March 25, 2011

Can you help us identify this seizure type?

Can you please help us identify this seizure type?

UPDATE: We have confirmation that it's myoclonic cluster. Thanks, Mike & Sarah!

This is a small chunk of one of Bertrand's weird looping seizures. It's kind of subtle. You have to watch Bertrand's face, eyes, and arm. I get so wrapped up in trying to snap him out of these loops, catch his attention or comfort him that I always forget to take video. Daddy is much more on the ball! However, given the poor quality of this video, we'll try to take another, and I am sure Bertrand will give us the opportunity.

These seizures typically happen early morning, late evening or in the middle of the night, so we think they are related to sleep. Bertrand's breathing pattern changes and his eyes, head and one arm are involved. To me, he seems partially conscious but unresponsive. The episodes last up to 10 minutes and end with a large, full body myoclonic jerk, then some mouthing/teeth grinding and then immediately some sleep.

We've caught him doing this about once every other day. (But, then again, I don't stay up all night watching him, so we don't know frequency for certain.) My theory is that this could be a form of a myoclonic cluster or some kind of partial seizure. If we can determine which kind of seizure this is, then we may be able to treat them more quickly and effectively.

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2 comments :

  1. Still looks like myoclonus to me. Marissa has them sometimes, and we got them on EEG ages ago.

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  2. I agree, myoclonus. Cole started doing similar ones and his lips move just like bertrands and he does it for 10-15min.& is "not there" when he has them. It started after the toppamax. I asked one of the drs at Cleveland and he said it's just a different myoclonus Emerging.

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