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.
MRI
Sat, 03/26/2005 - 10:09Hello! My daughter (12 years old), has been fainting for about 5 months. She has had a bad non-stop headache for months now. It doesn't ever seem to go away. She usually has a fainting episode daily. The cardiologist has ruled out anything having to do with her heart. The neurologist has done 2 EEGs. The first one was negative, but the second one had a slight "spike and wave". He started her on Depakote last week. So far, it has slowed the fainting spells some, but not alleviated the headache. We are scheduled for a video EEG in the hospital next week. I am wondering why we haven't done a MRI or a CT. Does anyone have any ideas on this?
Thanks so much,
Lisa
Comments
RE: MRI
Submitted by RPalmer835 on Fri, 2005-02-11 - 16:47
Hi
I really can't give you any answers to your questions, but feel as lost as you do.
My 21 year old daughter has just started having fainting spells also. When she was 1 yrs. old, she was diagnosed with Akinetic seizures. After being on tygretol for 2 years we were able to be seizure free until this pass memorial day. She had 3 grand mal seizures within a period of 1/2 hour. They put her on tygretol again and we had no further seizures although bad headaches every single day. Finally in December she begged the doctor to put her on something different. She gradually was taken off tegretol while increasing topamax. Everything was going well. The headaches disappeared and she was feeling like her old self until January 13th when she had another grandmal seizure.
I am convinced that her seizures are related to her hormones, and the doctor tends to agree. We started birth control on the 24th, and was given one with a very low does of estrogen to try and straightened out her cycles, and ever since that day she has been having grand mal seizures and fainting spells. At least one fainting or seizure a day and sometimes up to 4. Her neurologist keeps upping the dose of topomax. I finally insisted she stop the birth control this week and the past two days she has had no seizures, only 1 fainting spell each.
I am worried that she will get seriously hurt during one of these fainting spells as she has no warning at all. At least with the seizures there is a metallic taste.
Can fainting spells such as these be considered a different type of seizure, and what type would that be? Does anyone know if topamax can cause fainting? I haven't seen it listed as a side effect.
Thanks
Jill
Hi
I really can't give you any answers to your questions, but feel as lost as you do.
My 21 year old daughter has just started having fainting spells also. When she was 1 yrs. old, she was diagnosed with Akinetic seizures. After being on tygretol for 2 years we were able to be seizure free until this pass memorial day. She had 3 grand mal seizures within a period of 1/2 hour. They put her on tygretol again and we had no further seizures although bad headaches every single day. Finally in December she begged the doctor to put her on something different. She gradually was taken off tegretol while increasing topamax. Everything was going well. The headaches disappeared and she was feeling like her old self until January 13th when she had another grandmal seizure.
I am convinced that her seizures are related to her hormones, and the doctor tends to agree. We started birth control on the 24th, and was given one with a very low does of estrogen to try and straightened out her cycles, and ever since that day she has been having grand mal seizures and fainting spells. At least one fainting or seizure a day and sometimes up to 4. Her neurologist keeps upping the dose of topomax. I finally insisted she stop the birth control this week and the past two days she has had no seizures, only 1 fainting spell each.
I am worried that she will get seriously hurt during one of these fainting spells as she has no warning at all. At least with the seizures there is a metallic taste.
Can fainting spells such as these be considered a different type of seizure, and what type would that be? Does anyone know if topamax can cause fainting? I haven't seen it listed as a side effect.
Thanks
Jill
RE: MRI
Submitted by zoeph on Sun, 2005-01-23 - 17:16
question them about the MRI. That is odd.
question them about the MRI. That is odd.