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"grand mal" seizures on eeg, but no outward symptoms
Sat, 12/26/2009 - 15:34As a kid I had grand mal seizures, having my first in a spelling bee in 2nd grade. At 15 I no longer had seizures and at 18 I was told I could stop my meds.
Almost 30 years after stopping my meds, I went to a neuro for something else, he did an eeg (along with other tests) and discovered I am having "constant grand mal type seizures that last about 1-2 seconds each."
I have no outwards symptoms = except the worsening of my brain fog that I have attributed to my Fibromyalgia for years. I have more trouble recently remembering things or being able to come up with a word.
I don't understand how you can have what he said and not have outward signs. Help me here. I hadn't thought of epilespy for 30 years.
He wants me to start on Keppra. I am nervous - not wanting to have a seizure, and not wanting to go back on AED.
I live alone in the USVI on an island with no family around. I am a strong woman, but have never been alone when i had a grand mal seizure - the staring spells - yeah - but not a grand mal (sorry about old terminology, but it's what it was when I was a kid.). Will I come out of it? What should/could I expect?
I have bad memories of my epileptic years. I dread that again.
Any advice is very welcome =- on how to accept that this is back? How to cope. Accepting that meds are needed - or are they?
Thanks so much,
Comments
Re: "grand mal" seizures on eeg, but no outward symptoms
Submitted by sparker001 on Sat, 2009-12-26 - 22:26
I thought the same thing as Jonah - how can an EEG show you are having constant tonic clonic seizures of 1- 2 seconds of duration, yet you don't have any outward symptoms? When I had had TC's, I was always unconscious. Some on this site have had conscious TC's which I cannot even imagine.
Do you feel anything during these times that your doc says you are having 1-2 second TC's?
I don't blame you for wanting to avoid AED's. I wonder if there is possibly an epileptologist in the USVI's to whom you could go to get another opinion? Not necessarily that your neuro is "wrong", but going to see someone who specializes in epilepsy would be ideal...
I hope you do get some answers. Take good care.
--sparker
I thought the same thing as Jonah - how can an EEG show you are having constant tonic clonic seizures of 1- 2 seconds of duration, yet you don't have any outward symptoms? When I had had TC's, I was always unconscious. Some on this site have had conscious TC's which I cannot even imagine.
Do you feel anything during these times that your doc says you are having 1-2 second TC's?
I don't blame you for wanting to avoid AED's. I wonder if there is possibly an epileptologist in the USVI's to whom you could go to get another opinion? Not necessarily that your neuro is "wrong", but going to see someone who specializes in epilepsy would be ideal...
I hope you do get some answers. Take good care.
--sparker
Re: "grand mal" seizures on eeg, but no outward symptoms
Submitted by stxchick on Sun, 2009-12-27 - 00:21
I don't understand it - the most symptoms that I have experienced is a brain fog - inability to formulate sentances, pull words out of my mouth to fit the sentance content. Headache on Left side with extreme pressure. Although, last night I had a strange sensation. I woke to find myself half sitting in bed with a "zinging" feeling - like an electrical charge - going thru my head. Lasted seconds then was done. I was in a sleep trance - not fully awake - but moving - I fell back down to the bed and slept for about 7 hours pretty solidly.
I did start the Keppra tonight -one 500 mg pill - I slept for 3 hours then woke up - but with some clarity and no fullness in my head like I've had for days. We'll see what happens. I will be meeting with the Dr. on Monday. We'll look at the eeg together (and determine what is next.) I need to find out what caused this. Why after 35 years of being seizure free? I've had eeg's over the years - all alright. What precipitated this?
I had gastric bypass 6 years ago. I don't get my protein requirments (and haven't on a regular basis for the last 5 years) and wonder if the lack of sufficient protein will cause this?
Thanks all for the help. I usually roll with life - but this one took me by surprise!
I don't understand it - the most symptoms that I have experienced is a brain fog - inability to formulate sentances, pull words out of my mouth to fit the sentance content. Headache on Left side with extreme pressure. Although, last night I had a strange sensation. I woke to find myself half sitting in bed with a "zinging" feeling - like an electrical charge - going thru my head. Lasted seconds then was done. I was in a sleep trance - not fully awake - but moving - I fell back down to the bed and slept for about 7 hours pretty solidly.
I did start the Keppra tonight -one 500 mg pill - I slept for 3 hours then woke up - but with some clarity and no fullness in my head like I've had for days. We'll see what happens. I will be meeting with the Dr. on Monday. We'll look at the eeg together (and determine what is next.) I need to find out what caused this. Why after 35 years of being seizure free? I've had eeg's over the years - all alright. What precipitated this?
I had gastric bypass 6 years ago. I don't get my protein requirments (and haven't on a regular basis for the last 5 years) and wonder if the lack of sufficient protein will cause this?
Thanks all for the help. I usually roll with life - but this one took me by surprise!
Re: "grand mal" seizures on eeg, but no outward symptoms
Submitted by jonah on Sat, 2009-12-26 - 20:09
It might be possible you have had this brain activity for years and wouldn't have known about it if you hadn't done the EEG. This is just my totally unprofessional opinion, but I think drs prescribe medications too quickly. I can see where you are feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place. If it were me I would wait to see if I have any then start the meds. Chances are if if the seizures are going to start up again they'll happen with the meds atleast a few times anyway. I don't know anyone who became totally seizure free for a long time after being on medication. I think you should try to avoid driving though.
I'm just thinking also I've never heard of constant grand mall activity on an EEG and a person not having a seizure at the same time. Maybe something went wrong with the test or were you taking any kind of medication or drinking caffeine or anything that might have caused this on the test? Maybe someone else has heard of this happening.
It might be possible you have had this brain activity for years and wouldn't have known about it if you hadn't done the EEG. This is just my totally unprofessional opinion, but I think drs prescribe medications too quickly. I can see where you are feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place. If it were me I would wait to see if I have any then start the meds. Chances are if if the seizures are going to start up again they'll happen with the meds atleast a few times anyway. I don't know anyone who became totally seizure free for a long time after being on medication. I think you should try to avoid driving though.
I'm just thinking also I've never heard of constant grand mall activity on an EEG and a person not having a seizure at the same time. Maybe something went wrong with the test or were you taking any kind of medication or drinking caffeine or anything that might have caused this on the test? Maybe someone else has heard of this happening.