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normal eegs....i feel like i'm going crazy

Fri, 10/13/2006 - 01:01
Ok I know this is long, but I really need some help figuring this out. I started having weird symptoms in May of last year. I thought they were panic attacks so I didn't pay them much attention, even though I knew they didn't really have the symptoms of panic attacks. After a couple of monthes I finally looked up panic attacks on the internet and discovered I had known of the symptoms. Somehow I got on a page that talked about seizures and it was there I recognized my symptoms in the section on simple and complex partial seizures. I have worked with adults with developmental disabilities for many years and a lot of them have seizures. I never expected that to be my problem. It all starts with a weird sensation that I can't really describe. Then I start to smell a chemical smell. I taste blood in my mouth and then my mind starts racing and I see things. Not like hallucinations but things in my head like a memory of something. It all seems really familiar, but after the spell is over I can't remember what it was that I was seeing I just know either it was a memory or a past dream. Everything apears strange to me as if I'm in a dream. I also get deja vu and a weak feeling. Sometimes I get a pins and needles feeling all over and I feel a little nauseous. When I get the blood taste in my mouth I start either drooling or I will start spitting. I'm somewhat concious of what I'm doing, but its like I don't care. When its all over and I see that either I'm drooling on myself or I'm spitting in the floor I feel really embarrassed, but at the time of the spell it makes perfect sense to spit on the floor. I also have very strong emotions. Its like a fear/panic/depression feeling. Sometimes the emotions are so strong it brings tears to my eyes. I mainly get these spells around the time of my period or when I'm ovulating. I will have several in a day for a couple of days and then nothing for two or three weeks and then it starts all over again. I have problems with my memory after having these spells and then the longer I go without having them my memory starts to improve until I have another one, then I'm right back where I started. It took me having these for nine months before I finally told my doctor. He did a blood test, CT scan, and an EEG. They were all normal so he referred me to a neurologist. The neurologist did a sleep deprived EEG. It was also normal. I didn't really like that doctor so I had my primary care doctor refer me to a neurologist who specializes in seizure disorders. He did a MRI which was normal, so he put me on Trilepital. After three weeks I broke out in rash so that med was discontinued and I started on Keppra. Since taking Keppra I have had no seizures and I finally am starting to feel like my old self again. My new doctor did a ambulatory EEG because he said a lot of times the other EEG's don't last long enough to catch abnormal brain waves. It also came back normal which really surprised my doctor. He said that the medication must be working good for me thats why the test was normal.I feel like I'm going crazy. At first I thought maybe this was all stress related which is why I waited so long to talk to my doctor about it, but if it was stress related the medication wouldn't be helping would it? I don't know what to do. I was thinking of going off my meds to see if the problem comes back. Can someone please help me?

Comments

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: normal eegs....i feel like i'm going cra

Submitted by maggie on Sun, 2006-10-15 - 15:14
Heidi...I wish you all the luck in the world.I too,have not been diagnosed.Have been put on Effexor and Klonopin by the psych,which now tells me to go back to the Epi.All tests come back normal,so they say "panic/anxiety" it does not feel like that though.Feelings are so hard to explain and as soon as you say.."this is depressing not be able to drive" they think your just depressed and send me to psych.These docs pick up on one word and play on that word.I also am having another MRI in about a month.Good luck,and your in my prayers.I could use some thoughts/prayers. God bless you all

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: normal eegs....i feel like i'm going

Submitted by txrhb1 on Mon, 2006-10-16 - 01:25
Dear Maggie - You are in my thoughts and prayers as you go for further testing. You are always in my thoughts and in my heart, and I am sending many many hugs with you. I pray that this time, they get a definite diagnosis. God Bless you dear friend. ((( hugs ))), Barbie _________________________________________________________________ Raise money for your favorite charity such as Epilepsy Therapy Development just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch-www.goodsearch.com

Re: normal eegs....i feel like i'm going

Submitted by kmbral1 on Tue, 2009-03-17 - 01:12
dont worry your not the only one with normal eeg's.  I had them since i started with my e. One day i had a 36 hour sleep deprived eeg and nothing happed besides the nurses and doctors annoying me. lol. but as soon as i was discharged and went home to fall asleep BOOM i had one. A full blown grand mal! can you believe that.  so they checked me in again and nothing.  i guess it just happens whenever it feels like it,  but anyway ever since i was  diagnosed with e i have had normal eeg's and i get them monthly.  so dont feel like your going crazy.

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