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Suggest Treatment For Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Question: I had what I know now was Temporal Lobe seizures for 4 years. I may have experienced even StAtus Epilepticus all that time. I thought I was having mental issues and did not realize it was seizures until I felt brain damage. I could not feel anything, like I was in a coma but not unconscious. It can't be described in a way anyone can understand unless they felt it themselves. It is extremely disturbing and serious. The damage caused by the seizures is not something that will show physically in tests. Is there a way to fix my brain? I want to try stem cell to repair the "fried circuits" in my brain . This is organic damage. It isn't psychiatric . I have already discussed with other Neurologists but no one can help me fix my brain. It does feel like permanent brain damage. Please explain what could have happened and if my damage can be reversed. I knew immediately when I had brain damage. I felt that I had died though not physically. Please help. I am scared. I am not having seizures now (negative EEG)
Brief Answer:
Take treatment as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Temporal lobe epilepsy is diagnosed based on clinical presentation, Mri and eeg.
The drugs are available which controls such an episode.
Carbamazepine, oxcarbamazepine, lacosamide are preferred drugs. Levetiracetam, phenytoin, Valproate can also be used.
The changes are at neuronal synapse level with abnormal hyperexcitability of neurons.
At present, stem cell therapy is not available for epilepsy.
Surgical options are available for uncontrolled seizure.
Upload any reports, prescription if available.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Take treatment as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Temporal lobe epilepsy is diagnosed based on clinical presentation, Mri and eeg.
The drugs are available which controls such an episode.
Carbamazepine, oxcarbamazepine, lacosamide are preferred drugs. Levetiracetam, phenytoin, Valproate can also be used.
The changes are at neuronal synapse level with abnormal hyperexcitability of neurons.
At present, stem cell therapy is not available for epilepsy.
Surgical options are available for uncontrolled seizure.
Upload any reports, prescription if available.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
That did not answer my question. I don't have seizures now. They damaged my brain. I tried to describe my current state. I don't need stem cell for epilepsy. I need to repair the damage. 2nd question. When will stem cell for neuronal damage caused by seizures be available ? 3. ExActly what would be damaged by 4 yrs of seizures.
I am not crazy believe it or not. I just didn't get treatment for seizures and they caused permanent brain damage
I am not crazy believe it or not. I just didn't get treatment for seizures and they caused permanent brain damage
Brief Answer:
Difficult to quantify damage
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Recurrent prolonged uncontrolled seizures may cause changes in hippocampal area of temporal lobe. This can be detected on special brain imaging known as epilepsy protocol for hippocampal sclerosis.
Other structural causes are well evident on MRI brain with SPGR sequence and contrast enhanced.
Indirect evidence of seizure is provided by EEG.
Any tissue or organ of body has some capacity to repair the damage but brain is having paucity in such capacity.
You may be having some neurological symptoms which you feel resulted from brain damage but in absence of any MRI evidence it is hard to define.
You can get some routine testing like blood sugar, Thyroid profile, vitamin B 12, renal function test and liver function test as abnormalities in these tests too results in neurological deficit.
Availability of stem cell therapy for epilepsy is not in near future and may take a decade or two.
It's not possible to quantify the damage of brain resulting from seizures.
Best part is that you have control of seizures and you are off drugs.
Gradual improvement in other brain functions will occur.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Difficult to quantify damage
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Recurrent prolonged uncontrolled seizures may cause changes in hippocampal area of temporal lobe. This can be detected on special brain imaging known as epilepsy protocol for hippocampal sclerosis.
Other structural causes are well evident on MRI brain with SPGR sequence and contrast enhanced.
Indirect evidence of seizure is provided by EEG.
Any tissue or organ of body has some capacity to repair the damage but brain is having paucity in such capacity.
You may be having some neurological symptoms which you feel resulted from brain damage but in absence of any MRI evidence it is hard to define.
You can get some routine testing like blood sugar, Thyroid profile, vitamin B 12, renal function test and liver function test as abnormalities in these tests too results in neurological deficit.
Availability of stem cell therapy for epilepsy is not in near future and may take a decade or two.
It's not possible to quantify the damage of brain resulting from seizures.
Best part is that you have control of seizures and you are off drugs.
