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...maybe...still in the waiting game

Mon, 07/24/2017 - 12:55
Good morning! I'm still waiting on the final report to be completed for my recent EEG, so still waiting to discuss the results with my neurologist. However, I have access to my preliminary report because I work at the hospital where my EEG was performed. My neurologist is from a different location. A little background. I'm female, almost 44 years old and have never been diagnosed with epilepsy. About 3.5 years ago, I started to experience left-sided facial numbness/tingling that spreads to the back of my head and all the way down my neck (all on the left side). Shortly after the numbness started, I started getting what I call "episodes" where suddenly the whole left side of my body feels heavy. I don't have any weakness, but it's more work to use that side. Plus, I get brain fogginess - sometimes I can't think of words and other times I can think of them but can't get them out very well and my words feel heavy. I don't think I'm slurring, but it feels like I am. The episodes vary in length and there doesn't seen to be any apparent triggers. Also, they happen at different times in the day. At first, I would get these pretty rarely but they've increased in the past few months. That, coupled with my increased numbness and the fact that the first neurologist basically brushed me off, got me to seek a second opinion. I had another MRI which showed veins touching two of my cranial nerves, so that is unchanged from years ago and leads me to believe that the numbness is unrelated to the weird episodes. My current neurologist seems to agree. I could post my preliminary report, but I know nobody here can diagnose me and I just need to try to be more patient. That's really hard for me to do. I guess what I'm most looking for is just to "talk" to people who might know a thing or two about what I'm going through. Amy

Comments

I should at least add that

Submitted by ajwright8973 on Mon, 2017-07-24 - 13:20
I should at least add that the preliminary report says:Interictal Findings: Abnormal slow wave activity: None identified.Epileptiform activity: There were frequent, medium voltage 150-200 uV, frontally predominant 3.0-3.5 Hz spike and wave complexes that last up 5 seconds in duration. There were no clinical symptoms associated these runs.Ictal Activity: No seizures were observed.Clinical Events: Other variants: Activation:  a) Hyperventilation was performed for 3 minutes resulting in symmetric physiologic slowing. There was an presence of generalized spike and wave complexes that first occurred at the 2:10 mark after hyperventilation and persisted through the end of the record. b) Intermittent photic stimuli was performed, symmetric bilateral driving of the occipital rhythms appeared.Extra leads: Single EKG lead showed a normal sinus rhythm.IMPRESSION This awake and drowsy routine EEG is abnormal due to frequent frontally predominate 3.0-3.5 generalized spike and wave complexes. There was no clinical symptoms associated these complexes. The presence of 3-4 Hz generalized spike-and-wave discharges are most suggestive of an underlying idiopathic (presumed genetic) generalized epilepsy syndrome, however they may alternatively represent an inherited trait independent of clinical seizures. No seizures captured.

The MRI shows the brain as it

Submitted by just_joe on Mon, 2017-07-24 - 15:11
The MRI shows the brain as it is. If this was happening 3+ years ago they could be the cause. Anything that is different on the brain can cause electrical impulses to hit wrong in the brain. If abnormalities are seen in the EEG such as spikes or waves they are seen as epileptiform activity. Those abnormalities are electrical impulses hitting wrong. Those wrong hits can start a seizure. The seizure itself is the chain reaction caused by the wrong hit.  If you read the impression you would see the presence of generalized spikes and waves ie. epilepsy syndrome. as for seizures captured you didn't have a seizure while the eeg was being done.My epilepsy is caused by scared brain tissue in the left lobes of my brain. (more then one lobe)

Hi Amy I can't really add

Submitted by mariet_5926de5df37df on Thu, 2017-07-27 - 12:01
Hi Amy I can't really add very much as I am new to this epilepsy and brain issues. But I can sympathise with the anxiety and sort of restlessness one feels when waiting for reports and appointments etc. One thing is that you are quite self aware which will help when reporting to your neurologist. Also not sure if you do this but you could do a log of events and someone else directed me to the excellent 'Diary' on this website which helps you to provided info for your neurologist etc.Good luck

Sign Up for Emails

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