Shocked and overwhelmed - Epilepsy Message Board

Maggie C · 10-24-2003, 11:35 AM

Hi .I recently had several test done for some problems I was having in my neck, shoulder and jaw ( pain and numbness) The MRI of the brain,the cerebral vascular ultrasound all came back normal. Quite surprisingly my EEG was abnormal. My neurologist did not seem too concerned and said I could go on medication if I wanted. I was quite shocked and told him I had never experienced a seizure.He said they were called absence seizures. Here is what the EEG report stated:
Abnormal awake, drowsy and behaviorally asleep EEG due to sharp waves seen over the left temporal head region which are potentially epileptogenic.Can someone help me make sense of this? Thanks.

Art_930 · 10-24-2003, 11:44 AM

Maggie - I feel for you. I've had exactly the same diagnosis. To my knowledge I have never had a seizure in my entire life. Everyone in my family and the physicians with whom I work all say they can't believe that I've been diagnosed with epilepsy.

My neurologist himself has said that I never lose consciousness. My EEG says the same thing as yours.
He does appear to more of an alarmist than yours - mine has stopped me driving for 6 months and I'm on 300 mg of Dilantin - for the rest of my life, according to him.

I think I need your neurologist who seems to be much more prone to living in the real world.

Krazykcio · 10-24-2003, 12:38 PM

Hi,
Wow...how wierd to have seizure activity show up on an EEG, but no known seizures! Many of us that actually have seizures have never had a positive EEG. I had normal ones until my 5th or 6th seizure. My Neurologist told me that there are lots of undiagnosed seizure patients out there. I guess he wasn't kidding! I hope you remain seizure free. Good luck. Kathy