New and scared - can hypoglycemia cause seizures?

CDC funded page

Not a CDC funded Page

Hi, Please help me, I am so very scared. My daughter is 17. About 2 years ago in school she fell out of her chair, lost consciousness, and possibly (1 child observer said yes, others no) had convulsions. By the time the school nurse was called, my daughter was slightly disoriented, but fine. She had no memory of the entire incident, except when she came out of it. She was seeing a doctor at the time for depression medications. I lost my other child(17 yr. son) , in 2004 in a car accident. (No alchol, wearing seat belt, ran a stop sign in a poorly lit intersection) Her doctor was originally worked as a neurologist. He was dual certified in neuropharmacology and psychiatry, (an ivy league educ. very intelligent man). My daughter had not eaten anything for almost 24 hours. She also had not drank more then 4 oz in the same time period. He wanted her tested for hypoglycemia. The test came back positive, and he stated that was the cause for her "episode" Fast foward to 2007 - with no further episodes, and strict instructions to my thin teenage daughter to eat, and drink frequently. 4 months ago, my daughter was at home talking to me, and had what looked like a full seizure. I panicked and called 911 and she was taken to the ER. All tests done there came back negative. I took her to another neurologist. He agreed with the 1st doctor that the 1st episode was not a seizure. He felt like this one was , possibly precipitated by the fact that yet again, my daughter had not eaten or had anything to drink in at least 24 hours! Again, EEG, MRI, negative. On Monday of this week, my daughter came downstairs, she was disoriented, with an unsteady gait and slurred speech. Her skin was whitish/gray and profusely sweating. I thought maybe she was going to have another seizure, and quickly got her some OJ. She improved in about 10-15 minutes. She had no memory of what happened or even how she got downstairs. I suspected maybe she had another seizure while sitting in her desk studying. She had some drool on one shoulder, and on one leg of her jeans. In questioning her, I found out she had eaten 1/2 of a Peanut butter sandwich at 5:30 am, and literally 1 gulp of water to swallow her pills. That was it for the day and it was now 3:30. She'd felt that she knew when an episode was coming and she could eat in time. I called neurologist #1. He said he again strongly felt that this was not epilepsy, but another hypoglycemic episode. He said her episodes were all provoked by the same thing, and that they were all missing loss of bladder or bowel control, biting of the tongue, any signs of injury, or a prolonged postictal period. When I further questioned my daughter, it also turns out that she had been drinking extremely little. She only urinates twice on most days, ocasionally 3 or 4 times. She described her urine as cloudy, and dark. On most days she was only drinking around 4-8 oz. We live in AZ. I'm so scared!!! I feel like she's now had 3 full seizures. The doctor is totally in the opposite corner. I would love it if he's right and I'm not. I have an appointment for her with an endocrinologist in 2 weeks. I'm sorry this is so long, but I would so very much appreciate any help anyone could give me. Thankyou!!!

Comments

Re: New and scared - can hypoglycemia cause seizures?

Submitted by H4 on Thu, 2008-05-29 - 15:13

I have been serverly hypo since I was a teenager. In school I had to carry some form of protien and sugar to help regulate. As I got older it leveled out - except when I would go ninety to nothing and get stressed and no eating. I didn't start having "known" seizures until AFTER my daughter was born ( it is believed that I had them in my sleep for sometime- I would awake wringing in sweat and very sore) and then I had several a day for almost a year - went to 4 neauros and everyone of them said the same thing - that I wasn't epiletic. One even had the audacity to tell me I was making this happen. Well, after all that I went and saw an endo and not even 5 minutes in she says - has anyone ever tested your blood sugar when you are having a seizure? Low and behold - as long as I stick to eating right and not missing a meal - I do not have them. Yet I am now pregnant with for the fourth time and have miscarried the last 2 - my last OB/GYN said make sure that I get a high risk OB/GYN and I have - so they are keeping a close watch on it - BUT DO NOT EXCEPT ANY DIAGNOSIS - UNTIL YOU HAVE RESULTS > BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEGREE ON THE WALL DOESN"T MEAN THAT THEY KNOW EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Wishes and Don't Give UP!

