weird "Spells'- frustrated and need advice

I am just so frustrated and scared right now that i don know what to do.

For the past week or so I have been having some very strange "spells". I basically zone out and, though I know what is going on around me, it takes a little while for me to respond. I also fainted after one of these spells on Tuesday.

I saw the neurologist here on Tuesday morning and had an EEG done. He said it looked ok. He also ordered a head CT, which I had Friday. I have a follow up EEG in June. He also suggested taking things slowly and told me to take the Diazepam every four to six hours to help with these spells.

He was pretty perplexed at the situation. I think it is either migraine related somehow or possibly caused by the fle I had a few weeks ago. (i had similar symptoms after a virus about 5 years ago.

He is also going to send the results to the neuro in Birmingham. (I have to neuros=- one at a major university hospital and one here- in case of emergency.) They basically work together to treat me, which is great.

It is just really, really scary when this happens- it happened twice yesterday. I just don't know what to do.

The headache has also been absolutely horrible for the last week. Basically fluctucating between a 7-9.5.

I have a call into the neuos office to see if I can get someting to break the cycle.

I am just really scared and want it to stop.

I would love any advice.

Pain free days

sailingm

I don't really know if that is what yours are since the EEGs came back normal. I expect since your headaches have been especially bad and you have had the flu and something similar happened years ago when a virus was involved that it is doing it again...but I hope the neuros can get a solid name to it. I know I would feel better if it were happening to me and I had a diagnosis at least. I hope the Birmingham guy has some ideas.

If it is absent seizures the Diazepam may help, though it may also help for a number of other possible conditions too (which is probably why the neuro picked it). Do you remember what helped last time you had symptoms like this after the virus? Or did it just go away on its own with time? If there was anything you did I would run that by your neuro and see if you can do it (unless it is something he wouldn't object to like eating soup, then just try it). I hope something helps soon. Please keep me posted on how you are doing.

I hope things improve soon for you! The Valium should help with what is going on. Just be aware, the meds taken can sometimes cause some of the wierd spells people feel! Are you on any new meds that could have led to this? The fact that you have a history of doing the same thing b4, after a viral syndrome is interesting and should be paid attention to!

Hope you feel better soon!

(((HUGS)))

bgcmom

Thanks for the advice. I know that the EEG was done to rule out seizures. EEG was normal, and I had the head CT yesterday. (I suspect it will be normal as well.)

The thing that is really scaring me is the fact that I have had a few more over the last few days. I haven't really noticed a pattern though. I am keeping a log. I don't know what to do. I can't really remember what happened lat time- when I had a similar thing- it sort of went away on its own.

The Diazepam is helping. Hopefully the neuro in Birmingham will have some ideas.

I am so tirrf snf fristrated with this.

pain free days,

sailingm

Glad the diazepam is helping. I am sure that everything feels really strange right now (and starting another med never helps you feel "normal").

I hadn't thought of BgcMom's question about med changes possibly causing stuff like that. I don't know if yours did, or if taking stuff for the flu might have an effect. I have noticed a marked worsening of some of my side effects if I take certain OTC cough meds, but not with others. It is weird. I actually have to read the labels now. Of course you probably aren't still taking anything since you had the flu a few weeks ago so that may not apply at all to your current problems...I just don't know.

As far as practical things to do, I think I would try to make sure that someone around knew about the problem so that if it happens they can sort of take charge of the situation. I definitely wouldn't drive. Then as much as possible try to ease back into life. Take things slow and pay attention to your log. If things get worse, slow down and see if you can find a pattern anywhere. If they don't get worse than you at least have some distractions from it occasionally. You still have the headache to contend with as well, which could mess up all these lovely plans...but all my plans are subject to "if the headache allows". I am sure you know how that goes.

Thanks so much for the replies.

I talked to the local neuro this morning and he basically said that both EEG and CT were normal and he wanted to wait and hear what the specialist in Birmingham said.

I called the specialists office this morning and they are going to call me back this afternoon. No one wanted to change anything yet. (I did ask if an IV of Depakan was a possibility at this point.) So I am basically waiting for them to call back and see what we can do about this.

I am just so scared as no one knows what is wrong or what is causing them and they just keep happening and I am scared to even go on a short walk alone right now, which is not like me at all. I just don't know what to do.

I really want to avoid a trip to the ER, but it is getting to the point where I may need to go. I am just so scared right now.

any ideas?

thanks,

sailingm

Thanks for the replies.

I got the results from the CT yesterday- it was normal. As wass the EEG.

THe UAB specialist was not in yesterday and is in clinic all day today. I haven't heard anything back from him yet. I spoke to his secretary and his nurse this morning and explained the situation. (However, I still have wait for the dr to look over some stuff)

They both told me to try and wait for tomorrow, if not- go to the ER. I am going to try to survive the next 14 hours and see what he has to say or if he can order the IV Depakan to be done at the IV center here. So I should hear back tomorrow- if not- I suppose I will have to go to the ER.

You are right- if I do end up going, I will probably push more for headache treatment than the weird spells.

I am just so tired and scared right now. Haze aboslutely no idea of what to do right now- the pain is off the charts- (the medicine brings it down to a 9?10)

I am really freaked by the pain now and am trying my best to get through till tomorrow. I

Pain free days,

sailing

I

I hope you are able to make it and I hope that you get a lot of relief from something tomorrow. Come on Birmingham Neuro guy!