Taly~

I can't answer your question about mm and epilepsy.
But I  can, and do, send love and support to Ethan and your entire family.
Thanks for posting.

Linda (LA)

Hi Taly,

Im soooo glad to hear Ethan is doing well for the most part, after his surgery. My prayers were answered.

As far as Epilepsy and MM, many are confused by the difference between the terms "seizure" and "epilepsy." A seizure is an alteration of motor function due to an abnormal electrical discharge in the brain. It is a specific event. With Epilepsy, traditionally it’s defined as a disorder characterized by having at least two unprovoked seizures. The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury or a family tendency, but most of the time the cause is unknown. The word "epilepsy" does not indicate anything about the cause of the person's seizures, what type they are, or how severe they are. (ref:  http://www.epilepsy.com/101/ep101_epilepsy )

Did you notice that it said, with Epilepsy it’s characterized by "unprovoked" seizures? I take that to mean that the seizure was not caused by some known medical condition. So my point is, seizures are rather common with MMD. So you have a reason/medical condition for his seizure, so epilepsy isn’t necessarily a true diagnoses. MM patients seem to be more at risk for seizures, even after surgery. I don’t know if it’s because they have more tissue in the brain that can discharge abnormal electrical charges or what, but many MM patients are on anti-seizure medication.

I don’t know Ethan’s specifics and I’m not a doctor, I’m simply explaining my view when doctors diagnose MM patients with epilepsy.

I’d also like to say that I hear many people say their child with MM has only had a specific number of seizures or that they never even had a seizure and so on, but I would like to note that seizures may be very hard to notice (especially with a child) because there are so many different types of seizures and they come in so many different forms. They may simply consist of staring spells that can easily go unnoticed, or an emotional change like crying or fear or a change in sensation or vision and many times this can all happen in your sleep, and a seizure may only last a few seconds, so in some cases, a seizure is not always noticeable.



Mar

Tally,
I am glad to hear Ethan is doing well now. 
Becky

Just to clear up & answer a few questions. Ethan just turned 2. He has had 2 major stokes (what i consider major i guess). He was left partially paralized on the left side with the first one. Luckly Physical therapy got 95% strength & function back. Stroke #2 affected his Right side & for a few months his speech. He had a Dural Inversion on both sides (2 seperate surgeries). Eith each stroke he twitched on the affected side & they drs told us that the strokes were what were causeing the seizures. But this time he had a "vacant" seizure, Complex partial seizure is what the Neurologist called it. At first i was sure he had had a TIA, but after a the MRI showed now change since January (other than the obvious from surgery) the Neurologist said it had to be a seizure that was basically cause by the scar tissue from the strokes. He is taking Triliptal (sp?) & as far as we know he hasnt had other "episodes" besides this one. I asked the Dr if it was epliepsy & he said for all intensive purposes, that yes it was. I wasnt sure if he was just putting a label on it to try & give us a better explanation.

We follow up with the Nuerologist again on July 2.

Thanks for all the information & input....
Taly