Update on Confusion/Hallucinations - Parkinson's Disease Message Board

pudge2 · 05-25-2003, 07:22 AM

I wanted to let everyone know that the confusion/hallucination episodes my husband has had since DBS surgery may well be a side effect from seizure meds. This is good news. As his medication is reduced, his episodes have decreased. His doctor has mentioned Diffuse Lewy Bodies, but I am not convinced that is accurate. Hope this helps someone else.

Pudge

Bruce · 05-25-2003, 11:17 AM

Pudge, I rechecked my printouts to make sure i am accurate. Lewy bodies can only be detected by post mortom examination of the brain tissue.

Many investigators be;ieve their is a spectrum of Lewy body disorders exist The role of lewy bodies is controversial. Because of the sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnosis is poor, no good epdemilogic data is available.

Bruce

pudge2 · 05-25-2003, 11:48 AM

Bruce,

You are right about the test for DLB. I've read that some researchers believe DLB is an extreme rare form of PD. My husband had 4 seizures the night of his DBS surgery. That's why he was on seizure meds. At first, the doctors were treating the confusion/hallucinations as byproducts of seizure. Finally during a seizure monitoring stay at the hospital, they could not connect any seizure activity to the confusion/hallucination episodes. Two seizure meds were eliminated while in the hospital. He improved, but the episodes continued. The next step was removing the last seizure med. Within three days of the first day of med reduction, the episodes decreased tremendously. He will be completely off the last seizure med in about 4 weeks. The chances of a seizure is 50/50. The pre/post surgery states were so different that they begin to suspect DLB. Sorry for the long post.

Pudge2