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EEG Normal (now what?) and a question about self-control
Wed, 02/15/2006 - 19:41Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
My fourteen year old son had a sleep deprived EEG this morning. It was approximately two hours after having a big (for him) tonic/clonic seizure upon awakening and he had a small episode during the test, but the results are NORMAL. I know this sounds awful but I was hoping that they would be conclusive so we could get started with treatment. He hasn't seen the neurologist yet so he is not on meds and we are afraid to send him to school.
My son also seems to think that he can STOP himself from having the seizures progress from an "aura" type of feeling to a seizure with the tonic/clonic stuff. He seems to think that if he can lie down in time and keep his eyes shut, it passes.
Is that even possible?
What about the EEG?
This is a child who, now that I know more, MAY have been having partials for many years, that have just now begun to generalize SOME of the time, but not always.
However, we are totally confused about the EEG and what exactly is happening to him. He has had several big episodes in the last week.
thanks in advance,
Leslie
Comments
Re: EEG Normal (now what?) and a question about self-control
Submitted by Brian01 on Wed, 2006-02-15 - 23:14
Hi there Leslie, I'm thankful to here that he gets a aura before he has his siezures so that he can lie down and not hurt himself. I never reconizeds my auras till after I had the brain surgery and now that I reconize them I take a ativan and a clobazam in order to try to stop my siezures. It used to work about 25% of the time now I am learning how to time it better to stop the siezures more frequantly like 75% of the time. This last year I have started to explore alot more and learnt alot more through it. Talk to your docter and see if there is something he can do to stop it(the siezures)
Boy is it nice to be back on the internet again.
Re: Re: EEG Normal (now what?) and a question about self-control
Submitted by guitarmomma on Thu, 2006-02-16 - 06:49
I am so sorry the EEG did not show clearly what is going on! It is good he can lay down and remain calm, but I do not think you can stop an epileptic seizure that way. There is a possibility that he has both epileptic and nonepileptic events and he can stop the latter.
Partial seizures often have a normal EEG in between the seizures. I am not sure what you saw for the one during the EEG. It is possible that the one you saw during was not a seizure, but his tonic clonics are. I know of many who can have a normal EEG within a short time of having a true tonic clonic. Doctors tend to discount this and say it is rare, but I sure hear a lot having this!
My son has had a few abnormal EEGs but most of his are normal. he has never had a seizure during an EEG, making his rediagnosis very difficult. He is back on treatment now and doing better. "normal" eegs really haunt us mostly because it does not show what is going on.
It is possible, as well, that seizure focus is very deep in the brain and scalp electrodes are missing the abnormality.
Can you video tape him for a time, especially if there is a specific time period he tends to seize? Maybe showing hte neuro what you see can help? A prolonged video EEG in hospital is another possibility to show what is going on if he has them frequently enough.
When do ou see the neuro? Usually the diagnosis and decision to treat is based on Family history, eye witness account of the seizures as well as EEG. A normal EEG is not supposed to exclude an epilepsy diagnosis.
Take care
Gin
Re: EEG Normal (now what?) and a question about self-control
Submitted by txrhb1 on Wed, 2006-02-15 - 20:21
Hi Leslie, How scary this must be for you !! It is not unusual at all for someone with epilepsy to have a normal EEG. My daughter has never had an abnormal EEG, and has had tonic/clonic seizures for 14 years now. I on the other hand, always have abnormal EEG's, and have partial seizures for a few years. It is very discouraging not to be able to get a diagnosis immediately - I can certainly empathize with you. It might be a good idea to consider having a video - EEG done, which is done in hospital over a few days. You might want to ask the neuro about it. As far as making a seizure go away, I don't think it's possible. At least, for my daughter and I, I haven't found that to be true. However, it is good for him to lie down if he feels an aura, to be on the safe side. How does your son feel about missing school for a few days, until you can get in to see the neuro? And when do you have an appt? I wish I had some magic answers for you, but I am sending positive wishes your way. ((( hugs ))), Barbie *************************************** "We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can fly only by embracing each other." -lucian de crescenzo