Epilepsy

[lsmelvin]

4 years ago I started having what feels like a wave or jolt in my head.A lot like the person who posted here about feeling like on a roller coaster only in her head. At first it happened so rarely that I was not concerned, over time it started to become more frequent and over the last year it has been very frequent, at one point being everyday, many times a day for 39 days straight. I had a 24 hour EEG and of course I had no "episodes" MRI is normal except for C6-C7 bulge in disc and right across from it is what one doctor told me was arthritis. It pushes in on my spinal column from both sides. I was diagnosed with Partial complex seizures as when I have a lot of them I become confused, lose my balance, and babble incoherrently.
I had an episode of right eye visual disturbences that lasted from 9/17/04 to mid Dec.
Also my heart will skip a beat. (I know this because I had him listen when it was doing this.) This can last over an hour.
Sometimes people will ask why I am limping but I am unaware of it. (they usually ask when I am having brain things)
I have extreme fatigue and my legs and arms get weak and muscles will tighten after doing very little but I feel as if I have just climbed up several flights of stairs.
MS specialist said 99.9% sure not MS, it is emotional, psych's say it's medical
I see a new neuro on Tuesday, what should I ask as far as test to do? I would like to have evoked potentials, spinal tap, TSH, copper, B12 levels checked and also my ANA levels were high. Would this neuro be insulted if I asked for these? Do you have any sugestions?
Thanks,
Lau

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

Without seeing you or your MRI scan, I cannot make a clinical diagnosis.

If the C6-7 disc bulge was compressing the spinal cord, the jolt feeling may be "Lhermitte's Phenomenom". This is caused by irritation of the spinal cord, and is classically described as an 'electric shock-like sensation' down the spine, although may take many forms. It is hard to tell if this is the case without seeing the MRI scan of the neck.

I agree with seeking a second opinion with a general neurologist or MS specialist, and the above tests may be reasonable depending on his judgement when he sees you. I'm sure he would not mind if you at least asked him about any test you have questions about. To exclude a diagnosis of seizures, you may need to have more prolonged EEG monitoring to capture one of your episodes on the EEG

This can be done at the Cleveland Clinic if you are in the area

PW

[lsmelvin]

I am 42 female, I take 300mg am & pm Trileptal, 30mg am lexapro,and 25mg in pm nortriptyline. I still have "episodes" although not as bad as when on Dilatin. Also had a week long spell of dizziness and pain in shins, like a toothache, right in bone.
"him" is boyfriend listening to heart. In 94 had cervical fusion of C5-C6. Thank you for your time.
Laura