Gradual improvement in other brain functions will occur.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
No you are missing the point. I want the damage from the seizures to show on tests. I want stem cell to repair that DAMAGE. Will that be possible ever? Can cells be directed to repair whatever is damaged in the brain? I was never on meds. When I felt the brain damage and did research I realized then I was having seizures . It was quite evident I had brain damage. There's no good news here. It's like in many ways like I am in a vegetative state and I am desperate for answers.
I understand damage is hard to quantify if it doesn't show on a test but the damage is HORIFIC. I want to know if there will ever be a way to fix that damage. I don't have hunger, can lay forever without getting up (days and days or until I die from no food or water), don't "feel" anything (not just emotion). It's unnatural and like being either under anesthesia or in a coma. I know my body needs moving and exercised so I do it but my brain and body are not connecting. I hope you take me seriously and write it off as mental because it is organic. I believe this kind of damage has never happened before. I need help and not that damage can't be seen so there's nothing I can do . I don't want to hear that. What can be DONE
I understand damage is hard to quantify if it doesn't show on a test but the damage is HORIFIC. I want to know if there will ever be a way to fix that damage. I don't have hunger, can lay forever without getting up (days and days or until I die from no food or water), don't "feel" anything (not just emotion). It's unnatural and like being either under anesthesia or in a coma. I know my body needs moving and exercised so I do it but my brain and body are not connecting. I hope you take me seriously and write it off as mental because it is organic. I believe this kind of damage has never happened before. I need help and not that damage can't be seen so there's nothing I can do . I don't want to hear that. What can be DONE
Brief Answer:
Upload available reports and prescription
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Diagnosis of epilepsy is made by doctor and not based on Internet search.
In case you have not consulted previously doctor for any such problem and all reports like eeg and Mri are normal then possibility of any seizures is unlikely.
Moreover you have not taken any medications and the symptoms have improve..
The present worry about possibly brain damage at cellular level is hard to get on any available investigations.
You should put your symptoms rather than self made diagnosis.
Visit to a neurologist or psychiatrist will be better as it gives opportunity to analyse all symptoms and examine.
You have also not uploaded any reports or previous prescription which may help me in understanding your concerns and problems.
Waiting for your detailed reply of symptoms, investigation and previous prescription.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Upload available reports and prescription
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Diagnosis of epilepsy is made by doctor and not based on Internet search.
In case you have not consulted previously doctor for any such problem and all reports like eeg and Mri are normal then possibility of any seizures is unlikely.
Moreover you have not taken any medications and the symptoms have improve..
The present worry about possibly brain damage at cellular level is hard to get on any available investigations.
You should put your symptoms rather than self made diagnosis.
Visit to a neurologist or psychiatrist will be better as it gives opportunity to analyse all symptoms and examine.
You have also not uploaded any reports or previous prescription which may help me in understanding your concerns and problems.
Waiting for your detailed reply of symptoms, investigation and previous prescription.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
I suddenly began feeling like I was going crazy. I would feel like I was coming out of my body. Sometimes I would smell something oily or greasy before a particular episode where I thought I was coming out of my body. Sometimes I would be looking at something and suddenly it looked way further away than it really was. I didn't go to the doctor because I thought it was something mental that I hoped would pass and that I would finally feel stable again. This went on for 4 years. I felt "off and unstable" most of that time. Prior to this I never once felt out of control mentally and could not even imagine feeling that way. I know it was temporal lobe seizures causing this. I wish I had known and gotten treatment. Now it is too late . I have brain damage. Please answer my questions asked previously. Is it possible to repair brain damage caused by seizures or will it be in the future with stem cell ? Please help me
I had an MRI and EEG. Neither showed structural damage or seizures. I am not worried about seizures now. Something stopped them resulting in brain damage. I feel worse now than I did when I was having seizures. My brain is damaged and I am dead. I want to be brought back to life . Is this possible ? How would you help me if I were your patient? What kind of damage would these seizures have done? What is meant by "cellular level" damage? Can stem cell repair? I'm sorry if I her asking the same questions over and over but am scared
I cannot get an appointment with Neurologist until September. I fear no damage will show on tests. What can be done to bring me back to life, neurologically?
The MRI and EEG were done a couple of years ago. I cannot pay for these tests again when I fear they will show nothing. Please help me. I am scared
I'm told by a Neurologist that continuous and uncontrolled seizures could cause "electrically fried" wires and scarring and there is no known way to repair. Do you think there ever will be a way to repair? This, to me, sounds like what could have happened. Please offer hope . Again I am scared
Please know how serious I am for hope to repair brain damage and that if there is no hope.......now should be the end if my life .
