November 7th, 2008
The Birthday Diagnosis
Today is my 50th birthday. If you are a regular reader you will recall that I have been passing out every once in awhile and that I passed out about a month ago. You might recall that the electrophysiologist was not convinced that it was related to my heart and he wanted me to follow up with the neurologist. The neurologist had me have a 24 hour EEG last Thursday. You might recall the lovely picture of me. The neurologist called me on Tuesday because she wanted me to come in the next day with Michel. You know that it is never good news when the neurologist tells you to bring your spouse in.
So Michel and I were sitting in the waiting room when I started to feel this strange aura. Everything seemed “off” and when Michel tried to talk to me her words made no sense. When they called us in to see the doctor I couldn’t understand what anyone wanted me to do. I just sat there. Finally they got me inside and the doctor recognized it immediately as a temporal lobe seizure. She said that she had never actually had a patient have one in her office and it fit in with my EEG. Yesterday I saw the specialist who had read my EEG and diagnosed a temporal lobe disturbance and he put me on some medication which should control it.
So what is a temporal lobe seizure? It is an epileptic seizure that is limited to one cerebral hemisphere and causes impairment of awareness or responsiveness.
Complex partial seizures are often preceded by a seizure aura. The seizure aura is a simple partial seizure. The seizure aura might occur as a feeling of déjà vu, jamais vu, fear, euphoria, or depersonalization. The seizure aura might occur as a visual disturbance, such as tunnel vision or a change in the size of objects (macropsia or micropsia). Once consciousness is impaired, the person may display automatisms such as lip smacking, chewing, or swallowing. There may also be loss of memory (amnesia) surrounding the seizure event. The person may still be able to perform routine tasks such as walking or shopping. Witnesses may not recognize that anything is wrong.
That describes fairly well what I have been going through for quite awhile. There is one good thing about this though. Some observations suggest that complex partial seizures might enhance creativity. Maybe that is why I am such a skilled computer programmer. 
So Happy Birthday to me! Maybe after 20 years I finally know what has been causing me to pass out.
Leah wrote,
Well, if you’d said all that before, I could have diagnosed you and saved you all the trouble! LOL My ex- husband has this type of seizure, along with grand mals, and nocturnal seizures, and the worst ones…status epilepticus. (He has a pretty complicated siezure history) all of which are caused by the scar tissue created from surgery while suffering a brain aneurysm. Ahhhhh ain’t life grand?
So, happy birthday my friend. I guess birthday blessings come in all shapes and sizes. This one was a diagnosis that could save your life. Oh…one more thing…here in MN, they’re required to report siezure diagnosis’ to the Department of Motor Vehicles. In my ex’s case, he has to see a neurologist every 6 months, and be seizure free, in order to keep his license.
Link | November 7th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Kristen wrote,
Well, happy freakin’ birthday to ya!!! LOL! On the positive- you now know and hopefully the medicine will control the seizures. I have a hate/hate feeling for seizures, so I will definitely pray that you will not experience any more of the negative effects.
And seriously- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
Link | November 7th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Solveig wrote,
Happy Birthday, dear friend!
What a weird day to be diagnosed on – and how great to finally know. Any news is better than not knowing – and wondering what the heck is going on. Now you can get your medication and get on with your life. That is great, and a birthday blessing. I hope you see it that way, too.
Thank you, Tom, for downsyn. Because of downsyn I have met some of my best friends in this world. Because of downsyn, I got my strength back after having Bene. Because of downsyn, I have learned more about DS than I would have without it. That’s all because of YOU and your vision creating it.
Link | November 8th, 2008 at 4:47 am
vonda wrote,
What a wonderful birthday present!!! I think it’s great, though, that if you had to have this happen, it happened in the doctor’s office for everyone to see!!! Glad that you have a diagnosis and treating it is as simple as taking a pill. That’s good news!!! Now watch for all the AARP stuff in the mail. ha ha ha ha
Link | November 8th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Elbog wrote,
It’s amazing, how our minds wrap around things. I mean, we all knew that it was something, and it’s been called something else, and now it’s this.
I’m glad, too, that this latest stuff played out the way that it has, that this diagnosis “fits” better – by that I mean that it’s always been what it is, just the understanding has gotten better by the practice of medicine. Always optimistic, I guess we have to wait another 18 months to confirm it. I’m in for the wait, with you.
Happy Birthday, Tom. Don’t wanna make your head swell, this probably isn’t a good time for it.
(apologies to those who haven’t read Tom’s birthday thread at Downsyn).
Link | November 8th, 2008 at 12:21 pm