I have been serverly hypo since I was a teenager. In school I had to carry some form of protien and sugar to help regulate. As I got older it leveled out - except when I would go ninety to nothing and get stressed and no eating. I didn't start having "known" seizures until AFTER my daughter was born ( it is believed that I had them in my sleep for sometime- I would awake wringing in sweat and very sore) and then I had several a day for almost a year - went to 4 neauros and everyone of them said the same thing - that I wasn't epiletic. One even had the audacity to tell me I was making this happen. Well, after all that I went and saw an endo and not even 5 minutes in she says - has anyone ever tested your blood sugar when you are having a seizure? Low and behold - as long as I stick to eating right and not missing a meal - I do not have them. Yet I am now pregnant with for the fourth time and have miscarried the last 2 - my last OB/GYN said make sure that I get a high risk OB/GYN and I have - so they are keeping a close watch on it - BUT DO NOT EXCEPT ANY DIAGNOSIS - UNTIL YOU HAVE RESULTS > BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEGREE ON THE WALL DOESN"T MEAN THAT THEY KNOW EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Wishes and Don't Give UP!

Most Defintely YES

Submitted by acfitz on Tue, 2007-12-18 - 13:42

I have had this damn disorder since I was 17. I have had all types of invasinve tests and non-invasive tests known to man. All have come back negative. The only health issue I have is hypoglycemia. It is a fairly severe case of the disorder. If I let my system get out of control and do not monitor my sugar intake I am in for a hell of a time with mild to severe seziures.

The good news it that as long as I maintain a fairly strict diet, limit all sugar and alcohol intake, exercise fairly regularly I have NO activity whatsoever.

I hope this helps.

I have had this damn disorder since I was 17. I have had all types of invasinve tests and non-invasive tests known to man. All have come back negative. The only health issue I have is hypoglycemia. It is a fairly severe case of the disorder. If I let my system get out of control and do not monitor my sugar intake I am in for a hell of a time with mild to severe seziures.

The good news it that as long as I maintain a fairly strict diet, limit all sugar and alcohol intake, exercise fairly regularly I have NO activity whatsoever.

I hope this helps.

Re: New and scared - can hypoglycemia cause seizures?

Submitted by Christy Lynn on Sun, 2008-06-01 - 22:12

Hello

I have had epilepsy for over 37 years now and I have done everything out there to help control my seizures. That includes brain surgery twice, getting a vagal nerver stimulator (VNS), taking every anti-seizure medication except Kepra, Trileptol, & Lyrica. I have even been in two drug trials. You name it and I have done it. In the past I have mentioned this to several of my neurologist/epileptologist that I noticed when I eat certain foods my seizures activity seems to be less. Each time I have told them this they act as though they never heard me when I said something about diet making a difference in my seizures. My PCP (primary care physician) is the only one that has shown any interest when I mention diet. One of my epileptologist even had the nerve to say,"You have more time then I do so why don't you Google it and see what you can find out. You might even teach me something."

The foods that I have found that seem to help control my seizures are the foods that are restricted from the ketogenic diet. Such foods are pasta, potatoes, yeast rolls, chicken fried steak, and bananas. (not all types of carbs have the same effect. such as beans, rice, most foods from fast food restaurants, and some fruits) I am assuming it is my blood sugar that is changing when I eat these foods so I have gone to the extent of getting a blood glucose monitor to check my blood sugar when I am having lots of auras, after seizures, and checking it when I am feeling my best.

My seizures are so well controled when I eat a high carb diet that I believe I might even be able to get off of many of my meds by eating a certain diet. Kinda along the lines of a reverse Ketogenic diet. :-)

I have had no help from any physician with a diet that would include more of the foods that have the same kind of carbs as the ones I mentioned earlier. So, if anyone knows of some more foods that have the same type of carbs would you please list them or if anyone knows of any websites that might address blood sugar and epilepsy please post the links.

