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Need help understanding do I have epilepsy?
Sun, 11/04/2018 - 11:45Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
Hi my name is hannah! I’m 20 years old, I was wondering if anyone could help me understand what my results mean. Every since I was 3 I have fainting spells but as I’m getting older they are becoming more frequent, I am constantly getting sick, weird rashes, always feeling weak and fatigue . I had a ekg and everything came back fine. Last week I had a tilt table test done which came back positive and a eeg that came back abnormal. The 2 hour eeg came back that “wakefulness,drowsiness, and sleep is abdnormal due to presence of occasional left temporoparietal epileptiform discharges. Clinical correlation is recommended.” My neurologist called me and told me I have epilepsy but yet I’m 20 years old and never had a seizure. She told me my fainting spells isn’t a seizure. She told me that it’s not related but yet wants to put me on ant seizure medication. I’m confused can I have epilepsy if I never had a seizure? Will I get a seizure one day ? Sorry I’m new to this but just very overwhelmed and thought I’d ask some of you. Thanks guys :)
Comments
You might do well to read of
Submitted by birdman on Thu, 2018-11-15 - 11:49
You might do well to read of the different types of seizures : https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures
Hi there, going by the info
Submitted by Believer_59cd4d81a99cf on Mon, 2018-11-19 - 22:56
Hi there, going by the info you shared it *sounds* like there's abnormal stuff going on with your brain communication, both when you're asleep and while you're awake, and it's showing up plenty on the tests. So whether your faints are seizures or not, your doctor sees that something's up with your brain, and is diagnosing it as epilepsy, which literally just means "abnormal brain waves" basically. BUT there's a big but here. You should find out more and learn more about the specific of your brain and health. Taking meds is a big deal, seizures are a pretty big deal, and being informed is SO IMPORTANT for making decisions. Go for another appointment or to another doctor and try to get more answers.Best of luck,B
I suggest getting a second
Submitted by Amy Jo on Thu, 2018-11-08 - 16:50
I suggest getting a second opinion. People don't always know they have seizures as not all seizures are falling and shaking. Some seizures are minor complaints (weird vision, deja vu, all sorts of things) or might seems like you weren't paying attention. You need a doctor who will a) explain what you the EEG results definitely mean, any EEG limitations, and ask what clinical correlation might substantiate that and b) suggest reasons for your fainting (syncope). I suggest consulting with an epileptologist (a neurologist who has extra training in epilepsy). The internet notes that some fainting can be from a certain type of seizure but consider the zebra/horse diagnosis issue. Do you know of any triggers?