seeing another neurologist

I've decided to go for a second opinion. I don't think my epilepsy is
controlled by my current meds. I'm starting to doubt whether I was even
diagnosed with the right type of epilepsy.

I considered going for a second opinion months ago, after my current neuro
was concerned enough about my change in symptoms to send me for an MRI, but
when that came back negative he kicked me out, saying it was all in my head
(haha) and didn't bother to look into other causes for the symptoms which
were still bothering me, and had concerned him enough for him to want to run
the tests.

I didn't just want to go for another opinion just because that doc pissed me
off. Not liking him and what he had to say isn't enough to justify spending
my and the tax payers time and money on seeing another doc.

But now my therp has told me that during our sessions she sees my face
freeze up like I've been injected with botox, and I stop blinking and just
stare, but I'm still conscious and able to talk normally, which sounds
exactly like the seizures I'm not supposed to still be having, except for
the still being able to talk. Now I have independant evidence (more than
just my subjective experience and symptoms) that something is still going
on.

So I'm booked in to see some big wig professor at the end of the month. I'm
hoping he has some idea of what could be going on, or at least what other
meds or treatments I could try that might reduce my current side effects and
treat my symptoms more effectively.

It's scary knowing that something (else) is wrong with my brain and
wondering if there are going to be any long term consequences of it being
uncontrolled for so long. If my EEG from a few years ago is anything to go
by, I'm probably having dozens of little seizures every day. And I have no
evidence that any of the treatment I've ever had has ever done a thing to
stop them.

Hopefully I get some answers this time, and I'm not just treated like a
psycho or a hypochondriac (sp?) again.

"mighty mouse" <kye_99@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ein64i$c79$1@news.datemas.de...
> I've decided to go for a second opinion. I don't think my epilepsy is
> controlled by my current meds. I'm starting to doubt whether I was even
> diagnosed with the right type of epilepsy.

<snip>

that's scary stuff kylie...i sure hope you get it all figured out this time
and that you can make a doctor listen to you. i can't believe that last one
was such a huge jerk. take care of yourself hun....

~u2b

mighty mouse wrote:

> I've decided to go for a second opinion. I don't think my epilepsy is
> controlled by my current meds. I'm starting to doubt whether I was even
> diagnosed with the right type of epilepsy.
>
> I considered going for a second opinion months ago, after my current neuro
> was concerned enough about my change in symptoms to send me for an MRI,
> but when that came back negative he kicked me out, saying it was all in my
> head (haha) and didn't bother to look into other causes for the symptoms
> which were still bothering me, and had concerned him enough for him to
> want to run the tests.
>
> I didn't just want to go for another opinion just because that doc pissed
> me
> off. Not liking him and what he had to say isn't enough to justify
> spending my and the tax payers time and money on seeing another doc.
>
> But now my therp has told me that during our sessions she sees my face
> freeze up like I've been injected with botox, and I stop blinking and just
> stare, but I'm still conscious and able to talk normally, which sounds
> exactly like the seizures I'm not supposed to still be having, except for
> the still being able to talk. Now I have independant evidence (more than
> just my subjective experience and symptoms) that something is still going
> on.
>
> So I'm booked in to see some big wig professor at the end of the month.
> I'm hoping he has some idea of what could be going on, or at least what
> other meds or treatments I could try that might reduce my current side
> effects and treat my symptoms more effectively.
>
> It's scary knowing that something (else) is wrong with my brain and
> wondering if there are going to be any long term consequences of it being
> uncontrolled for so long. If my EEG from a few years ago is anything to
> go
> by, I'm probably having dozens of little seizures every day. And I have
> no evidence that any of the treatment I've ever had has ever done a thing
> to stop them.
>
> Hopefully I get some answers this time, and I'm not just treated like a
> psycho or a hypochondriac (sp?) again.

You are entitled to a second opinion. I was on anticonvulsants for years
until a neuropsych told me that I should never have been. Hopefully, your
professor is on the same level as my neuropsych.

But beware of thinking that modern medical science can fix anything. If
that day ever comes, it hasn't arrived yet. As for it being uncontrolled,
I don't know of any case of deterioration in those circumstances. If you
have damaged brain tissue, it is probably exactly the same today as years
ago. They claim that new brain cells are not generated in your lifetime,
although modern experiments tend to contradict this. If there are new
ones, they are probably normal.

Listen to the prof, and be prepared to believe what he tells you. Ask him
any questions you want to. Personally, I wouldn't try to interpret my own
EEG. I wouldn't know how to. And I wouldn't know what irregularities are
of no significance. But I am an Aussie, with a complete health insurance
system. I am always conscious of the differences.

(I went to a doctor at an Epileptics Society. About the only thing that I
remember from that is discovering that I went to school with the doctor's
daughter. As a support session, it was pretty irrelevant.)

Doug L.
Still on antidepressants.
--
The complete truth is not the prerogative of the human judge.
- Judge Meir Shamgar.

mighty mouse <kye_99@nospamyahoo.com> wrote:

> I've decided to go for a second opinion. I don't think my epilepsy is
> controlled by my current meds. I'm starting to doubt whether I was even
> diagnosed with the right type of epilepsy.

Good for you.

> But now my therp has told me that during our sessions she sees my face
> freeze up like I've been injected with botox, and I stop blinking and just
> stare, but I'm still conscious and able to talk normally, which sounds
> exactly like the seizures I'm not supposed to still be having, except for
> the still being able to talk. Now I have independant evidence (more than
> just my subjective experience and symptoms) that something is still going
> on.

Good for the therapist.