NetWellness Epilepsy

Rare Cz sharp transients

NetWellness Staff . — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:10:00 EST

Question: My 6 year old son recently had an EEG which said, "Rare CZ sharp transients are noted" and "hyperventilation for 3 minutes results in diffuse slowing of the background activity" What does this mean?

Answer:
Thank you for visiting NetWellness. On this site, NetWellness experts try to answer general questions about health. Only the health professional who ordered the tests should interpret the results. However, NetWellness may have some general information available that you can access through o . . .

Ask an Expert: NetWellness Staff ., Epilepsy

Gastic Bypass

Michael Privitera MD — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 14:09:00 EST

Question: I have had seizures all my life until 6 years ago when I had brain surgery and had scar tissue removed from my right temporall lobe. Now I have the opprotunity to have gastric bypass and I am scared that I might have seizures again from this surgery. I have read some horror stories about other epile . . .

Answer: Gastric bypass should not have a negative effect on seizures. The only exception would be if there are problems with malabsorption of the seizure medications, that is the seizure medications may not be completely absorbed because the GI tract is not functioning normally after surgery. This can be ch . . .

Ask an Expert: Michael Privitera MD, Epilepsy

Having Seizures in my Sleep

NetWellness Staff . — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:08:00 EST

Question: I was diagnosed with PENS about 7 years ago. They went away after about 6 months. About 8 months ago I had some seizures and I stopped breathing. I was not placed on medication then.

The thinking was it was PENS again. I have recently had some seizures while sleeping. My husband tells be . . .

Answer:
Thank you for visiting NetWellness. On this site, NetWellness experts try to answer general questions about health. Only a health professional performing a thorough clinical exam is able to evaluate your symptoms. However, NetWellness may have some general information available that you can . . .

Ask an Expert: NetWellness Staff ., Epilepsy

Encephalomalacia, both cerebellar hemispheres

David Ficker MD — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:04:00 EST

Question: A recent MRI finding showsI have encephalomalacia in both cerebellar hemispheres. I was brutally assaulted assaulted in 2001 and have TBI. The MRI also shows degenerative disc disease in C4-C5 and C5-C6 with spur complexes. I have cognitive , memory impairment,in addition to many head/neck/back pain . . .

Answer: Encephalomalacia is a term that means scar tissue in the brain. It results from some injury that damages the brain such as a stroke or head injury. It is not something that worsens over time. If you feel you are getting worse, you need to discuss this with your health care providers.

Ask an Expert: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy

Dilantin Levels

David Ficker MD — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:10:00 EST

Question: My husband takes 500mg Dilantin daily and was told to take 100mg in the morning and 400mg at night - is this the usual way to take it

Answer: Dilantin is an extended release medication and can be given once a day. However, your husband's treating physician may have good reason for giving it twice a day. Please do not change the dose of medication unless you talk to the treating provider.

Ask an Expert: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy

epilepsy and gastic bypass surgery

Michael Privitera MD — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:07:00 EST

Question: my son is 345 lbs. at 30 yrs old with high BP, sleep apnea and wetting himself now at night. He has not had a seizure in over 10 years. On Keppra most of that time but now on Vimpat due to all side effects and wt. gain of Keppra. He wants gastric bypass. I am wondering about seizures starting up aga . . .

Answer: I would not be concerned about fat absorption affecting seizure control. The ketogenic diet works more because of lack of carbohydrates triggering metabolism of fat, rather than the fat in the diet itself being therapeutic. No one knows truly why the ketogenic diet works, but that's the best current . . .

Ask an Expert: Michael Privitera MD, Epilepsy

Relation Between Keppra and Metabolisim

David Ficker MD — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:07:00 EST

Question: I am taking Keppra 1000 mgs twice a day and it seems ive put on a significant amount of weight since starting it, can you tell me if Keppra Slows a persons Metabolisim? ive put all this weight on in under two years i also take lamictal 600 mg daily would either of these have an effect on my metaboli . . .

Answer:

Keppra or Lamitcal have no effect on body weight. Studies show they are weight neutral. Other seizure medications (such as Depakote) may cause weight gain.

Ask an Expert: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy

Eyelid Myoclonia

NetWellness Staff . — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:06:00 EST

Question: My daughter is experiencing fluttering of the eyelids and then eye closure. After this episode she is extremely tired and sleeps for hours. Could it be an Eyelid Myoclonia? She has had an EEG, MRI with contrast and a CT Scan. The EEG showed slow oxygen to the brain when breathing rapidly. Then we ha . . .

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. On this site, NetWellness experts try to answer general questions about health. Only a health professional performing a thorough clinical exam is able to evaluate your symptoms. However, NetWellness may have some general information available that you can access t . . .

Ask an Expert: NetWellness Staff ., Epilepsy

eye care and epilepsy

Michael Privitera MD — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:06:00 EST

Question: My sister has epilepsy and with that comes light sensitivity...especially in stores.

I would like information about sunglasses. What degree of darkness and what color tint is most beneficial? Also should she were them while she shops? Will it help with the artificial lights or does she need to . . .

Answer: The data on sunglasses for people with photosensitive epilepsy is not strong. First, the glasses have been tested on the small subset of people who have seizures precipitated by flashing lights and not people with epilepsy who report other light induced symptoms like headaches, eye pain, or other ir . . .

Ask an Expert: Michael Privitera MD, Epilepsy

Dilantin Level

Michael Privitera MD — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:05:00 EST

Question: My son (31) has been on Dilanton for seizures for the past several months. 300 mg per day. I know he takes his medication as required and his dilantin level has still continued to drop. Last week level dropped to 3 MD put him in hospital. Today it`s 0. At this point waiting for the state of Louisian . . .

Answer: