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Are Blackouts Symptom Of Epilepsy?
Question: Good morning Doctor,
I am XXXX. Recently I got black out for more than 1 hour. and I was admitted to the hospital. My CT-Scan, EEG, ECG everything is fine. What was the cause of black out? Yes, my mental stress is very high as I lost my husband 2.5 years back. My two children are in college and school. My mother 72 is living with me, who too is a widow. She fell down two weeks back, since then she is mostly begridden, hardly walks. I am self employed. Do I suspect Epilepsy? Is my problem serious? Earlier also I had small headaches. At that time, my mind goes to some different place.
Thanks
I am XXXX. Recently I got black out for more than 1 hour. and I was admitted to the hospital. My CT-Scan, EEG, ECG everything is fine. What was the cause of black out? Yes, my mental stress is very high as I lost my husband 2.5 years back. My two children are in college and school. My mother 72 is living with me, who too is a widow. She fell down two weeks back, since then she is mostly begridden, hardly walks. I am self employed. Do I suspect Epilepsy? Is my problem serious? Earlier also I had small headaches. At that time, my mind goes to some different place.
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Extreme stress could be one possibility
Detailed Answer:
Hello Welcome to Health Care Magic
I have gone through your query and I can understand your problem.
There are many stressors at home like death of your husband just 2.5 years back, history of fall of mother, you have to take care of your children etc. All investigations like ECG, CT Scan and EEG came normal. You have been prescribed Valproate 300 and Biotin supplements. There is history of small headaches.
Now coming to management
The episode lasted for more than one hour and it was like a black out. First of all I would like to know few things from you-
- Whether there is any history of injury or tongue bite you suffered during episode.
- Whether you were conscious during episode or completely unconscious.
- If there was any abnormal movements of extremities and frothing from mouth.
- Any any other significant thing you had in episode please mention that also.
Usually single episode of seizure don't last for more than 10-15 minutes. You had episode for about 1 hour which is not pointing to diagnosis. Also the EEG reports are also normal and this also helps in confirming some other diagnosis.
Get your blood pressure checked both in lying down position and then immediately in standing position. Some times due to postural hypotension such type of blackout can occur. If difference in BP between lying down and standing position is more than 20 mm then most likely the cause of blackouts was postural hypotension.
Other most likely possibility is acute stress reaction. There are stressors at home and some times the coping capacity of individuals get tired which ultimately result acute stress reaction and such type of clinical sequel results.
Most likely they have started Sodium Valproate for prophylaxis but more detailed history is needed to confirm diagnosis. For some time medicine like CLOBAZAM can be used as the medicine will help in decreasing anxiety also and will help in protection of seizure discharge also (if any).
Hope this helps you, You can ask again and please mention clinical symptoms in detail in follow-up.
Thanks
Extreme stress could be one possibility
Detailed Answer:
Hello Welcome to Health Care Magic
I have gone through your query and I can understand your problem.
There are many stressors at home like death of your husband just 2.5 years back, history of fall of mother, you have to take care of your children etc. All investigations like ECG, CT Scan and EEG came normal. You have been prescribed Valproate 300 and Biotin supplements. There is history of small headaches.
Now coming to management
The episode lasted for more than one hour and it was like a black out. First of all I would like to know few things from you-
- Whether there is any history of injury or tongue bite you suffered during episode.
- Whether you were conscious during episode or completely unconscious.
- If there was any abnormal movements of extremities and frothing from mouth.
- Any any other significant thing you had in episode please mention that also.
Usually single episode of seizure don't last for more than 10-15 minutes. You had episode for about 1 hour which is not pointing to diagnosis. Also the EEG reports are also normal and this also helps in confirming some other diagnosis.
Get your blood pressure checked both in lying down position and then immediately in standing position. Some times due to postural hypotension such type of blackout can occur. If difference in BP between lying down and standing position is more than 20 mm then most likely the cause of blackouts was postural hypotension.
Other most likely possibility is acute stress reaction. There are stressors at home and some times the coping capacity of individuals get tired which ultimately result acute stress reaction and such type of clinical sequel results.
Most likely they have started Sodium Valproate for prophylaxis but more detailed history is needed to confirm diagnosis. For some time medicine like CLOBAZAM can be used as the medicine will help in decreasing anxiety also and will help in protection of seizure discharge also (if any).
Hope this helps you, You can ask again and please mention clinical symptoms in detail in follow-up.
Thanks
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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