Aa
10 year old and her first eeg
My daughter is suffering from chronic migraines the last year. The last four months she is dizzy a lot and she is blocking out almost every day. By blocking out meens her eyes turn black and she feels she is going to faint. sometimes with or without a sudden headack. we did our first eeg that we dont have the results ,but during the test with the flashing light she was twiching. she was not sure what was that but she said that she didnt like it. she felt weird without really knowing how to explain. Also her vitamin D is 12,2. Did anybody had same symptomes or any ideas if it is epilepsy?
Is epilepsy runs through the family. My mom is epileptic, does it matter?
Is epilepsy runs through the family. My mom is epileptic, does it matter?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
Many forms of epilepsy are genetic, and a family history of epilepsy increases risk of epilepsy in other family members. However that does not imply that your daughter's episodes are epileptic. The episodes as you describe them above of feeling faint with blacking out of vision and dizziness do not sound like epileptic events, but seizures can rarely have very unusual presentations. if there is a concern for seizures, an EEG is done, and sometimes when the suspicion for seizures is high but the EEG is normal, prolonged EEG (sometimes over days) until an episode is captured can be done (and if the EEG is then normal during the episode, then seizures are ruled out)
There are several causes of headaches. Headaches can be divided into primary and secondary. Primary headache disorders are headaches without a direct cause. These are diagnosed after secondary causes have been excluded. Secondary headache disorders are due to an underlying problem, there are many many causes but some include medication side effects, systemic illness, nervous system infection, tumors, bleeds in the brain or clots in the veins of the brain, and others. These are best evaluated for by MRI and sometimes other tests.
Primary headache disorders are much more common than secondary ones, and are diagnosed after a workup to exclude secondary causes. There are several primary headache disorders. For example migraines, which usually a pulsating throbbing one-sided pain with nausea and discomfort in bright lights that lasts several hours.
Certain primary headache disorders, such as migraine, may be associated with autonomic dysfunction. Some mitochondrial disorders could be associated with dysautonomi and headache as well. The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that controls blood pressure, heart rate, and other functions. It is not located in one specific part of the brain or other body part but is rather made up of several different components: a region in the brainstem, certain receptors located on blood vessels and in the heart, and small nerves in our skin, among other areas. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system due to whatever cause can lead to a variety of symptoms including but not limited to orthostasis (which means symptoms or signs resulting from assuming an upright posture), light-headedness with drops in blood pressure when sitting up or standing up (this is an example of orthostasis), syncope (passing out), constipation, diarrhea, sweating abnormalities etc. Normally, there are specific blood pressure and heart rate responses that an individual mounts in response to changes in posture. Often, these include a small drop in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate when one assumes a standing posture. In individuals with a problem somewhere within the autonomic nervous system, these responses are abnormal. Diagnosis of autonomic dysfunction includes a tilt table test and tests for peripheral neuropathy when indicated.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to fatigue but unlikely to lead to the other symptoms.
Continued evaluations with your daughter's physicians is recommended.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
Many forms of epilepsy are genetic, and a family history of epilepsy increases risk of epilepsy in other family members. However that does not imply that your daughter's episodes are epileptic. The episodes as you describe them above of feeling faint with blacking out of vision and dizziness do not sound like epileptic events, but seizures can rarely have very unusual presentations. if there is a concern for seizures, an EEG is done, and sometimes when the suspicion for seizures is high but the EEG is normal, prolonged EEG (sometimes over days) until an episode is captured can be done (and if the EEG is then normal during the episode, then seizures are ruled out)
There are several causes of headaches. Headaches can be divided into primary and secondary. Primary headache disorders are headaches without a direct cause. These are diagnosed after secondary causes have been excluded. Secondary headache disorders are due to an underlying problem, there are many many causes but some include medication side effects, systemic illness, nervous system infection, tumors, bleeds in the brain or clots in the veins of the brain, and others. These are best evaluated for by MRI and sometimes other tests.
Primary headache disorders are much more common than secondary ones, and are diagnosed after a workup to exclude secondary causes. There are several primary headache disorders. For example migraines, which usually a pulsating throbbing one-sided pain with nausea and discomfort in bright lights that lasts several hours.
Certain primary headache disorders, such as migraine, may be associated with autonomic dysfunction. Some mitochondrial disorders could be associated with dysautonomi and headache as well. The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that controls blood pressure, heart rate, and other functions. It is not located in one specific part of the brain or other body part but is rather made up of several different components: a region in the brainstem, certain receptors located on blood vessels and in the heart, and small nerves in our skin, among other areas. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system due to whatever cause can lead to a variety of symptoms including but not limited to orthostasis (which means symptoms or signs resulting from assuming an upright posture), light-headedness with drops in blood pressure when sitting up or standing up (this is an example of orthostasis), syncope (passing out), constipation, diarrhea, sweating abnormalities etc. Normally, there are specific blood pressure and heart rate responses that an individual mounts in response to changes in posture. Often, these include a small drop in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate when one assumes a standing posture. In individuals with a problem somewhere within the autonomic nervous system, these responses are abnormal. Diagnosis of autonomic dysfunction includes a tilt table test and tests for peripheral neuropathy when indicated.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to fatigue but unlikely to lead to the other symptoms.
Continued evaluations with your daughter's physicians is recommended.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Thank you for your response.
It looks like we are on the right track. We did not get the EEG results yet, but we patiently awaiting. We are scheduled for the tilt table test after he EEG results.
When we were in the hospital on Feb. we did the blood pressure in all positions for 3 days every 2 hours. her blood pressure was inconsistent and hart rate little above normal (120). they put us on amytriptilene. it made the headaches much better but not the rest of the symptoms.
Again thank you for your response.
It looks like we are on the right track. We did not get the EEG results yet, but we patiently awaiting. We are scheduled for the tilt table test after he EEG results.
When we were in the hospital on Feb. we did the blood pressure in all positions for 3 days every 2 hours. her blood pressure was inconsistent and hart rate little above normal (120). they put us on amytriptilene. it made the headaches much better but not the rest of the symptoms.
Again thank you for your response.
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