Posted by yxibow on September 25, 2008, at 3:18:43
In reply to Re: Biggest Challenge Ever Faced » Fivefires, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2008, at 19:46:57
> Five Fires a pseudoseizure is not a real seizure an EEG would or might confirm you're not have true seizures. Love Phillipa
Definitely -- it is a very real experience -- as in the mind is actually feeling what it is, whatever a somatoform/somatoform NOS experience and manifestation may be, but it is not an organic (non-psychiatric, something that might show up on not-psychiatric testing, an actual disorder). And that is why it is so real that it can be in a spectrum of disorders including OCD, I believe, at least for me, but I'm not sure in general. There is a journal for it I believe but it is not studied enough in modern DSM terms (yet, I guess).
Somatoform conditions are sometimes missed or mistaken for other disorders I think -- I mean, I may disagree on some of my doctor's observations but I can see the general picture of things. It used to be thought of as malingering (which is still in the DSM, because it can happen), but it is really mostly not. It is very real and the patient does not want to have it. I'm not saying you have that, I'm just suggesting that differential diagnosis might help.
So yes, an EEG would help, and even better if you're not taking much of a load of benzodiazepines which tend to smooth things out. But things can still be detected. It is the general tool I believe that is used in hospitals, plus a general session of going over past history, did you ever have migraines, odd episodes, etc, to rule out other organic things.
There used to be a tool called conscious sedation where a patient was put under strong Valium or Versed and questions were asked, but this is usually now a forbidden practice at hospitals because it doesn't in the end help the patient, they may not remember for their own psychodynamic and psychological improvement.
So, go for the EEG, and whatever else might be recommended.-- best wishes
Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:853359
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080915/msgs/853935.html