seizures

I went to the doctor and had a EEG done because I was falling asleep while I was driving.. I would be hypnotized by the road and just be out of it and realize I was running off the road. I have been doing this for years but  it happened 4 times in one day.. The doctor said I was having seizures even though the EEG test didn't show anything. I was put on keppra and then was switched today to a different medicine. I want to know how he knows I am having seizures if the test didn't show anything.. Do I need to go to another doctor. He said I can not drive for 6 months and Yet how does he know if I had a seizure at all.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. A normal EEG cannot exclude the diagnosis of epileptic seizures, which must be made clinically. EEG will not detect abnormalities’ if seizures are infrequent. The initial EEG may detect epileptiform abnormality in only half of the patients with a known seizure disorder. Serial EEGs may detect epileptiform abnormalities in up to 80 to 90 % of these patients. In addition, serial EEGs with extended recording times and tests done during sleep deprivation greatly increase the chance of detection. so trust the clinician’s  diagnosis. Take care.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. A normal EEG cannot exclude the diagnosis of epileptic seizures, which must be made clinically. EEG will not detect abnormalities’ if seizures are infrequent. The initial EEG may detect epileptiform abnormality in only half of the patients with a known seizure disorder. Serial EEGs may detect epileptiform abnormalities in up to 80 to 90 % of these patients. In addition, serial EEGs with extended recording times and tests done during sleep deprivation greatly increase the chance of detection. so trust the clinician’s  diagnosis. Take care.