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Dr. says not epilepsy, but spells continue and worsen
Sat, 02/25/2006 - 02:23Hello, I have had my spells for over 14 months now. I have had the EEG,MRI and 3 day EEG over 5 months ago. I saw the best neurologist in Vancouver and he found nothing on his tests. Since all came back normal my doctor says I don't have epilepsy, although my spells continue and more areas of my body are being affected. My left eye twitches at times, eyesight blurrs and I have to keep focusing on the object, face, lips and tongue tingle, speech becomes slurred and I struggle at times to get the words out, my arm feels numb, toes tingles, pain in legs, feel light headed. The last one I had lasted 2 hours. He has also ruled out MS, cancer and a tumor. My doctor has witnessed my spells on more than one occassion. I currently take colonazapam as medication. My spells happpen at any time any place. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I told my doctor that they missed something in their testing. He won't do anymore tests.
Thanks, Glenda
Comments
Re: Re: Dr. says not epilepsy, but spells continue and worsen
Submitted by guitarmomma on Sat, 2006-02-25 - 15:30
Glenda, I am so sorry you have not found out what is going on! Were you taken off medications during the 3 day EEG?
Asking for a sleep study, cardiac testing like tilt table testing, and EKG holter monitoring can also be part of a differential diagnosis. Looking into other vascular possibilities might also be wise with the eye changes that go with your spells.Sometimes seeing a psychologist can also rule out stress or trauma as possible causes.
It is so frustrating to know something is just not right and not find answers.
Sometimes the tests do not find seizures. Did you have any of your spells during the monitoring? Normal EEG does not always exclude an epilepsy diagnosis if no other issue is found. It does get difficult to determine though.
Since this neuro says it is not seizures does he plan to take you off the medication?
I hope you can persist and find answers and help.
Re: Re: Re: Dr. says not epilepsy, but spells continue and worse
Submitted by coolbreeze on Sat, 2006-02-25 - 17:48
Thank you for your reply.
I was not on medication except celexa an antidepressant. As I type this email to you, I am experiencing one of my spells. Computers, humming sounds and lighting set me off.
As for spells during the 3 day monitoring, yes, I did have them, but not as bad as I have them know. My tests were done in late September of 2005, and now my spells are even worse. I have and am seeing a psych right now. She said that if I nothing was found during testing, she would diagnose me with accummulated anxiety disorder. My family doctor says that this is a nice way to say that they don't know what is causing my spells. I asked to be put in the hospital so that I could be monitored, but no room. I can't go to the psych ward because I don't see green leprechauns crawling up the walls.
Thanks for caring.
Re: Dr. says not epilepsy, but spells continue and worsen
Submitted by pongosmommy on Sat, 2006-02-25 - 11:23
This may sound off the wall, but a friend told me the other day their brother was having these kind of symptoms and after every kind of test under the sun was run...it was sleep apnea causing his. He wasn't getting enough oxygen to his brain.