brand new to brain talk

[downandout]

I ran into your forum posts by mistake and have become very interested in all everyone has to say. I am going through a difficult time right now, just as many of you are, but have been unable to find anyone experiencing what is happening to my husband currently.
My husband has been rushed to the ER 3 times in the last month and a half. he goes into a convulsive seizure. There is no history of seizures only a history of Hypertension. He has been worked up for cardiac problems to no avail. His last episode left him with a great loss in his short-term memory. He was placed on dilantin for the seizures and we are currently seeing a neurologist @ Rush hospital. We are now being told he needs to see a stroke specialist and not a seizure specialist. They are thinking it is small vessel disease to the posterior circulation that is causing hydro in 3 of the 4 ventricles and possible convulsive seizures or syncope. He is regaining some of his short term memory, but he is slurring badly and experiencing dizziness and graying out of his vision, his large muscles twitch and he is very unsteady on his feet, almost like he is extremely clumsy. He is very emotional, one minute crying, the next minute laughing. He recognizes himself slurring and he knows how he is being perceived by others. He has a very intense job and worries if he can continue.
Has anyone ever heard of this problem, we were told there is really no help for this.

[dahlek]

try to understand the possibilities of what's going on.

While I'm not a doc, I've spent a lot of time trying to understand things about neuro issues. It boils down to the following:
1-hereditary .. aspects that predespose a person to certain problems
2-trauma.. accidents or injuries to the brain and other body parts
3-toxins .. environment or ingested/inhaled things that damage you
4-vascular.. heart or circulation aspects that ultimately damage nerves
and 5-ideopathic...haven't a clue as to the causes-only the results.

It sounds as if your neuro is working hard to exclude the vascular/cardiac aspect. There are many tests, most non-invasive that can zero in on this if this is the problem.
From somethings I've read, there are times when docs can't tell if there is a vascular problem unless they are THERE to see it and test it. Minutes later all appears to be normal except for some damage, if any.
Should the vascular/cardio possibilities be excluded, then worry about other possible neuro issues. As you can gather from these boards, there are LOTS of possible things neuro. Keep focused on the diagnosing until you find what's causing the problems. Let us all know what's happened, please. -j

[LIZARD]

They are thinking it is small vessel disease to the posterior circulation that is causing hydro in 3 of the 4 ventricles and possible convulsive seizures or syncope. He is regaining some of his short term memory, but he is slurring badly and experiencing dizziness and graying out of his vision, his large muscles twitch and he is very unsteady on his feet, almost like he is extremely clumsy. He is very emotional, one minute crying, the next minute laughing. He recognizes himself slurring and he knows how he is being perceived by others. He has a very intense job and worries if he can continue.
Has anyone ever heard of this problem, we were told there is really no help for this.

If you mean "hydrocephalus," he needs a neurosurgeon ASAP. A neurologist cannot treat hydro, as it often requires surgery, and whether he needs surgery or not, only the nsg can tell you. Please write the Hydrocephalus Association at info@hydroassoc.org for a referral to a nsg, and be sure to include all the details you provided here.


Good luck!

LIZARD :)

[Discododi]

Downandout,
Your husband has had an MRI correct? That would be the first place to start. Next, a neurosurgeon would be the doctor to give conclusive steps to take to help the problem he has at present.

In 2000, I presented to my neurosurgeon with extreme headaches, and hydrocephalous caused by a colloid cyst resting in the third ventricle. I was told to go to the ICU immediately upon leaving my neurosurgeon's office to await emergency surgery.

Long story short, I am doing very well today thanks to a skilled neurosurgeon, and loving family.

Please contact your local Brain Injury Association for additional services that might be available to you and your husband during this time. Check to see if there is a rehab facility with a brain injury program available in your area. Hopefully, you will be matched with a Nurse Case Manager that can help with orchestrating care, rehab, outpatient services, counceling, etc. for your husband. (Phone number for your BIA should be in your phone book in white pages)((every state has one))

Speech problems associated with brain injury (Tramatic Brain Injury or Aquired Brain Injury) are common. Speech Therapists are trained to help with these issues.

Please feel free to scroll down to the Hydrocephalous forum, and the Epilepsy forum here at BrainTalk. You will gain alot of insight from persons experincing these conditions, as well as from family members.

I hope to see you on the Hydro forum, Dodi