Epilepsy and the Heart

First I think your site is great! I will try to make this brief but it is complicated. I have TGA I am pretty sure that is the way you would say that. I usually say L transporsition of the great vessels. I have never had surgery to correct this. To many Dr this is interesting to say the leaste. I have MVP and a Murmur. Recently the Dr thought they saw a tumor in my LV I had many tests done Echo, MRI of the heart, Heart Cath, and a TEE. The TEE and the Echo was suspisciuos but the other two were negative so I let this go as settled.
Four yrs ago I was diagnosed as having Epiliepsy I had a EEG done that showed that The seizures were coming from my Left Temporal Lobe. Which would not be that unreal since I did have a car accident in 89 and a concussion.I was put on Dilantin. sometimes I would find it hard to speak during one of my events. I always knew though where I was and what was going on around me.
Now in 1999 I just completed a 12 day stay at the Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Unit here in PA. They have told me thatI don't have seizures really and that they believe it is my heart that is causing me these problems. While monitoring one of my events they noticed no change in the EEg but noticed my heart was acting up , thats the best I can desrcibe this, They have sent me to my Heart Speacailist now. I am wearing a monitor.
I just don't get how 4 yrs ago I could be diagnose with seizures and then turn around to this. All that time on Dilantin was probably a Blessing since it is a heart stabalizer and I heard it can thin your blood too. Does this even sound right to you? A little I feel like I am being bouced between Dr's. that don't know what to do with me. My heart Dr. doesn't buy this from the Neurologist completely. He says that seizures can be triggered by a number of things. I am on NO meds now I feel like anything can happen heart attack or and a seizure. Any advice for me?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

We do occasionally see this and it is a good thing they picked it up in your case.  It is most likely a rhythm problem with the heart and this is why they have you wearing a Holter monitor.  Good luck to you.

[Valencia]

Thanks for your quick response. It is very hard to understand how having a rhythm problem could cause such havoc. Am I at high risk for Strokes?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Rhythm problems can indeed cause quite a number of problems.  Fortunately stroke is not usually one of them (except with afib).