New seizures part 2

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Rich - 01 Oct 2004 06:07 GMT

I posted here a few days ago regarding my wife's seizures. The CT scan,
blood work, and EEG all came back "normal". The only thing that was nearly
slightly "low" was calcium. I know that hypocalcaemia can cause seizures but
she was just at the bottom end of the reference range.

One other unexplained thing was a sudden weight gain of about 3 pounds
during the same week she had the seizures... like water retention and edema
around the face.

Any ideas?? Neurologist appointment is in November but what about this
edema?

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Bob - 01 Oct 2004 16:29 GMT

> I posted here a few days ago regarding my wife's seizures.

I've read all of the posts here and in the diabetes group. In regard to the
latter, the spike in blood glucose level after drinking a sugary liquid would
seem to be normal & expected. I note that it went down on the next sample as
expected Didn't her doctor(GP) say anything about all that? I'm a little
unclear on those stated blood sugar ranges. Are they supposed to be ranges for
just a "fasting" person or ranges for people at all times?

> The CT scan,
> blood work, and EEG all came back "normal". The only thing that was nearly
> slightly "low" was calcium. I know that hypocalcaemia can cause seizures but
> she was just at the bottom end of the reference range.

I haven't seen anyting posted as yet that would indicate other than that her
"seizures" are being caused by hypoglycemia. I believe you said that if she ate
some sugary food the condition went away?

> One other unexplained thing was a sudden weight gain of about 3 pounds
> during the same week she had the seizures... like water retention and edema
> around the face.

If your bathroon scale is as accurate as mine, the whole 3 pounds could be
explained by the scale.<g> But seriously, wasn't she eating more? and wouldn't
that explain it.

> Any ideas?? Neurologist appointment is in November but what about this
> edema?

Stopping what's happening would seem to me to be more important than maintaining
a certain weight or losing weight. Can't she just run the test of eating
"normally" and not fasting to see if that causes the condition to go away?

Regards,

Bob

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Rich - 01 Oct 2004 18:09 GMT

> > I posted here a few days ago regarding my wife's seizures.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> unclear on those stated blood sugar ranges. Are they supposed to be ranges for
> just a "fasting" person or ranges for people at all times?

I'm not sure, but I think the reference ranges are for healthy people.

> > The CT scan,
> > blood work, and EEG all came back "normal". The only thing that was nearly
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> "seizures" are being caused by hypoglycemia. I believe you said that if she ate
> some sugary food the condition went away?

Yes! But this could just be a coincidence. Or eating may just get her mind
off the seizures and that's all... I really don't know. But it does seem
that the seizures go away when she eats, yes.

> > One other unexplained thing was a sudden weight gain of about 3 pounds
> > during the same week she had the seizures... like water retention and edema
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> explained by the scale.<g> But seriously, wasn't she eating more? and wouldn't
> that explain it.

Well I am loosing a pound every other day on the same scale, but I am sick.

> > Any ideas?? Neurologist appointment is in November but what about this
> > edema?
>
> Stopping what's happening would seem to me to be more important than maintaining
> a certain weight or losing weight. Can't she just run the test of eating
> "normally" and not fasting to see if that causes the condition to go away?

Exactly. She isn't worried about weight, it is the edema that literally came
on overnight. Her hands, ankles, and face are puffy. Her BP is up slightly
from her normal range. So we're kind of wondering about this. It coincides
with the seizures and I was wondering if there is some kind of condition
that comes with both seizures and edema?

Thanks

Richard

> Regards,
>
> Bob

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Bob - 01 Oct 2004 19:09 GMT

> > > I posted here a few days ago regarding my wife's seizures.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> ranges for
> > just a "fasting" person or ranges for people at all times?

I realize that you have a lot more serious things to worry about at this time,
but please look at the choppy quoting above that is caused by Outlook Express.
Please take just a couple of minutes to download & install the free QuoteFix
from
http://jump.to/outlook-quotefix
I've seen the changed results when people do and the people themselves have been
very happy with it.

> I'm not sure, but I think the reference ranges are for healthy people.

Yes, that's probably the case. Ask though if you get a chance.

> > > The CT scan,
> > > blood work, and EEG all came back "normal". The only thing that was
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Yes! But this could just be a coincidence.

Unlikely when a "coincidence" keeps repeating itself.

> Or eating may just get her mind
> off the seizures and that's all...

That wouldn't have that much effect if they were truly epileptic seizures.

> I really don't know. But it does seem
> that the seizures go away when she eats, yes.

That's good evidence and I hope she has started to eat well. She doesn't have to
gorge herself, but even several small meals throughout the day to keep her blood
sugar up may give more evidence as to the real problem by eliminating the
seizures.

> > > One other unexplained thing was a sudden weight gain of about 3 pounds
> > > during the same week she had the seizures... like water retention and
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Exactly. She isn't worried about weight,

Do you mean that she has stopped fasting? and is now eating "normally"?

> it is the edema that literally came
> on overnight. Her hands, ankles, and face are puffy. Her BP is up slightly
> from her normal range. So we're kind of wondering about this. It coincides
> with the seizures and I was wondering if there is some kind of condition
> that comes with both seizures and edema?

Hmmm. I don't know if that's always as serious as it seemed to be for me during
my hospitalization a few months ago for serious lung problems. Every morning,
the nurses & techs checked my ankles for swelling as that would have been
serious. Unfortunately, this shot memory of mine doesn't remember if swollen
ankles would have indicated heart problems, medication problems, or ? You do
need to ask her doctor(GP) about that immediately ASAP.

Bob

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Daz_n_Pat - 02 Oct 2004 01:11 GMT

> > > > I posted here a few days ago regarding my wife's seizures.
> > >
[quoted text clipped - 89 lines]
>
> Bob

Hi guys,

I've had epilepsy for 30 years and have up to five seizures per day, so I've
come to a pretty good realisation of what things trigger them off.
Low blood sugar has always been a definite trigger for me. If I haven't
eaten for a while or haven't had enough sugary foods I'm much more likely to
have a seizure. So I would say - for myself at least - that low blood sugar
seems to play a large part in triggering seizures. I don't know how or why
it has an effect, but it definitely seems to.
If this is also seemingly playing a part in your wife's seizures, I think
it's something that bears keeping in mind and watching that she eats well /
frequently. Doesn't need to be lots, just enough to maintain a blood sugar
level which won't effect the seizures.
Sleep deprivation and stress also play a very large part in triggering
seizures in most people with epilepsy.

Cheers,
Darryl.

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Dave ???? - 01 Oct 2004 19:14 GMT

Howdy Rich!

A normal EEG doesn't prove diddley-squat!

The only thing an EEG is good for is confirming a diagnosis of epilepsy. It
can't be used to eleminate epilepsy as a possible problem

A normal EEG just tells the doc that there were no abnormalities DURING THE
TEST.

Signature

Dave ????

http://www.howdydave.com

> I posted here a few days ago regarding my wife's seizures. The CT scan,
> blood work, and EEG all came back "normal". The only thing that was nearly
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Any ideas?? Neurologist appointment is in November but what about this
> edema?

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