Posted by Elizabeth on April 11, 2001, at 9:21:01
In reply to Re: epilepsy?! , posted by Lisa Simpson on April 9, 2001, at 12:45:51
Hi Lisa.
Most people who have seizures don't know what causes them. There might be triggers (like strobe lights or sleep deprivation, which is why those things are sometimes used when you have an EEG; stress, as you've noticed, can be another trigger) but most epilepsy is idiopathic meaning that the underlying causes are unknown. (Sometimes people have seizures for other reasons such as a brain tumor, an electrolyte imbalance or vitamin deficiency, an infection such as viral encephalitis, certain drugs (notably tricyclic ADs and phenothiazines), etc.)
A lot of the time, limbic seizures won't show up on EEGs, and the MRI will not show any lesions. This is one use for SPECT and other functional brain scans.
I am still waiting to see a neurologist to find out whether my SPECT scan really indicates epilepsy or not (and if not, what it might mean). The doctors I saw at the hospital didn't seem to know but had some (probably completely random) guesses. If I ever do get a conclusive answer I will post it. < g > The chances that I will find out a cause, though, are slim.
poster:Elizabeth
thread:58035
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010411/msgs/59407.html