abnormal EEG

[cdmk]

I am a 24 yr old woman . Two weeks after having a c-section I was in my bathroom and past out. I went to my Dr. who ordered a bunch of test, on of which was a EEG. That first EEG came back with a small spike on it so I was refered to a Neurologist. I went and he gave me a full exam. He said my Brain MRI showd a slight difference in size between my Temporal lobes. At the end of the appointment he cleared me and said I probably had synacope, because I had no syptoms (symptoms) of a seizure actept for passing out. He said sometimes normal poeple can have abnormal EEG's. My Dr. suggested I go for a second opion. I went to a new Neurologist he automatically told me because there was a spike on my EEG I had to have a siezure disorder he said later in the visit I had temporal lobe seizure disorder. He made me take a new EEG and it came back with Multiple spikes from multiple parts of the brain, not just the temporal lobe like he said I had. I have never had a seizure or what veryone even the Dr's describe one as. I passed out and was awake in the time it took my Husband to run up the stairs I was coherent when he reached me and have never had any other problems like I did that day. Do you think I had a seizure. Is it possible for normal poeple to have abnormal EEG results. Can panic attacks give off false EEG results. I have them fequently and had them during both EEG. Should I go get a thrid opion since I have gotten two complete different diagonis from two different Dr.'s

[Joyce K Lee, MD]

Thank you for submitting your question.
I will answer your concerns to the best of my abilities, but please be informed that I am unable to offer a diagnosis based on your history and list of symptoms.
I am limited in not having the opportunity to perform a full neurologic examination on you, nor am I able to review the pertinent imaging or your EEG.
This is solely for educational purposes and should in no way be a substitute for a formal evaluation by a certified physician.

It is not uncommon to get different opinions from different physicians.
This is perhaps due to the fact that you do not have a clear cut case.

To answer your question, an abnormal EEG is something to investigate.
Although EEG's are not perfect and have problems of their own (e.g. artifacts that mimic epileptic wave forms,) they are usually pretty good at picking up abnormalities in the human brain.
The fact that you are symptomatic as well with these passing out episodes makes further investigation a necessity.

Instead of going for a 3rd opinion, I suggest that you discuss undergoing a prolonged EEG with one of the neurologists you have already seen.
If neither one is amenable to this, then I would seek another consultation especially if these passing out spells are recurring often.

Seizures present in a myriad of ways, so being told that it can in no way be a seizure because it is not textbook is unfair to you.

It may simply be syncope and not seizures, but the underlying reason for your symptoms must be determined if at all possible.

I am personally not aware of panic attacks leading to spikes on the EEG. While one is having a panic attack, their heart rate and respirations may increase but this does not affect the brain wave activity.

I recommend that if you are having these passing out spells frequently, that you be persistent about being fully evaluated.

Hope this helps,
JKL, MD

[cdmk]

I have only past out one time and has never happened again nor has it ever happened before. I am not real sure what you mean by prolonged EEG could you explain? In your opinion should I be on seizure meds?

[SprMe68]

I'm aware this post is a bit old, but how did it turn out? Was it possible that your panic attacks weren't panic attacks at all? Not all siezures manifest as the books say. Distortion of reality is common in Temporal Lobe activity. A sense of fear and doom is an aura for alot of people and often an indicator of a larger siezure coming. You might just not have a motor component to it.