Tonic clonic seizure and esophageal motility

Posted by petemayo @petemayo, Jul 16, 2022

I had a tonic clonic seizure 9.5 years ago and another in mid-May. Head MRI and CT revealed nothing. I’m now on Keppra. In April (1.5 months before the seizure) I had two choking episodes while starting a meal, and then another in June (weeks after the seizure). Upper endoscopy and esophageal manometry were normal but barium swallow test was abnormal. Neurologist doesn’t think the seizure and choking issues are related but I do (maybe both are due to a single neurological issue). Any ideas?

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@petemayo
Good question.
Nocturnal choking can sometimes come before certain seizures.
Although I have never heard of them happening so far removed from the actual seizure.
Why do you think they are related?
Take care,
Jake

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@jakedduck1

@petemayo
Good question.
Nocturnal choking can sometimes come before certain seizures.
Although I have never heard of them happening so far removed from the actual seizure.
Why do you think they are related?
Take care,
Jake

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Because both seem to be neurologic issues.

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I was put in touch with an epilepsy specialist and he’s having me do a 4 hr EEG this week in the AM at the neuro center (with a target of 2.5 hrs of that time asleep). I only had a 1hr EEG immediately after my seizure in May in the ER. He also mentioned possibly running a higher resolution head MRI in the future (3 Tesla instead of the standard 1.5 Tesla).

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@petemayo

I was put in touch with an epilepsy specialist and he’s having me do a 4 hr EEG this week in the AM at the neuro center (with a target of 2.5 hrs of that time asleep). I only had a 1hr EEG immediately after my seizure in May in the ER. He also mentioned possibly running a higher resolution head MRI in the future (3 Tesla instead of the standard 1.5 Tesla).

Jump to this post

Good @petemayo! Just a normal EEG might not show anything abnormal. In this case, a video EEG at an EMU (Epilepsy Monitoring Unit) is many times recommended. I stayed a whole day at an EMU for this exam. Just 4 hours seems too short to me, but I am not a doctor A contact of mine, stayed a whole week at an EMU for more detailed exams. My first MRI (standard one) was normal. Then I did a higher resolution one, showing my lesion on my hippocampus.
All the best!!!!

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I think you are having GERD Seizures. Try looking it up. I hope this helps.

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@santosha

Good @petemayo! Just a normal EEG might not show anything abnormal. In this case, a video EEG at an EMU (Epilepsy Monitoring Unit) is many times recommended. I stayed a whole day at an EMU for this exam. Just 4 hours seems too short to me, but I am not a doctor A contact of mine, stayed a whole week at an EMU for more detailed exams. My first MRI (standard one) was normal. Then I did a higher resolution one, showing my lesion on my hippocampus.
All the best!!!!

Jump to this post

Thanks for the info. We’ll see how the 4hr goes, then maybe do the whole day EEG and/or high res MRI.

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