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Absence Epilepsy
Wed, 06/24/2015 - 19:26
My daughter (10) was diagnosed with absence epilepsy in 2011 and was put on zarontin.
In March, the neurologist took her off the zarontin because she had been seizure free for over two years.
She had an EEG on Monday. The neurologist called and said that the EEG was not normal. During the photic challenge (flashing lights) there were discharges (I have no idea what that means), however, she was responsive, responding to a question about how old she is, so the neurologist said that she can't say that my daughter had a seizure. During the hyperventilation, there was "slowing" but no seizure or discharges. During the hyperventilating test, my daughter pretty much froze in a daze (stopped blowing) and didn't respond to her name being called. The technician went and touched her shoulder to get her to respond. My daughter said she did not hear the technician calling her name. But the EEG did not show a seizure. The neurologist doesn't want to jump and put my daughter back on the medication, so her suggestion is to do a 24 hr eeg in August before school starts.
What is a discharge? How is that different than a seizure? What about slowing? What can this all mean?