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Am I epileptic or not? (confused)

Tue, 01/10/2017 - 13:05
So, im struggling to find out whether I am actually epileptic or not, as different neurologists had different opinions. My background is as follows: - childhood meningitis (not sure if it relates to anything) Then, age around 13, some friend starts calling me "autistic", as I frequently stare into nothingness. I am not conscious of (paradoxically) a loss of consciousness. Then age 16, I begin to lose objects. Like, I even forget I have my bag-pack with me and walk away, leaving it on the floor or at a bench. However, things get mixed up because at this age I also started smoking marihuana, frequency around once per week, not every week. So, age 20 while living abroad I develop many mental symptoms, like depersonalization, anxiety, derealization. Things get mixed up again, because at that age I had begun taking psychedelics (max 1 time per week, not every week/month). Anyway, back to my hometown, I go see a well-known neurologist, who apparently is an expert in the field of epilepsy. He orders an EEG. It comes back as having "epileptiform activity", I think in temporal lobe/s. He says I have epilepsy. I tell him I never experienced a physical seizure. He talks about absences. My family has never noticed any I say, etc. He still insists. So he prescribes valproate for a year. No significant improvements in symptoms. One year later, while on valproate, I go consult another neurologist. She orders a new EEG, which turns out to be "normal"; she says I dont actually have epilepsy. She also says that this neurologist I saw, 'sees epilepsy everywhere'. So I quit taking valproate. About some months later, 4-6 months, I develop a psychosis. I go see a third neurologist, who is also well known for her work in the field, and she says no, I don't have epilepsy (no new test though). Now, I took other antiepileptics for my psychiatric symptoms (I suggested this to my psychiatrist, just in case), including Gabapentin, phenytoin and Carbamazepin. While some symptoms went away (psychotic), they failed to relieve me from many others. But, I read that temporal lobe epilepsy sometimes does not respond to anti-epileptic medications. My question is (are): 1) Can temporal lobe epilepsy cause this changes in personality, sense of self/reality, and even cause psychosis, anxiety, depression, malaise, etc? 2) If my EEG showed "epileptiform activity", does that necessarily mean I have epilepsy? or are there other conditions that produce random EEG epileptiform activity? 3) If I had a second EEG while being on valproate, and it showed no epileptiform activity, does this necessarily rule out epilepsy? 4)If I do have epilepsy, why have my symptoms not improved while being on anti-epileptics? Could it be that my epilepsy is asymptomatic, but I have a co-morbid unknown psychiatric disease? (I dont have schizophrenia as I dont experience negative symptoms) Thank you very much for reading this. ps. I have stopped taking psychedelics for a very long time now (6+ years), still have these symptoms.

Comments

Not sure if you received

Submitted by TPOIT on Wed, 2019-05-29 - 11:07
Not sure if you received answers. But I did research on the denationalization because I also have it due to PTSD. A seizure is not going to last days on end. My DP/DR will last days even weeks. So that can be an answer for that for you. I too was diagnosed with absence seizures at 32 (you can't get AB after 20, so the doctor told me I have had it since before then). I have never zoned out or had spells unless I as extremely hungover....and that hangover started within the last 8 years. I was put on Lamictal and it feels pretty strong for me. I too will be getting a second opinion. But the DP/DR if its like mine and last days will not be seizure activity. If you have Ab seizures, that wouldn't cause anxiety or any other ictal symptoms like other types of EP.  Hope you got answers. I too am seeking truths. 

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