Is it Epilepsy or other

[abhimanyukumarvatsa]

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Plz send me some tips for me (read below, my problems) :-

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First Attack (in 1996) : In the morning when I woke-up I was trembleling (just like Epilepsy) and filling myself action-less for some time (about 3-4 minutes) after some time everything was normal.


Second Attack (in 2004) : Also in the morning when I woke-up I was trembleling (just like Epilepsy) and filling myself action-less for some time (about 4-5 minutes) after some time everything was normal.



Third Attack (09/02/2009, 5:30 AM) : It was also in the morning when I woke-up I was trembleling (just like Epilepsy) and filling myself action-less for some time (about 5-6 minutes). In this attack I fell unconscious for 30 minutes. After this atack this attack attempted again after 2 hours when I tried to go some where and again I fell unconscious for 20 minutes.


Medicine I am taking :-

(1). Eptoin 100mg (Phenytoin Tablets I.P. 100mg)
(2). Folvite Tablets (Folic Acid Tablets I.P. 5mg)
(3). Cobadex Forte (Vitamin B-12, B-complex with vitamin C Capsules)


Now I want to know Is it really Epilepsy or any other deses.  

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EEG Report shows : Nil
CT Scan Report shows : A accidental cut mark (about 1 inch) on my top head.
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help me plz (I am filling helpless now) plz......plz....plz
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[caregiver222]

Dr. Knee explained things pretty well.

The folic acid and B-12 should be given in the same way...sublinguily. Receptor sites for B-12 are way down in the nottom of the digestive tract.

Phenytoin is the flavor of the month for many physicians. In fact someone wrote (self-pubished) a book advocating the drug for everything but a bad marriage. As you know phenytoin is an anti-siezure medication. What were the credentials of the individual who prescived this? Don't answer in this forum. Just ask yourself that question. Did you ever see a neurologist?

Neverthless, I can see no reason for anyone to have prescribed that drug. It has many bad side effects. Including marked degradation in sentience in some individuals. If one is having true siezure, by all means take an appropriate medication, but your symptoms  barely meet the criterion of a so-called petit-mal siezure.  Look it up in the Physicians Desk Reference. I querstion the competency of the physician who prescribed this. Mind you, my opinions do not relect those of Med Help of Dr. Knee.

I would get off this medication, unless a physician provided me with a strong coherent argument otherwise. There is a possibility this is a "missing piece" story. Surprise. Once you get on this medication, withdrawal can sometimes (rarely) precipitate siezures.

In many hospitals true epilepsy isn't treated until the third episode.

There is a wide range of so-called epileptic symptoms and signs and it is concievable your "attacks" fall within this envelope, but I suspect a TIA, or, as Dr. Knee suggested, something as simple as postural hyoptension anemia or low blood sugar. Low blood sugar in particuliar can cause "trembling".

Your episides are so many years apart, I believe they can be considered independant incidents.

As for "tips" my tip is to go to a good neurologist or a medical facility with experience in siezures, preferably a teaching hospital.

Unless you are a time traveler you couldn't have had an attack in october of 2009.

Your question cannot be answered on this forum. While it is possible what has happened to you is epilepsy, my gut feeling is that this is not the case.

This sounds like a momentary interruption in blood supply to the brain. There are many reasons this could happen that are not that serious.

I would not be overly worried, but I would get a good in-person evaluation from a medical practicve of two or more neurologists or a hospital with a clinic specializing in neurological disorders.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
You have described the fainting attacks well here. Based on this post there are two main possibilities. One is TIA OR transient ischemic attack wherein the blood supply to brain is temporarily cut off. The episodes last for a maximum of 24 hours and then resolve or a new symptom starts. To diagnose this, your friend would need a prompt evaluation (within 60 minutes) to identify the cause and determine appropriate therapy. CAT Scans or MRIs done later or when she is fine will not reveal anything.
The second possibility is seizures. The ‘attacks’ are in a way a classic picture of a seizure attack. Again a prompt evaluation is needed within an hour to diagnose. However a negative EEG does not rule out seizures nor does a positive one confirm seizures for sure. EEG reading is very complex and needs experience.
TIA and seizures to start with can happen with a prolonged gap of normalcy in between.

Ofcourse it could be something as simple as anemia or low sugar or disturbed sleep pattern or just stress. You can check out disturbe sleep patterns as always you get the attack in mornings. Also hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can be another factor.

Episodes of blackouts could also be due to postural hypotension (blood pressure falling with change of position).  All the times you stood up from a sitting or lying down position. Get your blood pressure checked in different positions—sitting, lying down, standing.

Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!