EEG's

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: EEG's

Submitted by Godzilla on Wed, 2005-05-25 - 17:47

I'm new here and have been hovering about listening in for a few weeks. I know this thread is a little old but it seems to be the closest to the questions rolling around in my head.My 15 yr old was the victim of a violent beating a couple years ago during which he lost consciousness. At first he had 'post cocussive syndrome' which gave him instant onset migraines every 2-3 days, a temporary hearing loss, and a lot of paranoiaI know it could have been a lot worse and am thankful that it wasn't. But about7 months after the incident the seizures started and I feel like we're entering a whole new world.He was on zoloft at the time of the 1st sz (for unrelated but exasperated obsessive compulsive disorder) and the neuro we were seeing suggested we wait it out as it may contain the seizure activity. He had the 1st of several EEG's-which as all the others have turned up negative.The 2nd set of sz came 3 mos. later and he had 4 in the space of an hour-not CT, but partial with loss of vision and slurred/slowed speech etc. This time a video EEG-negative.The neuro put him on depakote and he remained on it for about a year-seizure free. He was then taken off zoloft to try to navigate his way through the OCD on his own. 2 mos later he started High School and while the migraines had continued throughout they became more severe and more frequent; and beacame complicated-vision blocks, etc.In Dec 04 he had a breakthrough seizure and the Dr. ordered yet another EEG-negative. He referred us to a specialist - a Dir. of Pediatric Neurology with a specialty in children's seizures (there's a whole lot of $ after her name !). Meanwhile he doubled the depakote and my son turned into a different person-lethargic, constantly sleeping-no concentration and hair loss. Finally we saw the new Dr. -she ordered a 3 day video EEG, and while we are still waiting for the detailed results- we expect a big ) again. He did have intense migraines while hooked up-and the alarm on the machine did go off a couple of times, but no seizures. It is so frustrating- like the EEG activity is a test and we keep failing ! I have read that sometimes a headache is the ONLY symptom of a seizure, but since he has had others with differing symptoms, I don't think that is the case with him. This new neuro put hiom on Topamax, which from what I've heard from all of you- sounds horrible. I am afraid for my son. I'm a single parent with no insurance and with every test that is ordered I have to take on another job, so my teen is left alone way too much, but I can't seem to see an end to the 12 day work week just yet ( the topamax is SO much more expensive !)My son seems to be in a very dark and scary place right now. Before this happened he was a high honor roll student. His last report card produced 4 D's and 2 F's.and that was an improvement! It's difficult to determine what is the illness, what to blame on the meds or what is just normal adolesence. I don't know if I'm making the right long-term decisions as far as treatment is concerned-(it's a constant battle to jkeep him on his meds) ,as none of these he's taken have long term histories in children.I know if I'm feeling this lost, he's feeling worse as he's the one going through it. I don't know how to help and I feel like I'm losing him.Thanks for any input............PK

RE: EEG's

Submitted by Jeanne on Tue, 2005-05-10 - 12:49

Deborah, I have had seizures since I was 8 years old, but not a single EEG showed a problem. I joined the Air Force Reserve, and on my very first annual tour I had a TC right in front of my commander (who happened to be a doctor). From that moment on I have had abnormal EEG's. The thing that's driving me crazy is that I had 6 of the TC's, back then, then they stopped while the PM's just kept on going, and going... After 25 years all of a sudden the TC's came back last fall. To date I have had 9. I am not a happy camper...Jeanne

RE: EEG's

Submitted by angel_lts on Fri, 2005-07-15 - 07:53

No it can be another issue too.

I have info on migraines and epilepsy. Check out my group in links

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EpilepsyApproach/

lisa