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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Adult Twins and Seizure
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Adult Twins and Seizure
by CyHawk7, Oct 08, 2002 12:00AM
I have 2 twin older Brothers who are identical twins. They have experiecned seizures on average about 5 years apart for each of them. When they were teenagers they each experienced one about 5 years apart- at the time we thought it was heat related because it was during physical activity in the heat. No test revealed anything. About 5 years later one Twin had a seizure walking down a street. He was placed on dilantin for a year.
About years later the other twin experienced a seizure during physical activity- again tests revelaed nothing and it was then broached that it could be "Twin related"
Last December it was the other Twin's turn and he had a seizue while shopping in a Department store with his family- same story-ran all tests and nothing showed
Then this past weekend the other Twin had a seizure while walking in the O'Hare Airport terminal- not sure if he was rushing or running, but said he started to feel lightheaded so sat down and the seizure started. He was taken to a nearby hospital and tests showed nothing.
Question is can anything be done about this or is it something they have to just live with and what could be causing it? The frequency seems to be for both of them to be about 5 years apart, and at least in one it seems to correspond to physical activity. The other Twin doen't seem to have that factor. Yet both of them workout and excercise and have high stress jobs and seems to happen so infrequent.
Thank you,
-Todd
About years later the other twin experienced a seizure during physical activity- again tests revelaed nothing and it was then broached that it could be "Twin related"
Last December it was the other Twin's turn and he had a seizue while shopping in a Department store with his family- same story-ran all tests and nothing showed
Then this past weekend the other Twin had a seizure while walking in the O'Hare Airport terminal- not sure if he was rushing or running, but said he started to feel lightheaded so sat down and the seizure started. He was taken to a nearby hospital and tests showed nothing.
Question is can anything be done about this or is it something they have to just live with and what could be causing it? The frequency seems to be for both of them to be about 5 years apart, and at least in one it seems to correspond to physical activity. The other Twin doen't seem to have that factor. Yet both of them workout and excercise and have high stress jobs and seems to happen so infrequent.
Thank you,
-Todd
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Oct 08, 2002 12:00AM
Does sound like a genetic abnormality as both twins have similar seizure patterns. Type of seizure is important (generalized or grand mal vs focal or partial) as to treatment and cause. Full workups whould be done including specialized MRI protocol specifically for epilepsy to look for any tiny malformations that could potentially be removed or structural lesion that needs further evaluation. WIth the recurrent seizures, they willl likely need to be on long term therapy. FOrtunately, in the year 2002, there's a variety of meds to choose from that have less side effects and are well tolerated. The question as to what to do next really relies on the extent of testing that's been done and how far the epileptologists want to go. Consider an epilepsy specialist. If you are in the area, the CLeveland Clinic has a world renowned epilepsy center. Admission to an epilepsy monitoring unit for a closer look at the type of seizures (we have ways to provoke them) may also be of help. Surgical treatment may be an option. Good luck.
