Posted by Sorcerer (38.193.87.203) on August 07, 1999 at 18:09:24:
In Reply to: Great point! posted by David CHalfant on August 07, 1999 at 14:32:04:
Yes, David...I remember your reference to your head
injury. And I supported a suggestion on this Board to
augment the SURVEY by investigating brain insult/injury histories
more thoroughly.
In addition to the more "spectacular" epilepsies, there
are "uncinate seizures," where the patient experiences
the perception of bizarre odors. Psychomotor spells, where
patient's behavior may become...unusual. Petit mal, and the
only outward sign may be complete mental detachment.
Many epilepsies present with "aurae." An unusual smell, the
perception of music, dis-coordination (my term,) and a
plethora of less often reported phenomenae.
A variety of seizures may be induced during/by sleep. Or by
hyperventilation. Or photic stimulation. Or by ingestion or
injection of drugs, alcohol or allergens.
Do CHers experience "aurae?" (What is a shadow?)
Do CHers have sleep (REM,) light (photic, TV, Monitor screen,)
alcohol or allergic triggers?
Do CHers have documentable, brainstem anatomic irregularities? (Maybe!)
Do CHers display overt neurologic symptoms during a headache? What else
would you call a "blown pupil" on one side, or paralysis of the muscles that
that elevate the lid on the same side (oculomotor nerve.)
Do CHers return to "normalcy" following an attack, consistent with
no neurologic deficit or persistent lab-xray-physical abnormality?
No, David! I'm NOT trying to make a case for "cluster epilepsy." I'm
merely speculating that CH research may be skipping-over a more basic
diagnostic tool in favor of hi-tech (and hi-expense) showboat technology.
Virtually everything that goes-on in the brain is electrochemical
in nature, save the filtering and synthesis of cerebrospinal fluid.
Jumping PAST clinical and evoked response EEG, with preference to computerized
brain tomography, is a mistake that NO encephalographer should make!
Surely there are those on this Board who have undergone EEG. But was the
EEG carried out during the aura, and prodromal headache?????
....d