Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Psychogenic AND Epileptic. Anyone else have this too?

Wed, 05/25/2011 - 18:04

So I'm in the hospital today, (was yesterday too) for VEEG testing.

I had a two "attacks" yesterday that included sudden numbness in face neck and arms, sudden tension to the point where my hands were bent in funny ways, loss of mobility in arms, jerking/muscle spasms, emotional, with clouded awareness and some loss of memory. Believe it or not, these attacks were shown to be psychogenic according to my EEG. They also say that based on previous EEGs I still have confirmed epileptic seizures. So what I know right now, and what we are looking at, is that I have both epileptic AND PNES. I have been prescribed Lamictal for my epileptic spells.

Gonna be in the hospital another day or so.

Anybody else deal with both epileptic and psychogenic seizures? It would be nice to hear about some individuals that have the issue of detrmining spells caused by unconscious mood stressors vs spells caused by epilepsy. How do you cope? What triggers have you found? Have you found a difference between the two?

AJ

Comments

Re: Psychogenic AND Epileptic. Anyone else have this too?

Submitted by Allina on Mon, 2011-07-25 - 11:01

What I thought was interesting, was the fact that he kept saying I had both, and I kept asking him if I might of just been having simple partials the whole time, and he said yes. Already a contradiction.

Second contradiction was when I asked him about all these "stressors" and "mood problems" that are correlated to psychogenic, and asked him why they don't correlate them to temporal lobe epilepsy based on where our seizures are located. He kept saying "well yes, those who have TLE are more likely to have depression." okay, so is it possible psychogenic seizures are related to TLE and not mood disorders? And he said doctors today still don't know enough about the disorder.

My question is, if they don't know "enough" about the disorder, then why are they so quick to judge mental over physical? I understand that psychogenic seizures are hard to control without the proper stress management therapies, etc., but what if psychogenics are real seizures; simple partial, or something on the inside that wouldn't necessarily show up on an EEG. EEGs only test the surface. Individuals could be getting brain damage due to a wrongful diagnosis.

What I thought was interesting, was the fact that he kept saying I had both, and I kept asking him if I might of just been having simple partials the whole time, and he said yes. Already a contradiction.

Second contradiction was when I asked him about all these "stressors" and "mood problems" that are correlated to psychogenic, and asked him why they don't correlate them to temporal lobe epilepsy based on where our seizures are located. He kept saying "well yes, those who have TLE are more likely to have depression." okay, so is it possible psychogenic seizures are related to TLE and not mood disorders? And he said doctors today still don't know enough about the disorder.

My question is, if they don't know "enough" about the disorder, then why are they so quick to judge mental over physical? I understand that psychogenic seizures are hard to control without the proper stress management therapies, etc., but what if psychogenics are real seizures; simple partial, or something on the inside that wouldn't necessarily show up on an EEG. EEGs only test the surface. Individuals could be getting brain damage due to a wrongful diagnosis.

Re: Psychogenic AND Epileptic. Anyone else have this too?

Submitted by tbruce39 on Sat, 2011-08-13 - 22:43

I have epilepsy and was recently diagnosed with conversion disorder. I was admitted into St Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ in April. While in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, I was evaluated with a 24 hour EEG/Video Monitoring. I experienced approximately four "events".  The "events" were captured on the EEG and by video. After three days, the doctor told me that I do, indeed have epilepsy, but the "events" I was having were called Psychogenic Non Epileptic seizures. There was no electrical change during the events. What I was experiencing mimiced an epileptic seizure, but it was non epileptic in nature.  I could not understand why I was having these seizures other than I was under an enormous amount of stress.

In June this year, I was hospitalized for severe depression. The PNES had increased to a point where I could not function. The seizures are unpredictable and uncontrollable. While in the treatment center, I was prescribed an antidepressant and something for sleep. I had two events while in the treatment center. My diagnosis was conversion disorder.  Apparantly, my body processes stress into physical form, which happen to be seizures.  I am very frustrated because I cannot control the seizures. I cannot work or drive. I had to give up my kids and move in with my mother or else be homeless.

I am hoping to see about receiving neurofeedback and brainmapping. I have read a lot about this type of therapy and am hoping to learn more about it.

I would like to hear if anyone else had the same experience.

 

 

I have epilepsy and was recently diagnosed with conversion disorder. I was admitted into St Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ in April. While in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, I was evaluated with a 24 hour EEG/Video Monitoring. I experienced approximately four "events".  The "events" were captured on the EEG and by video. After three days, the doctor told me that I do, indeed have epilepsy, but the "events" I was having were called Psychogenic Non Epileptic seizures. There was no electrical change during the events. What I was experiencing mimiced an epileptic seizure, but it was non epileptic in nature.  I could not understand why I was having these seizures other than I was under an enormous amount of stress.

In June this year, I was hospitalized for severe depression. The PNES had increased to a point where I could not function. The seizures are unpredictable and uncontrollable. While in the treatment center, I was prescribed an antidepressant and something for sleep. I had two events while in the treatment center. My diagnosis was conversion disorder.  Apparantly, my body processes stress into physical form, which happen to be seizures.  I am very frustrated because I cannot control the seizures. I cannot work or drive. I had to give up my kids and move in with my mother or else be homeless.

I am hoping to see about receiving neurofeedback and brainmapping. I have read a lot about this type of therapy and am hoping to learn more about it.

I would like to hear if anyone else had the same experience.

 

 

Re: Psychogenic AND Epileptic. Anyone else have this too?

Submitted by tbaldwin on Fri, 2011-08-19 - 23:03
I'd thought that its about time for a seizure.Then a day or two later I'll have one.Was this one which felt normal a PNES. Could that have been brought on by my timing, or could they really an epileptic seizure that had to come out. Timothy Baldwin

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.