Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

New here and help needed for teen daughter...

Fri, 02/13/2015 - 06:44

hello - my daughter (16) was diagnosed with P.O.T.S. (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) 2 years ago after multiple episodes of syncope. She has experienced syncope on and off since a young child (a few times a year). But after a cheerleading accident 2 years ago the episodes came on multiple times a day and with change in position - tilt test confirmed POTS and has been medicated since for this. HOWEVER, she started seizing with the fainting about a year ago - some pretty big seizures with incontinence and some not as big. Neuro ran EEGS nothing ever showed up - they decided they were non-epileptic seizures, most likely due to events from the POTS stress. SO fast forward to a year later the fainting has been minimal...however on occassion the strobes still bother her at a concert, fireworks forget it and loud noises - boom she's down. And now the past 2 months she is having what I would say are very much seizures of some sort. For instance - last night I walked into to tell her something she was seated making beads - engaged with me in a story and bam her head drops and her upper body begins to jerk methodically - she is not conscious. The jerking lasts for maybe 30 seconds before she regains consciousness and then just stares. Does not remember what happened. This has happened a few times now in the past 2 months. Sometimes it begins with her sort of lip smacking and just staring - and not always the upper body jerking sometimes she will just fall over. Her neuro has not given me too much attention because it isn't showing up on the EEG - we do love him dearly and he is awesome but I am wondering what else could be causing this. Her younger sister had absence seizures at age 2 and out grew them but we have a family history. IF this is epilepsy why is it not showing up on the EEG ever. I can not explain the anxiety and stress this is causing her and us. She is scared and frustrated. I do not think this is provoked by some psychological disturbance in her. She was just fine talking to me and wham this comes on.....we go to Cleveland clinic now - travel 5 hours to go there for her POTS management. I don't know what else to do - she will be going off to college in a year and a half we hope but this has to get in control for her. Would Nationwide childrens be a better place to help I don't know. I am so lost and confused.....any suggestions.

 

Comments

IF this is epilepsy why is it

Submitted by just_joe on Fri, 2015-02-13 - 17:54
IF this is epilepsy why is it not showing up on the EEG ever.  The EEG shows th eelectrical output comming from the brain. I had 20-25 all come back normal.These episodes could be seizures and not show up on the EEG because the abnormalities are comming from deeper in her brain. The EEG only reads to a certain depth.There are other EEG's which can be done other then the 30-60 minute EEG's and more information shows up in those. One is an ambulatory EEG. They will hook her up and she has it running for a few days while she does her normal activity. When I did one We had to take it in so information could be downloaded and they changed the batteries.. The other EEG is generally done in a monitering unit. In that she stays in the unit for about a week ans she is videoed as well as the EEG running. I also did one of those. I watched movies and read books. I had friends come by and stay for hours. The food was good but not the best in th world. But then I do know they have gotten better in hospitals since I was in that unit.As for the neurologist is he a sepcialist in epilepsy? If he has talked to you about her episodes and they are like what you posted then he should have refered you to a specialist. or  epileptologist.  If yo uwant to get a second oppenion then by all means do. You can find one near you on this site in the get help section under find a doctor. You can also call the 24/7 help line who will try and assist you with any questions you might have.. I hope you get posts from Amy Jo and Mereloaded since their kids are the ones with epilepsy. Joe 

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.