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MRA for Epilepsy?
Mon, 12/29/2014 - 19:40I was diagnosed with epilepsy somewhere back around 2009, but as family, friends, and myself look back there seemed to have been many signs at a young age. I was able to control my seizures with lamotrigine (teva mfg) for many years.however from September to now I've been having a lot of seizures. We've come to realize the biggest factor was the changes in mfg. we have also added an additional med (topamax-generic) which has made an improvement slowly.
My big problem right now is I have this incredible pain in my skull or it at least feels like it's going to explode!
So I just went in for my MRI last Friday and the results showed no signs of seizures or any causes. It did show a previous black mark that appeared to be from an earlier stroke, which I clearly have never knew of! Now my doctor wants me to go in for an MRA on the coratod and circle of Willis, I also have to go in for an Echo and of course blood work. Then I need to go in for EMU video monitoring? Right now I'm wondering if I even have epilepsy or if there is something else going on?
Any thoughts?
The MRI may not show signs of
Submitted by just_joe on Thu, 2015-01-15 - 11:44
The MRI may not show signs of a seizure since it is a picture of the brain from all angles. >> It did show a previous black mark that appeared to be from an earlier stroke, which I clearly have never knew of.. The reason for other testing is that black spot could be causeing your seizures. I say that because the spot could be scar tissue from the stroke. Scar tissue can come from a hemmorage to the brain which a stroke can do. If it is there then it can cause epilepsy since that tissue can alter the electrical impulses. Meaning the electrical impulses can go off wrong in that area of the brain causing a chain reaction. The electrical impulse going off wrong is the start of a seizure. The chain reaction is the seizure itself. I know this because my epilepsy is cause by just that scar tissue on the brain caused by a blow to the head whcih caused a hemmorage. The EEG is what shows the electrical activity in your brain. The MRI is showing the brain from all angles. Video EEG can show activity not seen in normal EEG's. If it shows abnormalities (seizure activity) they know where in the brain that activity is comming from. By knowing that they will look closer at the MRI and see what that area looks like. By doing both they can determine more as to cause of your epilepsy. I hope this helps Joe