11 year-old boy with seizures but epilepsy is ruled out

[Carrol242]

My cousin, who is an 11 year-old boy, has started having seizures. They have became as frequent as 3-7 times a day. He has seen many doctors and all of them have ruled out epilepsy because he remembers what happens. The medicine doctors have put him on doesn't seem to be working. Just today he had a seizure that lasted for 3 mintues and he has been throwing up, barely able to walk. He has now been in Geisinger Medicial Hospital for 3 day and they are still not sure what is going on. What could this be?

[auntb41164]

Hi Carrol,First of all i am no expert  on the subject I am no doctor...My nephew at the age of 14 years{He is 18 now}had a similar thing happen to him as i recall...Turned out he was playing too many vedio games ...I'm not saying this is his problem but does he play alot of vedio games...Love and prayers,Brenda

[auntb41164]

Sorry I put the wrong number by your name...Brenda

[tmbrwolf329]

My son started having seizures at 9 mos....and didn't actually get diagnosed with epilepsy until he was 9 years old.  Doctors don't want to diagnose until absolutely necessary because that diagnosis will follow him forever....

1)  MRI and Cat Scan - both are necessary.  They will pinpoint any irregularities in brain structure, possible leisions on the brain, and if there are any abnormal growths (tumors).

2)  I'm assuming they've done an EEG.  But have they done a 24 hour EEG?  If not, insist that they do.  A typical EEG will only show a problem if he has a seizure during or shortly prior to the EEG - it's basically a crapshoot.  If they do a 24 hour, make sure the parents do everything they can do trigger a seizure - sleep deprivation, flashing lights, huge amounts of sugar (even MSG - eat lots of chinese food!!).  If they can trigger a seizure DURING an EEG, the information obtained by the EEG will be hugely helpful.

The fact that he remembers what happens during the episode is strange from an epileptic standpoint, but every person is different, so some differences can be expected.  My son had cluster seizures that didn't follow typical patterns also, so the doctors didn't want to even give him medications!  I did hours and hours and hours of research trying to find one little tiny piece of information the doctors might have missed.  What this did for me, was to be able to discuss my son's condition with the doctors in a way that let them know that I was informed.  Their perception of me changed dramatically, and they began talking to me as a colleague, rather than as a panicked parent.  Made a huge difference...the doctors actually listened to my opinions and took into consideration my input.

All the best....

[leolady87]

I have heard about seizures from overplaying of video games; this was a problem in Japan.

Apart from that though, there are some forms of seizures where conscious or awarenes if retained.  I was just reading about partial seizures.  What they need to do is a video-taped EEG, where your cousin would be admitted to a special epilepsy unit in a hospital where he would be monitored constantly.  Electrodes are attached to the scalp so that brainwave activity can be monitored in case he has a seizure.  Unfortunately, not all forms of epilepsy create brainwave changes, and some forms are so deep they cannot be read with the scalp electrodes.  

Lastly, there are also non-epileptic seizures.  Do research on the internet.  Also, remember it's called the "practice of medicine"; there are still many things which remain a mystery.  Doctors won't admit it though.  Good luck to you.  I would try to get his problem diagnosed as quickly as possible, so that he can get the correct treatment.