Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Need Advice On Diagnosis For Epilepsy

I was diagnosed with epilepsy after 1 seizure that occurred oct 25. I wasn't diagnosed until my doctor read my EEG and said it was very abnormal during the strobe light period. I am a 29 year old female. This doesn't seem normal to me as everything I read has stated you are not put on seizure medication or diagnosed with epilepsy until at least 2 seizures. Should I get a 2nd opinion?
Mon, 8 Sep 2014
Report Abuse
Neurologist,  's  Response
Good evening. My name is Dr. Saghafi and I am a neurologist from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. You are correct in that for the most part, epilepsy itself itself as a "disease entity" is not said to exist in a patient until there are at least 2 unprovoked seizures occurring less than 24 hrs. apart. But there's a catch. That's in a situation where there is no obvious source of abnormalities following thorough workup. In other words, let's say you have a convulsive episode of some sort. You are taken to the ER and they diagnose you with convulsion of unknown cause. They schedule you to see the neurologist in a week or so. You go to the neurologist and go through his battery of testing (MRI, EEG, maybe even spinal tap if there is an indication)....and lo and behold there is an EEG abnormality of some sort...MRI is clean and everything is good....but the EEG has something which suggests a potential for seizure. In that case the treating physician should be recommending medication protection and not wait for a 2nd event to occur. He's already got the smoking gun in hand. Now, in your case what he's got is some kind of abnormal DRIVING RESPONSE TO PHOTIC STIMULATION. I'd be happy to look at it for you if you get the results of the run and scan that and send it to me on the PREMIUM SIDE OF THIS CHANNEL (Dariush Saghafi, MD). Then, I can look at the recording and give you an opinion. On the other hand if you're not confident in what the physician is seeing on the recording then, I'd definitely seek out a 2nd opinion.
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Electroencephalography


Loading Online Doctors....
Need Advice On Diagnosis For Epilepsy

Good evening. My name is Dr. Saghafi and I am a neurologist from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. You are correct in that for the most part, epilepsy itself itself as a disease entity is not said to exist in a patient until there are at least 2 unprovoked seizures occurring less than 24 hrs. apart. But there s a catch. That s in a situation where there is no obvious source of abnormalities following thorough workup. In other words, let s say you have a convulsive episode of some sort. You are taken to the ER and they diagnose you with convulsion of unknown cause. They schedule you to see the neurologist in a week or so. You go to the neurologist and go through his battery of testing (MRI, EEG, maybe even spinal tap if there is an indication)....and lo and behold there is an EEG abnormality of some sort...MRI is clean and everything is good....but the EEG has something which suggests a potential for seizure. In that case the treating physician should be recommending medication protection and not wait for a 2nd event to occur. He s already got the smoking gun in hand. Now, in your case what he s got is some kind of abnormal DRIVING RESPONSE TO PHOTIC STIMULATION. I d be happy to look at it for you if you get the results of the run and scan that and send it to me on the PREMIUM SIDE OF THIS CHANNEL (Dariush Saghafi, MD). Then, I can look at the recording and give you an opinion. On the other hand if you re not confident in what the physician is seeing on the recording then, I d definitely seek out a 2nd opinion.