How to Control Daughter's Generalized Absence Seizures?

Hello @punkychica

I can certainly understand your concern for your daughter. Did your doctor indicate why he is referring her to an endocrinologist?
Endocrinologists are often the doctors who see patients with high calcium levels (which can cause calcifications in different parts of the body). Here is an article that helps explain high calcium levels, https://www.healthline.com/health/calcification. High levels of calcium can often indicate a problem with the parathyroid (different than the thyroid, but located in the same general area). Did your doctor indicate what part of the brain was calcified?

I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Wishing you and your daughter well. Will you post an update after you see the endocrinologist?

I would have your neuro check for autoimmune encephalitis. They sent my spinal fluid to Mayo (highly recommended) to test for antibodies. I was diagnosed after having Facial brachial distonic seizures. My neuro never heard of AE until me. I video’d my seizures and he spent the night researching and the next day said “I think I know what you have”. Took spinal fluid, sent it to Mayo who confirmed. My body was producing antibodies that were attacking my brain thinking it was an “enemy” when it normally would attack a virus. AE is very often misdiagnosed as it is rare. Please have your Dr check for this. The sooner the diagnosis and treatment, better chances of full recovery with minimum brain damage. In the hospital they tried steroids, nothing worked.. so they tried IVIG and it stopped the seizures, though temporary. There’s an International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society group on facebook and they also have a website. Their website is loaded with information. Please please have your Dr check for this.

Hi, @valm - just wanted to encourage you, when you have a chance, to consider posting about your experiences with autoimmune encephalitis in one of these Connect discussions on that topic:

- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/is-it-autoimmune-encephalitis-or-encephalitis

- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/is-it-autoimmune-encephalitis-or-encephalitis

I think the others in those discussions would be interested in hearing about your experiences.

Are you still seizure free? How is your health currently?

How is your daughter doing so far with depakote ?

Hello, @kktpapa, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Wondering if you have a child diagnosed with generalized absence seizures and/or on valproic acid (Depakote)?

How is your daughter?

@closetmonster93
I took Zarontin although it was about 50 years ago. Zarontin is a first line treatment for absence seizures. It didn't stop them completely but did reduced them. I didn't have any side effects from it. didn't your neurologist give you any explanation when he was adding that medication?
Jake

My neurologist said that over a year ago, I had four seizures in my sleep, which I never was aware of and never used to have them in my sleep. I have been seizure free for a year, and said to him, I would like an EEG before we proceed with the medication, he refused my request, and said we are putting you on this. I said if I am not having seizures, why am I going to be put on another medication before having an EEG to prove they are happening? He then refused to order the EEG, and said again, you had 4 seizures, petit mal over a year ago, and we need to do this. I said to him, that it makes no sense, I have been seizure free, for a year, I feel better than I have in many years, I know when I have seizures, and my husband and I are completely floored. He to said you did not have any, I am baffled by this. I want to have testing before being put on a medication, not just put on a medication, maybe I do not need it. He would not listen to me, and he saw me two times prior to this visit and never mentioned any of this. I do not understand.

@closetmonster93
If you don't think you need them you don't have to get them filled.
An EEG may not show any seizure activity. You'd probably need an Ambulatory EEG for a few days. I would have thought the neuro would have suggested this medicine right after the episodes. Your absences may have already stopped. I like to be treated in the present not the past.
Take care,
Jake

@jakedduck1 I really appreciate your response. I could not understand the neurologists reasoning. I see him every 4 months and he never discussed this at the appointment in November, so it came as a surprise. I have not had any seizures for a year, and so thats a big deal to me, however, another thing I did not like was, he asked if I had had any seizures, I said no, and then he said, well, maybe you’re having them and you don’t know it, you had them over a year ago. I didn’t understand what he was trying to imply with regards to this I know when I have seizures. I have two separate kinds of seizures and I’m aware of both of them. However, I have not had any. He seemed insistent on me taking the medication regardless, however, I don’t want to take another medication when I know I haven’t been having the seizures and I offered to do a EEG, but he would not do the order. That seems odd to me a take-home EEG would prove whether I am having them or not. Why take medication if you know you’re not having them but then he’s not listening to you. I agree treat the present not the past. Thank you.