I'm kind of worried about what's going on with me. My doctor isn't really sure, but he's suggested absence seizures as a possibility.

The most striking episode was when I was sitting in a meeting and suddenly it was like I came out of anesthesia and I was confused about where I was and what I was doing there. I had sort of "lost" several seconds. I asked somebody else in the meeting, and they didn't notice anything, so I didn't actually pass out or do anything weird.

I've also been having a lot of people randomly ask me if I'm okay, and I'm not really sure why, which is kind of weird. Sometimes I sort of zone out, like yesterday I was talking to some people and I sort of missed hearing what people were saying for a few seconds, and they had to repeat their question to me. I also feel really spacey and detached sometimes, and I'm really fatigued despite adequate sleep (10-12 hours total a day, between night and naps).

My doctor ordered a few tests. The MRI/MRA came back totally normal. The 5 hour glucose tolerance test came out a little weird, but technically normal (topped out at 106, then up and down from there, lowest was 69), so I'm waiting for the doctor's interpretation on that.

He also ordered an EEG and referred me to a neurologist. I've been having trouble getting in to see the neuro, though. They require a referral on their own special form, and I waited a week to get all that in order. I still haven't been able to make an appointment, because my doctor forgot to fax the records along with the referral form, and the neuro won't schedule anything without all the info. I asked the lady, and she said that they are booked up until the beginning of June already.

So I'm really freaked out and frustrated and upset about all of this. I don't know what's going on and it doesn't look like I'll be able to get in to see a doctor and get it checked out anytime soon. And if it is seizures, I'm worried about it getting worse and something else happening. If it's not seizures, I want to know what else it is, but I have to wait to find out. I'm just ready to cry, because I don't know what to do.

The good news is that nobody said you fell, or had any motor symptoms with your arms and legs. Also, meds help many people with simple partial seizures. Can you ask your doc to see if they can intervene with getting you into see the neuro sooner? My doc was horrified that I didn't call when given a long wait...all they can say is no. I ended up on disability and being put off work because of the long wait- maybe emphasize to your reg doc that you need to get in sooner, and it's not working with you calling, and you need help with that.

It's a "stare off" symptom seizure. Simple Partial.

Interesting they are checking diabetic related as well (sugar levels).

Don't know what else to say. Do you have any type of warning before those episodes hit? or symptoms afterwards that let you know it happened?

If you think of anything, start making notes in a log book or small calendar for the days they occur (if you have some way of knowing how/when) and how many. Length if possible. All information to help your doc could be beneficial to you.

( think to yourself, don't reply online , if you are overstressed, have a lot going on, getting enough sleep) Those can contribute to seizures in some cases if we spread ourselves too thin, along with stress and insomnia, caffine is another problamatic trigger for some people, along with alcohol for some seizure patients.

Some of us have aroma's trigger seizures, or flourecent lighting. I hope you are able to get into a seizure clinic and have them document your seizures.

--Travis

Good news.... I got an appointment with the neurologist for next Monday and an EEG next Tuesday. I'm a little nervous, though, because they said that the neuro appointment would take several hours. What on earth do they do to you for 2+ hours??? Specifically, it's a neuro-opthalmologist, which I'm not sure what the difference is... but I guess they decided to send me to this guy because I see shadows in my peripheral vision.

You'll be having a battery of eye tests.

Those Dr's are specalists. HARD to get in to see. They know their material.

I was seeing one down at the U of MN who was on top of his game and found what most likely was a tumor that had existed for ages in my case; but it was newer technology finding an old (existing) problem for me. (tumor engangled in my left optic nerve)

Peripherial vision tests, FOV (field of vision), standard vision test, (what else did they do to me) more than I can recall. Even a MRI on my eye.

MAKE SURE TO BRING SUNGLASSES. They will dialate (sp?) your pupils so unless it's late everything will be bright. Also make sure somebody else is driving.

GOOD JOB getting in if you are having eye related problems (thats what this is for).

--Travis

I don't really know why I'm seeing this guy. I do have the shadows in my peripheral vision, where I think I see something but then I look again and it isn't there. But I've had that for years. What I'm more concerned about is the other stuff. So hopefully this doctor does it all. I would guess that he does, since they required all of my records before they would schedule an appointment because they wanted to figure out who to schedule me with. Quite honestly, though, I can live with seeing bugs on the walls that aren't there, but I can't live with "missing chunks" of time.

They start somewhere...this was probably the first guy who had an opening, and then you'll get a referral to a 'plain' neurologist to deal more with the blank spells. Is this at a university health system by any chance? They are good about getting info to the other docs, so you don't have to do so much chasing down of information or signing release of information stuff- your chart is all in one place.

This is strictly optical... but down to the nerves and how they connect to the brain and the details like that these specalists KNOW more then your towns eye Dr (WAY MORE!)

If you have medocere side vision this is a very good idea to have done. As for "floaters"; those are very common in almost everybody but don't cause a large darkened region usually; floaters are usually "specks" that tend to "float" in the eye fluid.

We get what we can for Dr's with their scheduals.

--Travis

Well, the neuro-opthalmologist was most unhelpful. Very nice, but not helpful. The underling came in and did the whole big long exam, then the doctor called me in and said that everything with my eyes looks good. So I asked about the other stuff, and she said that she doesn't do that and I should probably have been scheduled with the neurologist and not her.

