent. Both were concerned about liability. I just want her to have her life back. I want her to be able to go to prom, go to movies again, play laser tag, etc.
 
Hi Pam! I can relate. My daughter started having episodes in her sleep (later found out to be partial seizures) in April and I took her to her pediatrician, referred to a Neurologist who just told me she was having bad dreams. I knew something wasnt right so I pushed for more testing. MRI, CT clear. EEG and Sleep study came back normal. So he pushed me off. These were happening every night. Finally in June she had a Grand Mal (Tonic Clonic) and they sent us home without answers. So I took her to a Pediatric Neurologist. After ONE test she diagnosed my daughter, prescribed a med that works well. So we had seizures every night, between 2-6 times, for over 6 months until we got control. Dont give up. Push for answers, tests, switch Drs if you need to. Nobody would listen to me that something was wrong. Sometimes seizures are too deep in the brain to catch on EEG but it doesnt make them not REAL. Many have clear EEGS and still have a seizure disorder.Tegretol is a first line drug of choice, I hope you see some relief soon. It took about 6 weeks for our med to get the right dose and work. Im sorry your daughter is going through this. I know how scary it is, for you and for her. My daughter is almost 12. It will get easier, just takes time and support. Glad you are here!
 
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They have all been tonic-clonic. When she had 9 seizures in 5 hours it scared the hell out of me.
She's lost 3 jean sizes since this started and is beginning to lose blocks of time of memories. I can't see how nothing is going on in her brain.

Anyone know anything about Dr. Ebersole at University of Chicago? I feel like God is leading me to take her there.
 
They have all been tonic-clonic. When she had 9 seizures in 5 hours it scared the hell out of me.
She's lost 3 jean sizes since this started and is beginning to lose blocks of time of memories. I can't see how nothing is going on in her brain.

Anyone know anything about Dr. Ebersole at University of Chicago? I feel like God is leading me to take her there.

Dr. Ebersole is listed as an epilepsy specialist on the American Epilepsy Society.
http://www.aesnet.org/find-a-dr/find-a-doctor-epilepsy-com

IMO, it sounds like this is the type of dr. you need to see, ASAP.
 
Pam.
Your poor daughter, this must be devastating for her….and of course you…I am Mum to 27 year Son with E, I am so sorry you are both going through this rollercoaster.

"Withdraw from school because her seizures were too frequent. Both were concerned about liability"

School has responsibilities; show took a break from school or withdrawal?


Seek and continue to seek for a doctor who will treat your daughter, not just the symptoms, but her overall wellbeing....and firm diagnose. Sorry, not from your region so no idea on the doc mentioned..Go with your instinct and change when you not happy and leave no stone unturned....and educate yourself as much as you can, becasue I can speak 1st hand, I have been my Son's memory so many times..and always go with him and take notes at his appointments.....takes weight off them, one they can do without...if at all possible

Record every seizure in a seizure dairy, record everything out of the ordinary, this will help you deal with doctors and will be a great reference if looking to find triggers...The whole family including your daughter can add notes...simple book on tale for all to add to, with date and time and comment of seizure type or observations....been a godsend for us..

Keep us posted……feeling for you here, big time…
 
I am so sorry to read what your daughter and you are going through.

Please keep at it, until you find a Dr. that WILL listen and help her.

I have had E. all my life, all my EEG and MRI came back normal until 2005, it was a teaching hosp. that finally showed the area where my seizures are coming from.
 
Pam, welcome to CWE. I am also a mother to a daughter who experiences seizures. Paige is 15 and has officially been diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. It sounds like you are heading in the right direction to see a doctor who specializes in epilepsy. I see that the doctor you are potentially seeing is in Chicago. We are about an hour north of Chicago - in Wisconsin. Perhaps we are neighbors! Please keep us posted on how things are going. From one mom to another - I'd like to express how wonderful CWE has been as a support for me and I hope you find the same comfort and support I have found here.
 
I see that the doctor you are potentially seeing is in Chicago. We are about an hour north of Chicago - in Wisconsin. Perhaps we are neighbors! Please keep us posted on how things are going. From one mom to another - I'd like to express how wonderful CWE has been as a support for me and I hope you find the same comfort and support I have found here.

I am actually in Southern Indiana, but was raised in the Gary area. My aunt has epilepsy and she saw a doctor at University of Chicago that helped her, so I thought I would give it a try.

I am finding the support found at CWE a huge comfort. Thanks to all!
 
She had always had a random, bad twitch since the first seizure. She does not have that twitch today nor was it noticeable last night. I hope this means the tegretol is working.
 
The fact that the Tegretol is helping is a pretty strong sign that her seizures are epileptic rather than stress-related. I hope you and she can get to a specialist soon to confirm this. The EEG isn't infallible and can miss seizures that originate too deep in the brain, so ideally you want a doctor who is experienced enough to diagnose based on the symptoms alone.

I hope she's starting to feel better. The weight loss may be due to the seizures as well as the meds -- both can affect appetite.
 
She just started the tegretol yesterday and was given 1000 mg of Dilantin in the ER Sunday night. So, I'd say the weight loss has something to do with the seizures, not the meds. Its sad that it took this many seizures and ER trips before someone would try to treat her medically.

I did get her an appointment at University of Chicago with Dr. John Ebersole. From what I've read, he literally wrote the book on EEGs and Epilepsy. I would say if he can't figure out what's going on, probably no one can.
 
Thank you, everyone! I am so grateful for the care and compassion you have shown me. It helps so much to get feedback from people who have been there. It seems that some of you know more from your experiences than all of the neurologists she has seen so far. You might want to consider a career change. LOL
 
Pam, I saw this post and HAD to tell you that you are doing the right thing, PUSHING. I had my first seizure when I was 18 years old. My mom took me to see the head of neurology at a well-known, respected hospital in CA. EEG showed some seizure activity, MRI and CT clear. I started Dilantin, but started going NUTS! I was screaming, throwing things, etc. Mom told my doctor to switch it out. So we started another...wasn't working, etc. Finally found one that we THOUGHT worked...I didn't realize that the flashes, sparkles, lack of focus, etc. I was seeing were actually auras/simple-partials. He referred me to an EYE DOCTOR who told me to "do eye push-ups" to help my lazy eye.

I wrecked my car on the way home from work one night. Destroyed it, went off of the freeway and through a fence.

I told my GP what happened, what the neuro did, etc. He was MAD! He referred me to a much better doctor who actually HELPED me, and when I had to change insurance he referred me to a personal friend who is an absolutely WONDERFUL neurologist. I stayed with his practice until I moved out of state. Then I had to start ALL OVER AGAIN up here in Oregon, and my first neuro was an absolute IDIOT! Didn't stick with that chick! Now I see an epileptologist who actually put together a program researching/treating epilepsy. She was actually able to find the miniscule amount of grey matter that is causing my problem. Inoperable, but it helps, knowing after 18 years!

NEVER GIVE UP! If you aren't happy, don't settle! Your daughter deserves the BEST care, and as her mom, so do you. I hope your next appointment goes well, and please-give your daughter our love and best wishes.

Love from Oregon!
 
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