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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by madison88 on September 12, 2002, at 22:49:25
my pdoc said i should see a neurologist about some seizure-like experiences i keep having. it feels like a jolt in my brain and everything pauses for an instant. it doesn't usually bother me, but at times i will have several dozen zapping my brain over and over. lately some jolts are running down my arms to my hands as well. for any of you who have seen neurologists, how keen are they on psychological stuff, do you think? what should i expect? CAT scan? MRI? EEG?
Posted by Ritch on September 13, 2002, at 0:10:59
In reply to what does a neurologist do? Prescribe meds?, posted by madison88 on September 12, 2002, at 22:49:25
> my pdoc said i should see a neurologist about some seizure-like experiences i keep having. it feels like a jolt in my brain and everything pauses for an instant. it doesn't usually bother me, but at times i will have several dozen zapping my brain over and over. lately some jolts are running down my arms to my hands as well. for any of you who have seen neurologists, how keen are they on psychological stuff, do you think? what should i expect? CAT scan? MRI? EEG?
The first thing I got was an EEG, evoked potentials, all of the standard "test for seizure activity stuff". The next thing would be an ambulatory 24-hr EEG, where they record it through your sleep, daytime activities, etc. I didn't get there due to costs$$. After that, they usually would want an MRI-to see if there any structural abnormalities in your brain. Anyhow, I would have your pdoc do a referral and follow through with it-you never know. I need to do that ambulatory-EEG and a sleep study (polysomnogram), because I found out that nocturnal frontal-lobe generalized seizures has a strong genetic correlation (and that's what my Mom suffered from).
Mitch
Posted by judy1 on September 13, 2002, at 0:24:50
In reply to Re: what does a neurologist do? Prescribe meds? » madison88, posted by Ritch on September 13, 2002, at 0:10:59
you should get a complete neuro exam- eyes examined (you follow a light), checking bottom of feet, reactions to stimulus- the works. I would think an MRI for your zaps down your arms- a herniated disc in the cervical (like C3-C4) would cause those problems. also the zaps in the brain- have you just withdrawn from a SSRI? that's a common symptom. if not, like the previous poster said the EEGs, my neuro wanted to keep me in the hospital hooked up until he actually saw seizure activity. BTW, my pdoc ordered these tests because of my dissociative states- so a lot of conversation between the neuro and pdoc occurred. good luck- judy
Posted by cybercafe on September 13, 2002, at 0:59:08
In reply to what does a neurologist do? Prescribe meds?, posted by madison88 on September 12, 2002, at 22:49:25
> my pdoc said i should see a neurologist about some seizure-like experiences i keep having. it feels like a jolt in my brain and everything pauses for an instant. it doesn't usually bother me, but at times i will have several dozen zapping my brain over and over. lately some jolts are running down my arms to my hands as well. for any of you who have seen neurologists, how keen are they on psychological stuff, do you think? what should i expect? CAT scan? MRI? EEG?
i used to have weird feelings in my head when i looked at bright lights... like a zap... or just feeling a tightness in my head, having to close my eyes, could hear wind rushing through my ears sorta ....
i only started paying attention when i heard that
a. 50% of epileptics have bipolar
b. we use anticonvulsants for bipolar
c. there are seizures that don't involve falling on the ground and convulsingbut i hesitate bringing this up to my doc as i'm sure he already thinks i am a major hypochondriac
Posted by utopizen on September 13, 2002, at 7:02:59
In reply to Re: what does a neurologist do? Prescribe meds?, posted by cybercafe on September 13, 2002, at 0:59:08
Neurologists soley exist to me as a way to write to my insurance company to tell them to pay for a $3000 ADD evaluation, so that 8 doctors can soley exist so that I don't have to take a foreign language class at my college.
And so basically, neurologists, and much of the other medical profession (including my p-doc who prescribes me Ritalin) soley exist to maintain my GPA.
Posted by madison88 on September 13, 2002, at 12:26:51
In reply to Re: what does a neurologist do? Prescribe meds?, posted by utopizen on September 13, 2002, at 7:02:59
thanks for responding. i am not w/drawing from an SSRI. the only three things i can think of that might have caused these things are
1)taking Gabitril, an antiseizure med--there are studies on medline that state that any antiseizure med can actually cause seizures
2)passing out and hitting my head on the sidewalk. i slept really heavy for three days after that so i am sure i had a bad concussion. i did go to the hospital but they didn't say anything about not sleeping, found out i shouldn't have much later
3)losing 20 pounds--there is some link btw eating disorders and seizures, so maybe the fact that i lost weight too fast has something to do with it.
i do hear a whoosh in my ears when it happens. i might be more prone to having seizures since i had tics as a kid--it is possible having OCD has something to do w/ it. I'll just have to see what the neurologist says. thanks again!!
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