- Do I Really Have Epilepsy Or Is It The BPD?
QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I’m 18 years old, and just a few days ago I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I know that a woman wrote you about the link between epilepsy and BPD (December 99), but my problem is not exactly the same. Mine is more of the opposite. I think I got BPD before epilepsy.
I do think I have had BPD for a long time, but I’m just starting to read about it (so I’m just discovering that I might have it). I’m also starting to read about epilepsy. Ok, I won’t really tell you why I think I have BPD, because it will be too long, but I do think that I have it, along maybe with ADD and Fractured enjoyment. Now, the epilepsy problem. I’m from Montreal, I was treated at Montreal Neurological Institute (at the Epilepsy Clinic), which is one of the best places for epilepsy treatment.
My first seizure happened a year ago (July 99), while I was in a foreign country. So what happened is I had a seizure while I was sleeping. But I was conscious while it was happening, until I did lose consciousness, and I woke up at the hospital. They asked me the usual questions: Did I take drugs that day (because when I came to the hospital they thought it was an overdose, because no one saw me while I was having my seizure). They asked if I remembered my name, the date, etc…and I did remember everything. I told them about the seizure, and they put me on Tegretol immediately. I spent the night at the hospital. The next day I had an EEG and a MIR. The results were all perfect, I had nothing wrong.
So I came back to Montreal, and then I went to Montreal Neurological Institute. I told them my story. They taught that it was an isolated case (it seems it happens to many people – that you have only one seizure in your life, and it never happens again). They said that it might have happened because I wasn’t getting enough sleep (and that’s true). The doctor put me off Tegretol, so I could have another EEG and MIR without being on medication. The results were again alright.
Nothing happened for a year – well not a seizure, but I did have little movements of the eyes, and also of the head, but these little things have been happening to me for 3-4 years. I didn’t tell my mom (my doctor knows all this). I also had one-time movements of my left harm, I couldn’t stop it.
I did not have any real seizures until 3 weeks ago. I was also sleeping, but as I woke up I had a seizure, my friend was there and saw everything. I saw myself having the seizure…again until losing consciousness….and I woke up in the ambulance. I went to the ER. They put me on Dilantin. They sent me back home, but at 2am I had another seizure. With that one I didn’t even realize I was having a seizure, and I woke up in the ambulance. I spent the night in the ER.
So now I’m taking Dilantin, but not for too long, my doctor wants to switch medication. So a week ago I went to my doctor, and I saw a neurologist also, I told all of my story again, and they both agree I have epilepsy – EVEN if my EEG and my MIR are perfect, so that’s why I don’t believe I have epilepsy.
But I do think (reading your writings) that maybe it has something to do with BPD. I haven’t spoken to anyone about me probably having BPD. I have another appointment with my doctor in 2 months…..so please, ANSWER me…..do you think it has something to do with BPD???? I hope my e-mail wasn’t TOO long, but I wanted you to have all the information.
Thank you in advance.
ANSWER:
You can have “regular” epilepsy with a normal MRI and EEG. The EEG is often normal until the seizure is active. The areas of “seizures” for the BPD are deep inside the brain, and do not show up on normal surface EEG’s. The BPD has specific criteria, and the epilepsy medication Tegretol has been shown to have a significant effect. Dilantin rarely works for the BPD. Depakote sometimes works – particularly for the anger. I think you should discuss the BPD with your physician, and show him some of the studies on medication use that are available in the BPD section of this website.
