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What Causes Symptoms Of Epilepsy Despite A Normal EEG?
Question: Hi
Had a query regarding my brother. He works in a bank with a very tight and busy schedule (9am-8+pm). During the starting of this year, he started facing some issues which looked like epilepsy. He used to get up at night with open eyes most of the times and no senses, seeing but not responding, babbling and used to push with hands and legs. This happened in January, then March (2-3 times) and now in September. In September it happened like 4-5 times during 23-29th Sep.
We got him checked in march, got EEG and MRI scan done. There was nothing which show some issues. All reports were ok. Then now in September when this escalated, we got him diagnosed to an epilepsy specialist, and got EEG done once again. All was normal again. Doctor said it can be because of work stress and asked to exercise and have proper sleep. And doctor said this will get healed by itself. But my brother asked for some medicine for interim relief. Doctor prescribed Eliwel 10mg before going to bed. He is taking that for few days now, but he feels very sleepy in morning and cannot concentrate properly. Also, yesterday when he woke up, he could not stand/walk properly and speech was not fluent. It was again babbling. He had to sleep for another couple of hours to regain full consciousness.
Can you please advise, whats the exact health issue with my brother and how to recover from this. Doctor already said this is not epilepsy, but we are worried with the frequency this is occurring.
Thanks & Regards XXXXXXX
Had a query regarding my brother. He works in a bank with a very tight and busy schedule (9am-8+pm). During the starting of this year, he started facing some issues which looked like epilepsy. He used to get up at night with open eyes most of the times and no senses, seeing but not responding, babbling and used to push with hands and legs. This happened in January, then March (2-3 times) and now in September. In September it happened like 4-5 times during 23-29th Sep.
We got him checked in march, got EEG and MRI scan done. There was nothing which show some issues. All reports were ok. Then now in September when this escalated, we got him diagnosed to an epilepsy specialist, and got EEG done once again. All was normal again. Doctor said it can be because of work stress and asked to exercise and have proper sleep. And doctor said this will get healed by itself. But my brother asked for some medicine for interim relief. Doctor prescribed Eliwel 10mg before going to bed. He is taking that for few days now, but he feels very sleepy in morning and cannot concentrate properly. Also, yesterday when he woke up, he could not stand/walk properly and speech was not fluent. It was again babbling. He had to sleep for another couple of hours to regain full consciousness.
Can you please advise, whats the exact health issue with my brother and how to recover from this. Doctor already said this is not epilepsy, but we are worried with the frequency this is occurring.
Thanks & Regards XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Decrease the dose if sedation is high
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
All the necessary investigation for seizure has been done and came out to be negative.
Possibility of seizures is unlikely.
There is possibility of stress related symptoms.
You can advice him to half the tab eliwel as it will reduce sedation.
Wishing him good health and early recovery.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Decrease the dose if sedation is high
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
All the necessary investigation for seizure has been done and came out to be negative.
Possibility of seizures is unlikely.
There is possibility of stress related symptoms.
You can advice him to half the tab eliwel as it will reduce sedation.
Wishing him good health and early recovery.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thanks Doctor. My brother had a slight thing yesterday as well, he came back from office @ 8pm and had some cold drink. While drinking cold drink it fell down, he was not able to hold properly and when his wife tried to talk to him he felt like not in his senses .. like saying things differently. This happened for a couple of minutes. He was normal after that.
Today afternoon he was having lunch and suddenly felt dizziness and was not able to walk, his colleges dropped him home, he was sweating a lot. After a while he talked with me fine and is sleeping now.
We are worried these incidents are happening more often now, can this be triggered by some eating/drinking thing. Or is it a neurological thing.
Things which happen are dizziness and sweating every time.
Can you suggest some other test/checkup that can be done for this.
Today afternoon he was having lunch and suddenly felt dizziness and was not able to walk, his colleges dropped him home, he was sweating a lot. After a while he talked with me fine and is sleeping now.
We are worried these incidents are happening more often now, can this be triggered by some eating/drinking thing. Or is it a neurological thing.
Things which happen are dizziness and sweating every time.
Can you suggest some other test/checkup that can be done for this.
Brief Answer:
Get investigated further
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You need to rule out any cardiac illness and ECG and ECHO is required.
A type of seizure called a complex partial seizure may have such a manifestation too.
The special sequence in MRI called as Epilepsy protocol can be done to look for any brain changes in hippocampal area.
Prolonged EEG or video EEG can be done to look for any seizure.
If stress and psychiatric issues are ruled out, then a trail of antiepileptics can be given.
You need to discuss with your brother's treating neurologist regarding this.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Get investigated further
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You need to rule out any cardiac illness and ECG and ECHO is required.
A type of seizure called a complex partial seizure may have such a manifestation too.
The special sequence in MRI called as Epilepsy protocol can be done to look for any brain changes in hippocampal area.
Prolonged EEG or video EEG can be done to look for any seizure.
If stress and psychiatric issues are ruled out, then a trail of antiepileptics can be given.
You need to discuss with your brother's treating neurologist regarding this.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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