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Epilepsy. Is it or isn't it????

Sat, 12/23/2006 - 08:16
Here is our story/frustration at having our son properly diagnosed. Winter of 2000 - Child male age 5 - No seizure history. Healthy Happy. Oldest of 4 children. No family history on either side of seizures, epilepsy, or any other neurological disorder. Spring of 2000 he becomes ill with e.coli/HUS. Suffers renal failure. While in Hospital altered consciousness observed along with irritability. When discharged following recovery from renal failure, altered consciousness observed, lasting anywhere from 10-30 seconds. Chewing observed, walking aimlessly through house, won't respond to verbal commands. When he comes back to "normal" is confused and very irritable, trouble with memory (i.e. math homework that he had been doing with no problem he will forget how to do it). Also starts bedwetting. This continues undiagnosed for appox 3yr years. He ends up being treated for "behavioural problems". At age 8-9 first couple of eeg's are "normal". Child then has one that shows epileptic spikes. Followup EEG confirms. Also has two sleep eeg's that show the spikes. Finally Diagnosed with complex partial seizures in 2004. Child is also diagnosed with a brain injury from e.coli that is causing cognitive and behavioural problems although some of those problems are blamed on the epilepsy. Child is put on tegretol. Condition improves greatly but not 100%. Bedwetting stops with implementation of tegretol. Has 2-3 follow-up eeg's that show epileptic spikes. Neurologist continues with tegretol. 2005 while on ride at fair child has a "major" focal seizure. Ride is stopped child has to be helped off ride. Complains of having a bad headache and being nauseated afterwards. EEG a few days after this still shows epileptic spikes. Neurologist doesn't seem to concerned with this latest seizure. Child remains on tegretol. Dec 2006 Parents notice symptoms appear to be worsening. Child has a follow-up EEG. Child's psychiatrist also feels that seizures maybe causing some worsening of the behavioural problems. On follow-up with Neurologist a day after EEG he states that the EEG was clear and that our child "never ever had epilepsy". States that the EEG's were showing a normal variant called a "psychomotor variant". When questioned about what we were observing Neurologist stated that our child probably has/had underlying "psychiatric problems" that were the cause of it. When asked about the "seizure" that he had at the fair the Neurologist said "well whatever he's better now". Neurologist also said that our son should be taken off his medication immediately. Naturally we are quite concerned and have elected not to take our son off the medication because of the issues we are currently seeing with him. We have been using the same neurologist throughout this who is an epilepsy specialist. We are in the process of getting a second opinion. Question: Are we crazy? We feel that the behavior of the Neurologist is simply bizarre. The diagnosis of never having epilepsy just does not make sense although we would be grateful to god if he didn't. The difference between actual epilepsy and a normal variant shouldn't take nearly 5 years to figure out, plus it doesn't explain what we have been seeing all these years. This is an experienced pediatric neurologist who specializes in epilepsy. If our child does not have epilepsy, what the hell does he have?? We are extremely confused by all of this not to mention the thought of having to do this all over with another is very upsetting. Any thoughts or suggestions?????

Comments

Re: Re: Remember Carrie, 'Aura' is

Submitted by mcdonaja on Sun, 2006-12-24 - 12:30
Thank you for your comments Wren. We have been using the same neurologist all the way through this journey and we are still numbed by what he has told us. The last visit with him when he told us this he was unusually short and abrupt with us. Either way you are correct. If he has been wrong from the very beginning with us he certainly owes us an apology at the very least (an explanation would also be nice). If the new Dr finds our son "does" have epilepsy then our former DR also has some explaining to do. When the dust has settled from this we plan on the very least of writing a letter of complaint to the Hospital Board and the College of Physicians and Surgeons. I'm sure he'll come up with some scientific mumble jumple in an attempt to cover his rear, however, his incompetence has to be brought to the attention of his superiors. Perhaps we're not the only one's that he has misdiagnosed.

Re: Re: Re: Remember Carrie, 'Aura' is

Submitted by wichitarick on Sun, 2006-12-24 - 15:07
"it,s not the crazy people you worry about---its the one,s that don,t know it. R.C Hi, I feel for your son.Because of the frustration of "not learning" it is what kids do ,they learn . While I can not give a lot or any better advice that you have been given because I,m still trying to solve some of my own problems with seizures. I can say that a regular school will sure mess this up. I hope he has some extra help and maybe different guide lines than his peers.? I wil say also that although you know this now , please under stand this is a classic case of "the doc is not always right". I met with one of the top neuros in this state and he for 1 did not have my charts or mri readings and then tried to give a physical an 8th grd gym type physical , I left and refused to pay the bill. I almost went into a coma because an er doc gave me valium with a very high alcohol blood level right after a major gm seizure when I hit my head?? The fact I went to another er in another city an hour later saved my life. well and my drinking buddy was nurse lol. I have a lot more and while I,m not a doctor hater and try to see the good side of things in life it is very clear these folks especially with the brain and mental evals of any kind are sometimes shooting in the dark ,so to speak and good ones WILL tell you that. I do unders tand your fear I am 43 and have had "auras" for yrs and have never had a doctor tell me these are seizures and I just had them for 2 full days "while" on tegretol . Just so I,m not rambling I took something valuable from your post . The amusement ride , I think I now get this, while even riding in a car or a bus ? I blacked out a few wks a go while riding a different bus than I was used to ,maybe different bumps and noises?? thanks Rick

My thoughts are: YES,

Submitted by wldhrt13 on Sun, 2006-12-24 - 18:40
My thoughts are: YES, definitely get a second opinion. Independent of that second opinion but in addition to it; may also be worth your while to ask the first neurologist, why he is recanting his original diagnosis. I can speculate that what might have happened is that he mistook the psychomotor variant waves on the first few "abnormal" EEG's for epileptiform discharges. However, this should not happen to a seasoned pediactric neurologist who supposedly "specializes in epilepsy." The error, as the article points out, could happen to the "casual reader." But huge red flags furl at you in that, he seems to lack the integrity to tell you that he may have made a mistake. Check out this link, scroll down to the first section which is titled, "ODD LOOKING WAVEFORMS", it discusses the psychomotor variant. http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic274.htm#target1 I myself, would attempt to understand his reasoning for recanting everything, since like you say it IS so bizarre. I wouldn't mince words, I would ask him if the E-coli infection, left any lesions (scars) on your child's brain. I viewed a few sites on E-coli infection and most of them list seizures as a long-term complication. http://www.ehs.wsu.edu/acp/ecoli.asp If the E-coli infection can cause lesions (scarring)in the brain tissue and this scar tissue is what be causing the seizures...it begs another million dollar question, why did this doctor not order an MRI to rule out any structural problems as a cause for his symptoms? I would bring the articles in and ask him directly. Please let us know the outcome. I for one, would be very interested to hear his answers. pamela

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