wildcolonialboy

16 years ago i had 2 ideopathic seizures.Had all the tests. Put on Dilantin. Inquired about the origin of my seizures with my neurologist. Told we would never know. Took meds religiously. No seizures for 16 years---until a couple of weeks ago. Had a grand mal, stopped breathing, rushed to hospital. Told to take more Dilantin[4200 mgs a week]. Had MRI---showed non specific white matter. Saw seizure specialist,she suggested cortical dysplasia. Is this epilepsy? How unusual is my case? What is the likelihood that I'll have another seizure? Recently put on Lamictal as well as Dilantin.Help!

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

This can be called as epilepsy. It may be primary or secondary. You have had a seizure-free period for a long time. This recent seizure must have been triggered by something.

Your case is unusual. researchers have found varied reports of chances of a second or a third attack. Your chances of a further seizure are somewhere between 15 to 25 %. But another seizure can be prevented with dilantin.

Hope this helps.

[wildcolonialboy]

Thank you- I am stiil perplexed that this happened after 16 years.  

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

I agree that it is not easy to understand how seizures can come after such a long period. But if the brain cells are sensitized to seizure activity, they do remain that way. Unless there is a trigger, a second seizure may never come. Yours is one of those unusual cases where seizure returns after a long gap.

Hope you will be able to prevent further episodes.

Regards