AU Clinic helps patients with non-epileptic seizures

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) – PNES, or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, seems like one factor, however in some circumstances is definitely one thing else.

For years, Hope Watson did not absolutely perceive what was incorrect along with her. Visiting physician after physician and receiving prognosis after prognosis, attempting to pinpoint precisely what was incorrect. 

“It actually took quite a bit from me,” Hope stated. 

Medical doctors initially advised Hope and her dad and mom it might be despair, bipolar dysfunction, anxiousness or ADHD.

“It began when she was 7, what we now know is she had epilepsy, however that was misdiagnosed till she was 18,” stated Pam Watson, Hope’s mother. 

For a short time, she says medical doctors thought that they had issues underneath management. 

“In 2021 every thing modified, she began going from very intermittent seizures to six, 8 or 10 a day,” Pam recalled. 

She says at the moment, Hope was placed on a number of medicines for epilepsy, and nothing was altering. Because of the well being points, Hope even misplaced the power to work, drive and stay a standard life. 

“I imply it was onerous,” Hope stated. 

Ultimately, she and her household have been referred to a clinic at Augusta College. After some consultations and exams, medical doctors thought it could be one thing known as PNES, or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

“It’s a sort of sickness that we’d take into account extra psychological than bodily, whereby an individual has signs that seem like seizures,” he defined. 

Dr. Kridel was one of many suppliers that helped decide Hope’s prognosis after her referral. A part of the remedy plan included a multiday EEG and monitoring at AU’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. It’s one in every of two monitoring facilities within the state of Georgia.

“What we have been doing is we have been attempting to document one in every of her typical occasions, off medicines, to make it possible for she had seizures,” she stated. 

After reviewing the monitoring movies, her care staff was in a position to affirm hope had each PNES and epileptic seizures, a prognosis that’s tough for a lot of physicians to make.

Whereas it may be tough to diagnose, medical doctors say PNES may be handled by means of behavioral remedy.

“It takes about 12 periods, we often meet with sufferers each different week however that may rely. So over the course of a number of months, we’re engaged on a wide range of matters to assist perceive and in the end study to deal with useful seizures,” Dr. Kridel defined. 

Due to the assistance from each physicians Hope now has methods to deal with her points. 

“Principally he stated that you recognize, I can’t assist it, however it’s underneath my management. I can take management over it even when I can’t assist it,” Hope stated. 

Because of the remedy, Hope is again to residing her regular life. She says she is driving once more and likewise has a job caring for others. 

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