Does epilepsy exist without loss of consciousness? How would I know if I had petit maal seizures?

Question

im 21yo female with history of anxiety/panick attacks, Dr sent me to have EEG because i am always dizzy, the scan showed unstable brain activity - Epileptic, put me on EPILUM 500mg. However I have never lost consciousness or had a seizure, i just have disorientation or dizzyness even on the meds. Went for second EEG, neuro said im perfectly healthy, unstable activity was noticeable however natural for someone my age during hyperventilation (which they make you do during EEG) however the neorologist cannot prove i dont have epilepsy because im on meds, and to stay on them for a year?! Because she wont prove i don't have it, i cannot drive a car because technically they cant do anything????? how can i have epilepsy.... when ive never had an attack? or lapse of consciousness? and if i did have a lapse of consciousness (petit maal) would I know?Also since being on the EPILUM 500mg twice a day, i have become sort of dependant, as it is a mood stabilizer.

Answer 1

I have had my fair share of doctors who won't answer my questions either. Keep looking for one that will. I know it is a pain in the .... but you need answers, not a "I am the right hand of God because I am a neurologist complex" They are out there just hard to find. Yes to your question. My petite mals are a very DEEP sense of deja vu feeling. Almost time warp feeling, not simply a familiar type of feeling but as if I jumped time to another place of been there, done that already as if it were foretold. So NO you do not have to loose consciousness. They first put me on epilepsy medication and yes I lost my license for 3 mos. and took me 5 yrs to be taken off my record because of it. Some of the side effects from the medications can be worse than the cure though. So you will want to be really sure that it is epilepsy if you are to stay on it. It took me 7 yrs later, through trial and error and keeping a log of what I felt, when it was happening, time of day, time of the month, and foods I ate, medications I took, whether it was tylenol, Ibuprofen, sinus meds, whatever I thought was relevant. It is a complete pain but it worked. I found out for myself, no thanks to any of the doctors I went to, that there are a few triggers that seem to cause my petite mals. Pain will sometimes do it, sudden, sharp pain such as the deep fryer popped grease in my face, or a piece of wire slipped and got me in the face, a screen door handle caught a chunk of hair in the door handle when I turned to shut the door. So I found some pain triggers, ALSO certain sinus medications will do it. Also any ephedrine based products will do it. (although most of the ephedrine products have been pulled of the market...guess why? That's why the diet pills went ephedrine free because of causing seizures and heart conditions) I couldn't be around alot of perfumes either for a long time, which for me that was saddening, but you really notice how bad some people smell with perfumes on when your not wearing any. So my log helped me and will help a GOOD doctor to see if there are any triggers for you. It may be something other than epilepsy. Mine was. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 2

Yes, there is epilepsy without loss of consciousness. Seizures are the only visible symptom of epilepsy.You may remain alert during the seizure or lose consciousness.
There are mainly two forms of seizures :
Partial seizure -- simple, complex or secondary
and
generalized seizures -- absense (petit mal) or myoclonic, atonic and generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures.

You can read about it in the website:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/epilepsy/DS00342/DSECTION=2

EEG is the way to diagnose epilepsy. There are characteristic waves on EEG which is used to diagnose epilepsy.
It is true that you may be having normal EEG because you are on medication. The only way to know is to stop taking it for a month and going for EEG again.

No, you would not know if you had petit mal (absense) seizure. Some one who is attentive and has been watching you, can. But you wouldn't notice a thing.

Answer 3

1- Yes, you can be conscious during a siezure. I have a friend who has grand- mal siezures all the time and in the beginning, he talks to me and prays out loud. He tells me afterwards, he can remeber what happened. However, yes, there is a point in the siezure, as it progresses where he does not rememberwhat happened. I don't know if he is conscious at that time but simply does not remember it later or not.

2- It sound to me like you do not have epilepsy. I think you are worrying too much and you may be a sort of hypochondriac which is associated with anxiety disorders. I have had crying spells and panic attacks periodically. My solution is to deal with my stress through therapy to lessen these.

3- They made you hyperventilate during your exam? How can you cause someone to hyperventilate? And isn't this abusive to cause someone to do this? It just sounds wrong to me.

Answer 4

Sorry 'bout your condition !
My daughter's condition is a lot worse ( head trauma at 11 mths) - on 500mg Epilum min 4x day + Rivotril - (age 23 & 40kg).
Yes you can have attacks without losing consciousness.
I have witnessed this manefestation often.
Best test :- EEG monitored in hospital over 3 days , without sleep.
Good luck and hope you condition improves.

Answer 5

Most of the epileptic medications have been used as psychiatric medications. Phenobarbital, Dilantin, Depakote. . .the list goes on and on. If you have unstable brain waves in your EEG, you have epilepsy. Look at this article. It explains most of what your Dr. has already told you and maybe you might find something interesting!

Answer 6

Yes it is possible my cousin has petit mal epilepsy. He can tell you before and during that he is having one minus the blank stare on his face.

Answer 7

Epilepsy without loss of consciousness is not possible. Unstable activity is not epilepsy.