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Normal EEG but continuing seizures

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 13:55

Hi,

I have been having e for the past 12-13 years. It was rather well-controlled with medication (phenobarbital) till about 6 to 7 months back, when it started again but with different characteristics. The characteristics changed again about a month back, but my EEG which was sleep-deprived with medication came out to be normal.

Is this possible or could it be because of the mugs of coffee that i had to stay awake? Incidentally, the week i had my eeg, i was seizure free.

Would appreciate if anyone could throw some light on this! :-)

 

Comments

Re: Normal EEG but continuing seizures

Submitted by iraq on Sat, 2009-09-26 - 20:36

 

My husband is a veteran and has PTSD from combat, was treated for epilepsy for 12 months with Depakote that caused more seizures and almost killed him. Just found out that his seizures are Psychogenic-NonEpileptic seizures and are caused by stress, and can NOT be controlled with anti seizure medication. His EEG also was normal, and we did inpatient EEG Video Monitoring 3 weeks ago with the doctor who wrote the article below. My husband's start with a stress or panic, then he paces and stares before slowly falling to convulsions....UNLIKE an  Epileptic seizure where there is no warning because it is due to an electro abnormality in the brain, which should show on the EEG. His seizures stopped and his treatment is 5mg valium as needed and psychiatric treatment to deal with the stress he's been through.

If you want to talk to the best click on the link below and find out which kind of seizures you are having!!!

 http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/ar_1116430870.html 

 

My husband is a veteran and has PTSD from combat, was treated for epilepsy for 12 months with Depakote that caused more seizures and almost killed him. Just found out that his seizures are Psychogenic-NonEpileptic seizures and are caused by stress, and can NOT be controlled with anti seizure medication. His EEG also was normal, and we did inpatient EEG Video Monitoring 3 weeks ago with the doctor who wrote the article below. My husband's start with a stress or panic, then he paces and stares before slowly falling to convulsions....UNLIKE an  Epileptic seizure where there is no warning because it is due to an electro abnormality in the brain, which should show on the EEG. His seizures stopped and his treatment is 5mg valium as needed and psychiatric treatment to deal with the stress he's been through.

If you want to talk to the best click on the link below and find out which kind of seizures you are having!!!

 http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/ar_1116430870.html 

Re: Normal EEG but continuing seizures

Submitted by rbeauchene on Sun, 2010-09-12 - 14:50

For one, you aren't supposed to have any caffeine when you have EEG's. The whole point of sleep deprivation eeg's is to get you tired enough so then can try to induce a seizure.  I'm not sure if that would cause a normal EE or not, but I know there's a reason they say not to drink caffeine.

 I am having seizures with normal eeg's too and have been referred to an epilepsy specialist at Mayo. I know the doctor says that even if they don't catch a seizure on an EEG, there is still abnormal brain activity to hint at epilepsy (or at least that's what I understand. My neurologist sometimes talks way too fast for and I get confused and have memory loss).  However, the neurologist did tell me that people can have seizures and still have normal EEG's.

For one, you aren't supposed to have any caffeine when you have EEG's. The whole point of sleep deprivation eeg's is to get you tired enough so then can try to induce a seizure.  I'm not sure if that would cause a normal EE or not, but I know there's a reason they say not to drink caffeine.

 I am having seizures with normal eeg's too and have been referred to an epilepsy specialist at Mayo. I know the doctor says that even if they don't catch a seizure on an EEG, there is still abnormal brain activity to hint at epilepsy (or at least that's what I understand. My neurologist sometimes talks way too fast for and I get confused and have memory loss).  However, the neurologist did tell me that people can have seizures and still have normal EEG's.

Re: Normal EEG but continuing seizures

Submitted by Masterjen on Thu, 2010-09-16 - 10:52
rbeau: Do you mind letting me know about your experience at the Mayo clinic?? If I don't get anywhere with my second neuro. (my first one says because my sz are worse during my period and can be aggravated by stress/fatigue that they are psychogenic, however I know in my gut that they are not), I plan to pay for services at a place in the US, like Mayo Clinic. I live in Canada, but if paying for top-notch testing and advice is the only way to go, than I will do it. Whether you or your insurance is paying for it, can you let me know the cost as well??

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