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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Unexplained seizures
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Unexplained seizures
by Pucci, Mar 22, 2004 12:00AM
My father, a 68 yr old very healthy man had a grand mal seizure in November while at work for no apparent reason. He was extremely combative during the seizure and was heavily sedated by paramedics. MRI, CT, EEG, blood work all normal. He then had a second seizure in January during his sleep. Again, normal diagnostics. He is now on Dilantin 400 mg daily. Between episodes, he experienced nausea that "traveled" up to his head and hallucinations, occasionally made lip smacking sounds and jerking head movements. He has no recollection of any of this. He does not want to be on medication for the rest of his life, especially because no cause has been determined. The nausea is now gone as well as the hallucinations. Why could this be happening? He has never taken any medicine and has never been hospitalized.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Mar 24, 2004 12:00AM
The nausea followed by hallucinations and lip smacking is consistent with a seizure called a complex partial seizure. Occasionally these seizures can develop into grand mals.
The most common cause for seizures in his age group are old strokes (may have been very tiny and not ntoiced before). The second most common group is the idiopathic (we don't know what is causing it) group. Other causes such as tumors, and vascular malformations also need to be evaluated. The MRI will detect most causes for seizures. However, a special epilepsy MRI, like the ones we perform at the Cleveland Clinic, may be better at finding causes.
What I would recommend is that he see an epilepsy specialist at an academic center. They will be able to better evaluate this problem and make recommendations regarding treatment.
The most common cause for seizures in his age group are old strokes (may have been very tiny and not ntoiced before). The second most common group is the idiopathic (we don't know what is causing it) group. Other causes such as tumors, and vascular malformations also need to be evaluated. The MRI will detect most causes for seizures. However, a special epilepsy MRI, like the ones we perform at the Cleveland Clinic, may be better at finding causes.
What I would recommend is that he see an epilepsy specialist at an academic center. They will be able to better evaluate this problem and make recommendations regarding treatment.
I will give you a couple of links that you may find helpful.
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/
http://www.neuropat.dote.hu/epilepsy.htm
http://www.epilepsy.com/
This last one is a forum of those diag with E.
http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=133
I hope that helps.