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Diagnostic Hassle, Any Help?
Thu, 10/27/2016 - 18:25For about eight weeks I'd had a massive headache and it got so bad that I went to a neurologist about it. My neuro requested an MRI and an EEG so I got them done. The MRI was normal, but the EEG showed slowness in such a way that's apparently consistent with epileptics, but I was only there for headaches. They couldn't figure out why that would happen if I wasn't having seizures, so I got a 24 hour EEG as well. My neuro couldn't figure out what was going on but prescribed me with Trokendi XR (an extended release seizure medication) and sent me on my way. I'm on to about the ninth or tenth week I believe, so I've been on the medicine for three weeks. It's not helping much. I thought it was but then today I got a really bad headache again. I just thougt it was weird that I'm taking a medicine for seizures? Should I try to find a new neurologist? I'm only 16 and I'm really stressing because all of these appointments are getting in the way of school and he still can't figure out what's wrong with me.
Wellllllllll If you
Submitted by just_joe on Thu, 2016-10-27 - 19:39
Wellllllllll If you researched you would find that in several different types of seizures migraines are in them.Now understand the EEG is a brain wave test showing the electrical activity coming from your brain. Even if you went there for a head ache the activity would show up. Slowness, spikes or waves if seen they know where it came from any of them would also be called seizure activity. What starts a seizure is an electrical impulse hitting wrong in your brain causing a chain reaction.Now you were given Trokendi XR to take as directed. Have you had the same number of head aches in the last 9-10 weeks as before you were taking it? If you have had fewer then the medication is working and keeping the seizures under control. If they were gone until this one then you need to call the neurologist and let them know about this one. It takes about 4 weeks for your body to get used to the medication you are taking. That is when the therapeutic levels have been built up to the level the neurologist wants. Keep track of the number of these head aches and do talk to the neurologist. If you feel like talking to another neurologist fine but then they may look at the same information and start you on the same med or another one which means starting all over again. Being 16 did you visit with the neurologist by yourself or were any of your parents there?? If one or both were there then talk to them. Also understand that your meds even if taken once a day need to be taken at the same time every day in order to keep you from having a break thru seizure. Which could be what happened.