I had an MRI and EEG. Neither showed structural damage or seizures. I am not worried about seizures now. Something stopped them resulting in brain damage. I feel worse now than I did when I was having seizures. My brain is damaged and I am dead. I want to be brought back to life . Is this possible ? How would you help me if I were your patient? What kind of damage would these seizures have done? What is meant by "cellular level" damage? Can stem cell repair? I'm sorry if I her asking the same questions over and over but am scared
I cannot get an appointment with Neurologist until September. I fear no damage will show on tests. What can be done to bring me back to life, neurologically?
The MRI and EEG were done a couple of years ago. I cannot pay for these tests again when I fear they will show nothing. Please help me. I am scared
I'm told by a Neurologist that continuous and uncontrolled seizures could cause "electrically fried" wires and scarring and there is no known way to repair. Do you think there ever will be a way to repair? This, to me, sounds like what could have happened. Please offer hope . Again I am scared
Please know how serious I am for hope to repair brain damage and that if there is no hope.......now should be the end if my life .
Brief Answer:
Get a psychiatrist help for current problems
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Your present symptoms are more of fear and worry and require treatment and guidance under psychiatrist.
Since seizures are controlled, no need to initiate any treatment for seizure.
Human body parts have constantly damage and repair and with increasing age there is some degeneration. The problem arises when it causes some symptoms leading to difficulties in day to day working.
Stem cell therapy in future will be very specific to involved organ detected on some test.
Stop worrying about brain damage as many patients of seizures do not take treatment for years and remain without any brain damage related symptoms.
I will advise you to consult a psychiatrist rather than a neurologist for your current problems.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Get a psychiatrist help for current problems
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Your present symptoms are more of fear and worry and require treatment and guidance under psychiatrist.
Since seizures are controlled, no need to initiate any treatment for seizure.
Human body parts have constantly damage and repair and with increasing age there is some degeneration. The problem arises when it causes some symptoms leading to difficulties in day to day working.
Stem cell therapy in future will be very specific to involved organ detected on some test.
Stop worrying about brain damage as many patients of seizures do not take treatment for years and remain without any brain damage related symptoms.
I will advise you to consult a psychiatrist rather than a neurologist for your current problems.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I understand your advise to contact Psychiatrist based on my comment. I apologize for being over dramatic.
This question was not answered though:
I'm told by a Neurologist that continuous and uncontrolled seizures could cause "electrically fried" wires and scarring and there is no known way to repair. Do you think there ever will be a way to repair? This, to me, sounds like what could have happened. Please offer your input
This question was not answered though:
I'm told by a Neurologist that continuous and uncontrolled seizures could cause "electrically fried" wires and scarring and there is no known way to repair. Do you think there ever will be a way to repair? This, to me, sounds like what could have happened. Please offer your input
Brief Answer:
Visit another neurologist for second opinion
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The comment of neurologist is not true completely.
Such scarring occurs in cases of uncontrolled seizures, head trauma, surgical intervention.
In your case the seizures (if it's truly seizure) stopped on its own and no drug was required.
Even in cases of damaged brain, repair therapy or stem cell therapy is not available at present.
Hope you understand the situation and stop worrying based on some neurologist comment.
Take a second opinion from another neurologist with all your reports.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Visit another neurologist for second opinion
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The comment of neurologist is not true completely.
Such scarring occurs in cases of uncontrolled seizures, head trauma, surgical intervention.
In your case the seizures (if it's truly seizure) stopped on its own and no drug was required.
Even in cases of damaged brain, repair therapy or stem cell therapy is not available at present.
Hope you understand the situation and stop worrying based on some neurologist comment.
Take a second opinion from another neurologist with all your reports.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
OK I will get another opinion. I worry because of how I feel not the comment of the neurologist. His comment just made sense. Do you have any sense of when stem cell therapy (or a trial case) will be available?
Brief Answer:
Stem cell therapy for brain will take time
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Stem cell therapy is a huge field and is used in some diseases.
Successful use in brain injury and repair may take
1-2 decades. Presently work is going on for spinal injury.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Stem cell therapy for brain will take time
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Stem cell therapy is a huge field and is used in some diseases.
Successful use in brain injury and repair may take
1-2 decades. Presently work is going on for spinal injury.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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