MS and seizures

[Lulu54]

Quick question - one of my heart friends is in the hsopital  - day three of seizures.  MS was mentioned but I don't remember seizures as a common symptom.  They are also saying pseudoseizures - ones caused by psychological reasons as the most probable, which means the doctors are too lazy to find the real cause.

MS and Seizures - Yes or No?

Thanks
Laura

[Quixotic1]

Pseudoseizures are a complex phenomenon.  They are felt to be a type of conversion reaction, but, there is also a somewhat high likelihood of the person developing a true neurologic disorder in the future.  Many neuros (enlightened ones) are hyposthesizing that they are indicative of some mild, dysfunction in the nervous system.  This is NOT the most widely held view, though.

The diagnosis of pseudoseizures is made by capturing the EEG during one of the events.  If there is no "epileptiform" discharges in the brain during the event, then the episode is a pseudoseizure.  Remember a seizure is defined more by what the brain's electrical activity is doing than what the person is doing.

Seizures, per se, are not more common in MS than in the general population.  However, how and when they appear is different from the population at large.  Onset of a seizure disorder is well described in MS an as the initial presentation of MS or in a relapse.  It just isn't real common.

Quix

[Lulu54]

Thanks for taking the time to give me a good answer I can send on to her.  She has her blackberry wannabe with her in the hospital and we have been emailing for three days now.  I recommended she check out the medhelp neuro board as well.

This one is complicated and it ticks me off that the medical establishment wants to pat her on the head and tell her it will stop if she would let go of the stress.  It's the same condescending garbage women get as heart patients and I read alot as MS patients too.

She had 3 seizures yesterday and another one today.  You would think they could catch something on the official record.

She has had migraines for the past few weeks - finally thought she had found the cause.  She is hypersensitive to Splenda sweetener and it is an ingredient she avoids like the plague.  Turns out there is Splenda in Tylenol Gel Caps - she was poisoning herself with the cure.  Like that one?  

On top of the migraines she has had her memory disappear - she is an engineer and all formulas, simple things like multiplication tables, just vanished.  Obviously the knowledge is in there, but she can't retrieve it.  She also was experiencing cognitive losses with locattions, words, names, etc. She had seen her cardio and PCP about this.  

She has facial drooping, but no evidence of TIA's.  

When the seizures started, she was waiting for her neuro appt. to come in early September.

We are very concerned about her - thanks again.

Be well,
Laura

[Rena705]

Hi Laura...just wanted to pass on the fact that I am one of the not real common ones that presented with Grand Mal and Petit Mal seizures prior to being diagnosed with MS.  I have been seizure free for 10-12 years now and have been on Tegretol all these years.  I was given and EEG, MRI and LP and my MRI was positive for numerous lesions and my LP was positive as well.  My seizures were deemed to have nothing to do with epilepsy and were related to the onset of MS.

I wish your friend and yourself the best of luck with this.  I only had Grand Mal seizures at night while in bed which was fortunated for me but I did have Petit Mal seizures during the day.  I am glad that they are at least under control and I hope they don't come back.

I would be very interested to know what they find out with your friend and I hope they get this under control soon for her as a seizure can take a whole lot out of you and can cause a lot of fear and pain.

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[grannyhotwheels]

I am also one of the not so common MS'er.  I have had seizures every time I've suffered a flare-up.  My doctor isn't sure why this happens but to me it's a warning that a bad flare is about to start.  My doctor upped my Lyrica to 150mg 5 x per day.  This has certainly helped in that category.  I haven't had one since a year ago last July.   YEA!

I'll be praying,
Carol

[Lulu54]

The pseudo dx would make sense with the seizures before or around when you have flares.  I passed on this link to her if she wants to read your responses.  

She is still in the hospital, now being monitored on camera and eeg to record everything,  And of course she has not had a seizure today!  

I may be back to you looking for more of your story to share with her.

Be well,
Laura