Does having seizure like symptoms after suffering from heat exhaustion automatically mean you are epileptic?

Question

A neurologist said I was epileptic after I told him I get dizzy and sometimes pass out after working out sometimes. I thought it was heat exhaustion, but he said it was me having seizures. It's also happened after dancing hard at a club or standing in the heat. Without doing any tests, he diagnosed me as being epileptic. The medications he gave me actually caused me to have seizures and sent me to the ER. After telling him this, he had me take another form of seizure meds. He never actually saw me after I got out of the ER. He left the second set of meds at the front desk w/no dosage instructions. The new meds caused me to have a very BAD rxn that kept me home from work for a day. He then said to go back on the first set of meds that caused me to go into seizures that sent me to the ER. Because of this, I am seeking a second opinion about being epileptic. My appt w/the second neurologist is this month.

Answer 1

Concretebrunette has a great answer to this question.

I have had epilepsy the better part of my life (21 years now) and I can tell you one thing: Just because they have a medical degree and are a neurologist doesn't mean they are good. I have had 2 so-so doctors and 1 terrible doc (caused me to OD and I almost died) and now I have a doctor who I think basically saved my life. After I found him, I couldn't believe what an idiot I am for not being selective about my doctor. It makes all of the difference.

I am absolutely appalled by his "diagnosis". BTW, in order to be classified an epileptic you have to have seizure activity for more than 5 years.

It doesn't even sound like you necessarily have a seizure disorder to me, unless you had a seizure BEFORE the meds. I am no doc, but that is one of the last things I would look at. You could have a heart problem or something. You will probably need to find two doctors from different areas of expertise. A neurologist and maybe a fantastic internist. If you find a good neurologist, he can recommend someone to work with and they can help find the problem together.

If you didn't have an EEG, run as fast as you can from this doctor. It breaks my heart when I hear that people are diagnosed without one.

If you are in the NYC/NJ area or are within driving distance, I want you to go see my doctor. He is considered the top Neurologist in the country and he saved my life.

If you aren't in this area, I will tell you what I would look for in a doctor. Get on your insurance and look through all of your choices. Look for the best credentials, someone who isn't too young and isn't too old and the best education. If they run a hospital's neurology department, even better.

Sorry to write a book, but I want to help anyone out in this situation because it's scary and there are specific things to do to make sure you get the best care. I wish someone had been there for me. I wouldn't have wasted so much of my life trying to get a handle on my problem.

Contact me at [e-mail] if you have any questions.

Be well.

Answer 2

OH. MY. GOD.

When I had my first seizure at the age of 11, it took MONTHS for the diagnosis of epilepsy was decided. I went through ALL SORTS of tests. They should be doing an EEG and an MRI, at the very least. Since you are having seizures after a specific kind of activity, or heat related occasions, they might do a physical type test like they do with people who are having questionable heart trouble. They may put you on a treadmill and have you run yourself until you have a seizure.

THANK YOU for seeking a second recommendation. The first neurologist that you saw is just flat out a lazy awful doctor. Be sure to tell your new doctor the name of the old doctor, and ask if he/she has opinions of this doctor or if any of his/her other patients have had similar problems.

Now, having said that, please go to that old doctor's office and get a copy of your medical file, and have several copies of it made. You will most likely have to pay to get a copy, but once you have it, have a few more copies made. Take one to your new doctor and point out how UN-THOROUGH your old doctor was and how he made you go back on the first meds after they sent you to the ER, etc. etc.

Lastly, contact the American Medical Association and make a formal complaint. You will possibly need a copy of your medical file from the old doctor to send to the AMA so they can have proof.

I hope this helps. I'm so sorry you have had this experience. You MAY NOT have epilepsy. It could be something completely different. You can't haul off and have a seizure and just have a doctor go, "eh, you must have epilepsy." It just doesn't work that way.

Best of luck to you. If it IS epilepsy, it sounds like you have a fairly mild form of it, as do I, and it really isn't that bad, except you can lose your driver's license if you have a seizure, which I'm willing to bet money your old doctor didn't even discuss with you, which no decent doctor would go without covering. It is their responsiblity to make sure a patient is in the best form possible o be driving, so they don't have an accident and possibly kill themselves or others. In some states you have to be seizure free for a year to get your license back. The first state I lived in was like that, and I had to have a doctor's note saying I hadn't had a seizure in this-many years. The state I live in now is 6 months.

Please email me if you have anymore questions, etc. My ID here is my yahoo email address, and I would be happy to be there to talk to and ask questions.
:)

Answer 3

It sounds very odd to be prescribing meds without properly examining you, speaking to anyone who saw what happened when you collapsed or even conducting an EEG or MRI. You could be suffering from anything from low blood pressure (fainting when you get up too fast) to a metabolic condition to aneamia to a heart problem.

You definitely need a second opinion and explain you're not happy with your treatment and want more examinations (such as blood tests, a heart trace, an EEG, etc).

Answer 4

Are you keeping yourself hydrated? Dehydration is a serious condition. Your potassium level drops very low. causing
copycat symptoms. I have been hospitalized 3 times for dehydration. You would think that I would have learned. Drink water, a lot of water. also gatorade will replenish your electrolites.
You also need 1000 mg. of potassium.
You may not be epileptic at all.Potassium is needed for your
heart to function properly.