Thanks

Christy

Hello I have had epilepsy for over 37 years now and I have done everything out there to help control my seizures.  That includes brain surgery twice, getting a vagal nerver stimulator (VNS), taking every anti-seizure medication except Kepra, Trileptol, & Lyrica.  I have even been in two drug trials.  You name it and I have done it.  In the past I have mentioned this to several of my neurologist/epileptologist that I noticed when I eat certain foods my seizures activity seems to be less.  Each time I have told them this they act as though they never heard me when I said something about diet making a difference in my seizures.    My PCP (primary care physician) is the only one that has shown any interest when I mention diet.  One of my epileptologist even had the nerve to say,"You have more time then I do so why don't you Google it and see what you can find out.  You might even teach me something."  The foods that I have found that seem to help control my seizures are the foods that are restricted from the ketogenic diet.  Such foods are pasta, potatoes, yeast rolls, chicken fried steak, and bananas.  (not all types of carbs have the same effect.  such as beans, rice, most foods from fast food restaurants, and some fruits)  I am assuming it is my blood sugar that is changing when I eat these foods so I have gone to the extent of getting a blood glucose monitor to check my blood sugar when I am having lots of auras, after seizures, and checking it when I am feeling my best. My seizures are so well controled when I eat a high carb diet that I believe I might even be able to get off of many of my meds by eating a certain diet.  Kinda along the lines of a reverse Ketogenic diet. :-)  I have had no help from any physician with a diet that would include more of the foods that have the same kind of carbs as the ones I mentioned earlier.  So, if anyone knows of some more foods that have the same type of carbs would you please list them or if anyone knows of any websites that might address blood sugar and epilepsy please post the links. Thanks Christy

Hello

I have had epilepsy for over 37 years now and I have done everything out there to help control my seizures. That includes brain surgery twice, getting a vagal nerver stimulator (VNS), taking every anti-seizure medication except Kepra, Trileptol, & Lyrica. I have even been in two drug trials. You name it and I have done it. In the past I have mentioned this to several of my neurologist/epileptologist that I noticed when I eat certain foods my seizures activity seems to be less. Each time I have told them this they act as though they never heard me when I said something about diet making a difference in my seizures. My PCP (primary care physician) is the only one that has shown any interest when I mention diet. One of my epileptologist even had the nerve to say,"You have more time then I do so why don't you Google it and see what you can find out. You might even teach me something."

The foods that I have found that seem to help control my seizures are the foods that are restricted from the ketogenic diet. Such foods are pasta, potatoes, yeast rolls, chicken fried steak, and bananas. (not all types of carbs have the same effect. such as beans, rice, most foods from fast food restaurants, and some fruits) I am assuming it is my blood sugar that is changing when I eat these foods so I have gone to the extent of getting a blood glucose monitor to check my blood sugar when I am having lots of auras, after seizures, and checking it when I am feeling my best.

My seizures are so well controled when I eat a high carb diet that I believe I might even be able to get off of many of my meds by eating a certain diet. Kinda along the lines of a reverse Ketogenic diet. :-)

I have had no help from any physician with a diet that would include more of the foods that have the same kind of carbs as the ones I mentioned earlier. So, if anyone knows of some more foods that have the same type of carbs would you please list them or if anyone knows of any websites that might address blood sugar and epilepsy please post the links.

Thanks

Christy

New and scared - can hypoglycemia cause seizures?

Comments

Re: New and scared - can hypoglycemia cause seizures?

Submitted by H4 on Thu, 2008-05-29 - 15:13

Most Defintely YES

Submitted by acfitz on Tue, 2007-12-18 - 13:42

Re: New and scared - can hypoglycemia cause seizures?

Submitted by Christy Lynn on Sun, 2008-06-01 - 22:12

Sign Up for Emails