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Neurology (Expert Forum)
hole in brain not a cyst
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hole in brain not a cyst
by clynnm, Jun 19, 2001 12:00AM
I posted earlier about my son having a arachnoid cyst located next to old scar tissue from a head injury, no he did not have any brain surgey at the time of the injury or at any other time. Doctor has told us he has temporal lobe epilepsy, and since he did not have any seizures for 7 yrs till he was put on zoloft chances are the med did trigger the seizures. The nuerosurgeon says there is no cyst it is a hole left in brain from prior brain damage. How will this effect him? Also He has been told now he has temporal lobe epilepsy, can this cause panic like symptoms like heart beating hard for no reason? He does not look like he is having a panic attack he is very calm just sitting on computer or eating, watching tv and his heart starts to pound hard. When all his symptoms started last year before any seizure or being put on zoloft he had the heart pounding and feeling tired and tingling could this have been the temporal lobe epilepsy stating? they originally put him on zoloft thinking these were anxiety attacks.He is not panic like though. He was taken off the zoloft by a doctor. Thanks for your help with this my son has been very healthy until this all started. I'm just very concerned. At the time he was in the accident 8 yrs ago docs told me he probly wouldn't come home he would be in a nursing home. He has done so good no problems just some learning difficulties but has been in college and doing ok. Thank you! Carol Sorry one more question is there certain meds that are better for certain kinds of seizures he is on tegretol right now.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-RPS, Jun 19, 2001 12:00AM
Dear clynnm:
I am not sure what you want me to tell you. I can't tell you much without seeing the films. Since your doctor believes that zoloft caused the seizures, what does he/she say? It is more likely that the previous traumatic event is triggering the seizures. This is very well known to happen from traumatic injuries. Seizures can start up to decades after the trauma. Autonomic seizures arising from the temporal lobe area is not rare, and has been described. The best type of seizure medication is the one that stops the seizures. Different epileptologists have their favorites. Tegratol is a good medication for partial seizures.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
I am not sure what you want me to tell you. I can't tell you much without seeing the films. Since your doctor believes that zoloft caused the seizures, what does he/she say? It is more likely that the previous traumatic event is triggering the seizures. This is very well known to happen from traumatic injuries. Seizures can start up to decades after the trauma. Autonomic seizures arising from the temporal lobe area is not rare, and has been described. The best type of seizure medication is the one that stops the seizures. Different epileptologists have their favorites. Tegratol is a good medication for partial seizures.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
I also developed Temporal Lobe Siezures later in life and yes there are forwarnings in most people with partial complex. I call it the 5-10 minute warning. I take 10 mg of Klonopin divided two, five times a day. It is an anti-convulsant good for partial complex seizures and it's an excellant anti-anxiety drug. It should reduce both of his problems. I used to have an occasional racing heart from a mitral valve prolapse, but no more of that since I have been on the Klonopin.
I don't know how his seizures are but mine are mostly tonic-clonic meaning all the muscles in my body stiffen up and then start to shake from the cramping. The seizures last anywhere from 5-45 minutes depending on whether I am on medication or not. When I first became aware of the seizures and doctors did not know what to think because I don't pass out they thought I was exaggerating. It was a long time nearly a year before the correct treatment was found and applied. I am lucky to still be alive. I still have a breakthrough now and then especially if I work out in the how sun, but those are usually only 5-10 minutes now. I love outdoor work but now I really have to be careful or I'll seize. It is very painful and leaves me in pain for nearly two days. So the only thing I can suggest is to try the Klonopin for the seizures and Ultram for the pain if he has bad pain. Ibuprophen (Advil) is usally good enough. The thing about Klonopin is it is addictive and you can not stop it abruptly if you decide not to take it. You have to taper off it or you will seize like you never seized before. Just thinking about that and the DT's makes me cringe to think about it. It's like being under torture. So the Klonopin is a risk in that way as far as being addictive, but if he has to take it the rest of his life for seizures, what does it matter? This is just my opinion from my own experience. Take it for what's it's worth.