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I'm new here....Neurologist seems sure I'm having seizures...

Thu, 07/10/2014 - 19:28

I'm 59, recently I had three episodes of amnesia, went to the neurologist after second, thinking cause were mini stokes (internet diagnosis). The doctor seems sure I'm having seizures.  I've had a MRi and EEG both normal, am having home 72 hour  VEEG starting Monday he already said if this shows nothing I  will need 5 day hospital VEEG....also spoke about sending me to a seizure specialist.  Thirty years ago while pregnant (twins) I had eclampsia was in hospital last 7 weeks of pregnancy had what I called a visual disturbance, I saw thick bubbles before me, I tried to talk but wasn't able to, everyone was moving in slow motion, the bubbles lifted, my nurse brought me up to my room, next day I was started on phenobarbital when I objected to early delivery of my daughters. Neurologist feels they wouldn't have started me on that medication if they didn't think I had or fear a seizure, all I know is medication lowered my blood pressure.  I had scheduled C section at 34 1/2 weeks after going into first stages of renal failure.  Neurologist thinks this is connected. For years I've smelled burning smoke ( after reading this can be connected to seizures mentioned to neurologist, ENT said not to worry), leg and body jerks (orthopedic said from Lumbar spine, not to worry).  I have Hashimoto's and Graves Disease (2 opposite aauto immune  thyroid diseases),  have TED (thyroid eye disease, was on prednisone for 10 months), needed (30 sessions) radiation therapy to shrink muscles behind eyes,  had 4 eye surgeries too.  Neurologist said I may have Hashimoto encephanology (autoimmune process causing inflammation in my brain).  It isn't curable, is treatable in most cases, treatment is prednisone, the same medication that usually works well for TED, but didn't work for me!  I feel my body is always fighting itself, also have gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach, possibly autoimmune caused).  If seizures and amnesia not caused by autoimmune, and MRI normal, what else can be causing this,,I do feel as though I'm going crazy I forgot going and being at book club, I even wrote host an email when I hot home I don't remember, worse yet I called a friend thinking date was changed, only to hear I was there 2 days earlier! 

Neurologist suggested I stop driving,,,,did you drive during testing, before diagnosis?  Is smelling smoke enough reason to stop driving?   Sorry this is so long...  I've also had 2 spinal surgeries, lumbar and cervical and blame headaches on CSpine,,,can they be from seizures?  most mornings I wake nauseous with a headache.  Gastroparesis causes nauseous and vomiting,  I've had several Botox injections to pylorus of stomach, in fact just had one a few weeks ago but am still nauseous, read seizures can make me nauseous too...I'm so confused!  I have so many questions, I'm frightened, I've always worked in the medical profession...I don't trust me anymore, scared to make plans with friends, what if I forget?  What if I can't find my car?  Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this.

Comments

Home EEG is described here:

Submitted by Amy Jo on Fri, 2014-07-11 - 11:27
Home EEG is described here: http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/eeg/ambulatory-eegSeems like you have a lot going on but the possibility of partial seizures, both simple and complex, sounds very high. EEG is only definitive if it sees something, not everyone with seizures has them show on EEG but repeated and longer EEGs improve the chances of seeing something.Do you feel comfortable with the idea of driving when you lost such a huge chunk of time? How safe is that!? It is not just based on smelling smoke, simple partials alone aren't enough to stop driving over.Going to a seizure specialist sounds like a very good idea, they should be able to really get you the best outcomes. Might also be able to shed light on how this could interact with any other conditions you have. If you were a kid, I'd expect to hear you were dealing with mito issues with so many conditions, you sound like a more complex patient.

In a VEEG yo uare hooked up

Submitted by just_joe on Sat, 2014-07-12 - 18:32
In a VEEG yo uare hooked up and they moniter you for the entire time you are there. At times they want people without their seizure medication so they can view a seizure.  My neurologist did a MRI before the VEEG. Well an hour before. He was checking all the information. I was in the hospital he was in and I didn't see him in my room I know he was there from time to time checking the unit to make sure everything was going good. I went in and was there and stayed there without my seizure meds for 4-5 days. The food was good and I watched a bunch of movies. Doc got the information he wanted and his diagnosis was real close to the diagnosis I was given 37 years before. Of course Doc's diagnosis could tell more since the tests back then wellllllll I wouldn't want another neuro-angeogram. You have to lay flat on your back and let the air come out of your head since they can pump it in. It has to escape by itself thru your nose mouth ears and any other thing air can get out of your head....They can find out more with the technology today and the tests are far better with less pain.

As for the home EEG.... They

Submitted by just_joe on Sun, 2014-07-13 - 14:50
As for the home EEG.... They wire you up and hand yo uthe unit it records teh information on a dick at times they want you to come back and they download that information and put in new ir recharged batteries and yo u leave again. It can be done in a office which is generally near a hospital. After the 72 hours or when they tell you to ocme back they unhook everything. Your neurologist will then get all the information. After reviewing that information he sometimes sees things that were not in the general EEG. The longer VEEG information is down there VVVV I had one done to se if a procedure we discussed would possiably get me seizure free. With me a seizure now and then doesn't bother me much but I would still like to not have any. I still have never gotten a drivers license. Oh well I have lived this long without one I guess I will keep going on without one. With the medications today I may still get seizure free. DOC an dI will be talking again next month. Who knows one of my meds can be raised again. I do hope this helps and you get the assistance you need

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