The good news is that there's nothing wrong with my eyes or anything connected to them. The bad news is that means the things that I see in my peripheral vision are actually hallucinations originating in my brain... Oh boy.

More good news is that the doctor took me out to the main office supervisor and explained what the problem was. They got me in with a neurologist tomorrow morning. (Amazing what a little crying can do, huh?) So tomorrow's going to be fun. Stay up all night, then see the neurologist, then have the eeg. Then I have to go hold office hours and run a review session for an exam...

The word "hallucinations" sounds horrible- but consider this.....people who really are nutty don't worry about it-- there's plenty of hope to get to the bottom of this! You're not nuts- not everyone has symptoms by the book (I'm a prime example of that- can have absolutely blue fingernails, and perfectly normal oxygen levels- that shouldn't be possible). Sometimes it just makes the docs think more (it's good for them) to put things together- and YES- tears do help !!!

Being through the N.O. tests many times I know what one goes through (and yes, I FORGOT sunglasses one winter sunny day, NOT FUN with snow!).

The outcome sounds GOOD to me, as screwball as that sounds. You know the peripheral (I give up spelling that word) vision symptoms are not due to your cateracts or the physical parts of the eye. THATS GOOD. You just eliminated it being an optical problem.

Please see that as a benefit that it is helping you to find the solution! You are reducing potentials that it could be by going to what may end up be a good number of Dr's and tests. All to isolate the problem down to a handfull that can then be knocked down to lesser when they go over the ailments by reviewing them in the textbook papers detailing them.

so this is a GOOD thing, please see it that way. I feel happy for you.

--Travis

Okay... neurologist and eeg done.

The neuro was really nice. Sort of the older man fatherly type. He took his time talking to me and going over all the stuff that's been going on. The actual exam was normal. It was funny because he had an intern with him and he kept pointing out how great I was doing with all the tests, and then doing them himself and demonstrating how he was slower at the things because he was older.

He thinks that it might be complex partial seizures, along with partial seizures (the hallucinations...). He's pretty cautious, though, so he doesn't want to give me a firm diagnosis yet. We'll see how the eeg comes back. He also wants me to keep a log of all of the events that I pick up on, and find some people that I'm around a lot to watch for any events that I'm missing. Then I see him in 2 months to go over that.

The eeg was fine... They were able to get me in earlier than my scheduled time, which was great. The lady was nice. I had trouble falling asleep because I was laying on my back (I never sleep on my back), and there were clunking noises on the floor below. But the lady said that I fell asleep a few times.

So the plan right now is to see what the eeg says, then perhaps do a more sleep-deprived eeg, video eeg, ambulatory eeg, or trial of a med... Sound reasonable?

Yeah, but a normal EEG between seizures doesn't rule out anything....hope this neuro doesn't want "proof" on an EEG. Mine are fine between seizures, but a mess during and after them. But it's good that they're not just sticking a label on without checking into things.

I can only think of one other potential, but Michigan won't allow it's use if I recall correctly. They have not passed a measure in the states houses for medical use. A Naturalpathic praticioner would know more than I do (this would be before starting on medications for the hallucinations) if it may help or not. Worst case it would reduce eye pressure and relax the eye, calming of the nerves (also used for seizures). As well it doesn't work with everybody.

But being it can't be used over there, it's not worth thinking about. :(


I really like some of the older Dr's. I've had a couple of them. They take their time, KNOW what they are doing, and usually work slow, not in super speed as some of the other Neuro's do. Sounds like you found a potential good one.

--Travis

Yeah... this guy was really nice. He took his time and asked lots of questions and didn't rush me, and answered all of my questions.

I did ask him if it could still be seizures if the eeg came back normal, and he said absolutely, that many eegs come back normal with seizures. That's why he wants me to do this log thing and then if it's still not clear he'll look into those other diagnostic tests.

My only problem is that I really don't know who to ask to watch me. I live alone, and the cats just aren't talking. Right now I'm in the last week of classes, then I have two weeks off, then I start an internship one day a week and working as a tutor (different student every hour). I will be seeing the same students at least once a week if not more, but I feel like it would be really awkward to ask them if they notice me behaving strangely. That just seems like more the kind of thing that you ask a friend, not a client...

It sounds like a lot of changes/stress going on, even if positive....that alone can lower seizure threshholds in those sensitive to them. It's good the neuro isn't depending on the EEG alone. The log may be the best info he gets, and if anyone witnesses them, don't be afraid to ask them- it's awkward, but someone else's view can be extremely helpful. My previous boss wrote down what she saw so I could take it to my neuro.

I woke up this morning with a scraped-up knuckle and a really sore muscle. Is there any reason that this would happen other than some kind of seizure in my sleep? I don't remember anything, other than that I woke up several times during the night. The other possible seizures that I'm having are all ones with no strange movements associated at all, so should I be worried about this?

I'm not sure worrying will do anything but increase stress, and if they are seizures, make them worse...could be nocturnal seizures. Keep track in the log, and if there's someone who could spend a few nights with you, to see what happens, that could be helpful....otherwise, just keep doing what the doc says.