HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Suggest Treatment For Seizures Along With Headache

default
Posted on Mon, 16 May 2016
Question: Having seizures since October of last year with Dr not being able to find a cause I am taking primadone and carbamazepine my seizures gotten worse in the last month I am having very bad headache and having multiple seizures at a time I can't seem to find no neurologist in XXXXXXX TX that will help me I just have medical Dr trying to figure it all out any advise would be great
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (51 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Some more information is needed.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

I would very much like to help you but some more information is needed for that. First there is the issue of the seizure type. Seizures can have different manifestations which can also guide finding the cause and treatment. So you should describe in as much detail as possible. So some questions I would like to ask are:
- when was the first seizure, circumstances
- do you experience any warning symptom prior to the seizure (visual symptoms, abdominal sensations etc)
- what happens during the seizure, if you lose consciousness naturally what do witnesses describe. Is there any head and eyes deviation, is there moving of the face or limbs, if yes on one or both sides, eye blinking, posture of extremities and body, loss of bladder control, tongue biting and if yes which side, movements like blinking, lip smacking, ability to understand and obbey orders etc. Any detail you may provide
- duration of seizure
- what happens immediately after the seizure (confusion, sleep, difficulty moving the limbs on one side), how long to being back normal
- any variation according to day or night, if during sleep when falling asleep or waking up
- triggering factors such as flickering lights, sleep deprivation, alcohol, drugs, foods, menstrual cycle, fever, stress etc
- frequency of seizures
Apart from seizure characteristics prior medical history is important including problems during birth you might have been told about, infections, trauma, stroke etc. Family history may be important as well.
Also the reports of the MRI, EEG you have had, as well as lab report are vital to determining the cause.

The reason this info is needed is because epilepsy may have many causes such as stroke, vascular malformations, infections, inflammation, trauma, metabolic alterations, tumor, born abnormalities of the brain etc. So history and many tests are necessary to guide the diagnostic process. Many cases may be idiopathic, left without a known cause even after extensive testing, but our duty is to search as well as we can for an identifiable cause before calling it idiopathic. Afterwards treatment should address the cause when possible as well as antiepileptics depending on seizure type and EEG changes.

I remain at your disposal for other questions possibly after providing answers to the questions above.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (2 hours later)
My whole body moves there is movement in my face and my legs my upper body try to fold down towards my legs my head moves up an down a lot my eyes are normally closed but in the last month I have been having ones with my eyes open I can tell when they are gonna happen I see light flashes and feel very foggie I can have 4to5 a day and then go 3 or more days with none I also have been having very bad headache in this last month also know I am gonna have one when I get up in morning I have that fuzzy feeling in my XXXXXXX and vision feels very cloudy I also have a hard time focusing on anything its like my mind is just blank
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Read below.

Detailed Answer:
If you can upload a video that would be great. You can upload it to a file sharing service like for example Dropbox and put the link here.

However remember that the video is not everything, it gives important information regarding the head, body and limb movement, but do not forget the rest like bladder control, tongue biting, reports of the tests you have had. The reports are easy to upload, just make a photo (say with your smartphone) and upload in the reports section here in your query page. I do not think it is possible to upload videos though.

Description may correspond to seizure with aura. As for the fuzzy feeling, the cloudiness at times they may be also a side effect of medication. To be honest I am not that sure about the choice of medication you are having, but in order to properly judge that must know something about the reports of EEG and MRI. Please when you send the video and reports remember to write something also regarding the dosage of the medications you are taking and also whether you have had any blood test for the level of carbamazepine in the blood.

Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Suggest Treatment For Seizures Along With Headache

Brief Answer: Some more information is needed. Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. I would very much like to help you but some more information is needed for that. First there is the issue of the seizure type. Seizures can have different manifestations which can also guide finding the cause and treatment. So you should describe in as much detail as possible. So some questions I would like to ask are: - when was the first seizure, circumstances - do you experience any warning symptom prior to the seizure (visual symptoms, abdominal sensations etc) - what happens during the seizure, if you lose consciousness naturally what do witnesses describe. Is there any head and eyes deviation, is there moving of the face or limbs, if yes on one or both sides, eye blinking, posture of extremities and body, loss of bladder control, tongue biting and if yes which side, movements like blinking, lip smacking, ability to understand and obbey orders etc. Any detail you may provide - duration of seizure - what happens immediately after the seizure (confusion, sleep, difficulty moving the limbs on one side), how long to being back normal - any variation according to day or night, if during sleep when falling asleep or waking up - triggering factors such as flickering lights, sleep deprivation, alcohol, drugs, foods, menstrual cycle, fever, stress etc - frequency of seizures Apart from seizure characteristics prior medical history is important including problems during birth you might have been told about, infections, trauma, stroke etc. Family history may be important as well. Also the reports of the MRI, EEG you have had, as well as lab report are vital to determining the cause. The reason this info is needed is because epilepsy may have many causes such as stroke, vascular malformations, infections, inflammation, trauma, metabolic alterations, tumor, born abnormalities of the brain etc. So history and many tests are necessary to guide the diagnostic process. Many cases may be idiopathic, left without a known cause even after extensive testing, but our duty is to search as well as we can for an identifiable cause before calling it idiopathic. Afterwards treatment should address the cause when possible as well as antiepileptics depending on seizure type and EEG changes. I remain at your disposal for other questions possibly after providing answers to the questions above.