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Undiagnosed Seizures in Husband
Fri, 02/26/2016 - 15:23Topic: Family & Friends
A couple of years ago, my husband started having what we've called "episodes". The way he describes them is that he would feel kind of nauseated and have a deja vu feeling, then he would black out for a minute or two, then wake up. When he woke up, he would be pale, clammy, shaky, and sometimes he would vomit. It scared us, especially since the first time it happened he was driving and our 2-year-old daughter was in the car with him. But he didn't have another one so we kind of forgot about it. Then, months later, it happened again. He went for a while without one again, then he had another one. They were happening more frequently. We went to the doctor, and they checked his blood sugar, which didn't give us an answer, so they referred us to a neurologist, who said something along the lines of "Unless you happen to be hooked up when it happens we're not going to see anything." So, not very helpful. I did a lot of research about it, which led me to the conclusion that he was having Complex Partial Seizures. But, since the neurologist didn't diagnose him, we weren't sure what to do about it. Then a couple of weeks ago, he had 3 in one day. Then last night he had one while he was driving on the interstate, and he wrecked his car. Thankfully, he's fine, but we're all very shaken up, and he had another one today. We've reached a crisis point here. I'm scared for him to drive and go to work, but we both have jobs and two kids under the age of 5. I'm pretty sure he's having seizures, but we don't have a diagnosis, we don't know what's triggering them, we don't know what to do. Does anyone have any advice for how to proceed from here? He doesn't have insurance.
Have his doctor refer him to
Submitted by just_joe on Sat, 2016-02-27 - 16:01
Have his doctor refer him to a neurologist that "specializes I epilepsy". If possible go with him. He may not need to run tests right away but all it takes is 2 seizures to diagnosis epilepsy. Just so you'll know it there are many people with epilepsy that do not have a reason. Anybody at any age can get epilepsy. Epilepsy does not discriminate. If a person has a seizure fine they may never have one again. If they have another then questions need to be asked. For some of us those episodes and you and others call them become more rapid and with many they also become stronger. After the visit medications may be prescribed. If they are fine take them as directed. If it says 2 times a day those times need to be 12 hours apart. Seizure meds are not like aspirin where once taken they are gone after some hours. It will take 3-6 weeks for his body to get used to the medication and if he has any side effects they too should be gone. After 1 weeks the seizures should be reduced. My neurologist generally wanted a visit after 2-3 months. It gives the patient time to really see if the medication is working and if it has stopped the seizures. At that visit is when questions will be asked. Please answer the doctors questions. Also ask questions yourself. By asking questions the neurologist knows he needs to come up with answers to your questions and results that can be seen and felt. Yo might also go look at getting the My Epilepsy Diary. Start with it now because it does have a notepad in it so you can note what is happening in his seizures. How long they were, along with the time it took to get back to normal If you do that you can give the neurologist permission to brine it up and he can read the notes and see the information on the seizures themselves. It could help him with the medications and dosages