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Epilepsy or seizure disorder? Why stroke?
Do I have epilepsy or a seizure disorder? How do they differ? What would cause a stroke? My neurologist tells me my MRI's show many strokes and has asked "when did you have your last seizure?" or stated "let's try these meds to control your seizures". He has never referred to my having a seizure disorder or epilepsy and, for whatever reason, I'm relunctant to ask. My seizures started after a car accident 20 years ago and were referred to as frontal lobe partial complex seizures. My seizures were under control for many years, three years ago they have increased in intensity to "grand mal" type seizures, have become more frequent and sometimes multiple seizres a few minutes apart. I have had difficulty speaking and walking for as much as 12 hours after a seizure, a few caused ER visits and I have been hospitalized twice. I had one seizure while in the hospital that caused me to make very loud noises, I overheard the nurse say "I heard him all the way down to the nurses station", the neurologist replied, "I would have thought he was faking had I not saw that" and the nurse said, "we called in the stroke team". I was too out of it to ask questions. What would have caused a stroke?
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One other comment, a recent MRI showed atrophy in a lower left rear section of my brain known to cause seizures.
@tonyde
A seizure disorder or Epilepsy are used interchangeably. Epilepsy/Seizure disorder are two or more unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Back when I was diagnosed eons ago by my then primary and two days later by a Neurosurgeon as having Epilepsy but only had one seizure. Somewhere along the line they decided you needed to have two unprovoked seizures for that diagnosis. Terminology has changed, for example, when I was diagnosed, my seizures were called major motor seizures, later, they were called grandmal and now are Tonic-Clonic. I wonder if seizure disorder had a different meaning at one time. Perhaps if seizures were/are provoked by certain illnesses were/are considered a seizure disorder.
As far as the “very loud noise” is concerned it may have been what’s known as the Epileptic cry. It happens during the tonic phase of a seizure when powerful contractions squeezes the air out of the lungs and the vocalization is made as the air rushes past the vocal cords.
It’s usually short and loud.”
Most strokes are caused by a blockage usually a clot (ischemic stroke) causing lack of blood and oxygen that causes brain cells/tissue to die. High blood pressure is also a cause. There are also hemorrhagic strokes when a blood vessel ruptures.
Atrophy is common especially in older folks. The rear part of your brain is the occipital lobe, seizures originating there are uncommon. You should get more information about the atrophy. Are you having any problems speaking, writing or other issues?
Take care,
Jake
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4 ReactionsI had my first seizure 30yrs ago there was "white matter" on my own I had read that might be indicative of a TIA but no one, I mean no one even at Stanford ever mention the word stroke. In July of '22 I got a PCP at Stanford a clinical professor a newbie I call him because he is younger than my son and just finished his residency in '21. But, despite having had a neurologist ( epilepsy specialist) , neurosurgeon ( VNS implant) and EMG,NCS neurologists no one in the 22 years going there until my PCP Dr. L ever said I had indication of previous stroke activity and I should be taking 81mg aspirin. I have a plethora of other things but I have been brought to the ED because my husband found me standing staring out the kitchen window without responding to him for over 15 min. That letter there was the first I have ever seen that rang true to me. All my neurologist at Stanford are professors not because of and great thought they are better - maybe or maybe not- but for continuity I do not want my MD to say good bye in June after 3 years and have to get used to new doctors and them me - and I have to say I am not always the easiest to get along thanks very much Jake for the note
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2 ReactionsHey folks out there - my grammar, punctuation and writing skills are horrible - sorry if that letter did not make much sense I'll try reading them before posting. - Leslie
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4 Reactions@1775house
I have the same problem.
We need to protest for longer edit times.
Jake
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1 Reaction🙂 - Leslie
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1 ReactionHi! I responded somewhere about having TIAs and --- believe or not - yeah you will-- well when I started this sentence I remembered everything about his situation and how he was Dx with TIA and then a question about seizures I told him about TIAs and seizures (me) but I'd have to go back and read the post basically TIAs and seizures go hand in hand in some way
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2 ReactionsI do also have the same problem @1775house.
We have understandings for it, so no worries and need to excuse yourself.
Chris
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2 ReactionsThanks - I woke up and it is 58 inside the house Brrrrrrrrrrr
Thank you, lots of good info. I have difficulty with speech during smaller seizures, the words just don't out and I'm very confused. I don't know what happens during a severe seizure.
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3 Reactions