How do Doctors Diagnose Epilepsy? Posted: 06-07-06 16:43pm
I recently started having seizures, but so
far they have only happened in my sleep.
I have had two that I know of, but it is
hard to tell if I have had more because of
them only happening in my sleep. The
doctor I saw when they first happened said
that it's not considered epilepsy until
you have had three seizures and diagnosed
my with a chronic seizure disorder. What
is that? How is it different from
epilepsy? Isn't it possible that I have
had more than two seizures anyway? I was
put on anti seizure drugs.
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Epilepsy Answer A1065 Posted: 06-14-06 09:48am
You will have to perform an EEG to confirm
or exclude epilepsy. If epilepsy is
confirmed by these tests, then you have to
identify the cause of epilepsy. Primary
(idiopathic) epilepsy has no organic
cause; it is probably genetically
conditioned. Secondary (symptomatic)
epilepsy there exists some organic reason
for seizures such as a tumor,
inflammation, vascular insult, parasitic
cyst, vascular anomalies, etc. In this
case,you may be requested to do a CT-scan
or an MRI to detect one such cause. If
there no cause presents itself, then
doctors will diagnose the condition as
idiopathic epilepsy; anti-epileptic drugs
are the only treatment in this case. If
there is an identifiable reason for
epilepsy, then neurosurgical
operation/intervention is reccommended
when needed.
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