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Unsure if my daughter has epilepsy
Fri, 10/20/2006 - 08:53Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
My 18 year old daughter was just diagnosed with E and put on Lamictal. Her first known seizure was July 3rd 2006. It was while she was at work. She had numbness on the right side of her body ( that is the last thing she remembers). People who witnessed the seizure state that she fell to the ground and started convulsing, then blood trickled from her mouth(from biting her tongue) then foam. Her muscles all tightened up and she started twitching violently. I am unsure how long the seizure lasted, everyone was pretty nervous when I arrived on the scene. When I arrived they had her in the ambulance and she didn't know who I was. She doesn't remember anything until we arrived in the emergency room. She had a severe headache, chewed up tongue, scrapes on her hands and bodyaches all over. We have had several test run, 3 EEG, 2 MRI, 1 MRA, catscan, lots of bloodwork all have come back normal. Tilt table was positive for vasovagul syncope and holter monitor showed some erythmias but nothing to be concerned about according to the doctors. We have been seeing a Nuerologist that specializes in seizures. He didn't want to put her on meds just yet. We agreed. Then last Saturday morning she woke up with a sore jaw and broken blood vessels on the sides of her face. I called the doctor and he wanted us in immediately on Monday. He is convinced that she is having nocturnal seizures. He described to me how dangerous the night seizures are and strongly recommended we put her on meds. I have heard so many horror story's about meds and am hoping that I have done the right thing. By the way my daughter is 18 and really doesn't care if she is on meds or not. I guess she is a normal 18 year old whose only concern is when can I drive again? lol. She just started college this past September at University of Michigan and is more into her social life than to let any of this concern her. lol. I guess I am glad that she hasn't become depressed or angry about the situation. I hope I can learn as much as possible from all of you out there. If anyone has any help or advice to offer I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for reading.
Comments
Re: Unsure if my daughter has epilepsy
Submitted by Eternal howl on Sun, 2007-11-04 - 23:25
Hi Rose,
Firstly, you mentioned that you khave heard the horror stories about meds, but not all potential side-effects will occur in every person. And it comes down to being the lesser of two evils. Some medicines seem to exhibit virtually no sid-effects - some of it does depend on the individual.
I think they usually wait for 2 seizures to classify it as epilepsy - but it probably depends a little on the doc and the circumstances surrounding the seizures and what/if anything triggered them.
A wait and see approach may be good - but she will have to be careful about driving etc. Most countries state you have to be seizure-free or on controlled meds or both for a certain period of time. That time period ranges typically anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. It depends on medication, effectiveness, warnings, seizure patterns (nocturnal, random etc). Nothing is cut and dry.
Sounds like with all the testing, they've probably ruled out possible tumours etc - so that's a good thing!
Re: Re: Unsure if my daughter has epilepsy
Submitted by amrose66 on Mon, 2007-11-05 - 11:13
Yes, I have heard so many horror stories about meds. My daughter has been seeing a doctor who specializes in seizures. He and she went through the list of meds the side effects and decided on Lamictal which seemed to be the most female friendly. She is on a low dose which seems to be working for her. We have had so many test and all have come back negative but the doctor still insist that was a seizure she had and we may never know why. The good thing is she may never have another seizure again. We can only wait and pray and hope for the best. She is doing excellent and enjoying college life like she should. Thank you for your response.
Re: Re: Unsure if my daughter has epilepsy
Submitted by amrose66 on Mon, 2007-11-05 - 11:08
Yes we did have a 24 hour sleep deprived eeg done and it came back normal. She is working with a doctor a specializes in seizures and he has been wonderful. It has been a while since I have checked in with this site. My daughter has been seizure free for 1 1/2 years now. She is on Lamictal for a 2 year period and then the doctor will take her off and see what happens. She is doing well. Thank you for your response.