Seizure Patch

In thinking about the Powers of Suggestibility and how susceptible some are to it, I had a memory from the "Way Back".

When I was doing a Neurology Rotation at UVA, we would often get called down the the Emergency Room to evaluate a patient. Many times the ER Doc was looking for some advice as to whether a patient had just had a seizure or not. Often when Psychiatric issues were present or the Seizure was diagnosed as a Pseodoseizure and shipped home.

Pseudoseizures are a physical manifestation of an emotional disturbance. They resemble epileptic seizures, but, unlike the seizures caused by epilepsy, they are not caused by electrical disruptions in the brain. People experiencing pseudoseizures often experience loss of consciousness, grand mal-like twitching or jerking, and aggravated emotional states. These episodes may last for 20 minutes or more. Physicians believe that pseudoseizures are psychological defense mechanisms, and may be brought on by episodes of severe stress or emotional trauma. The seizures tend to occur when patients try to suppress the trauma, often taking the person suffering with them by surprise, as do epileptic seizures.The difference between epileptic seizures and pseudoseizures can be difficult to recognize, even for trained medical professionals. The physical appearances of epileptic seizures and pseudoseizures are virtually identical. Generally, a diagnosis of pseudoseizures is reached after a complete neurological work up is performed, thorough seizure history and description is obtained, and the results of an electroencephalogram (EEG) are analyzed to gauge differences in the brain's electrical activity from what would be expected of someone prone to epileptic seizures.One of the most common complications involved in the diagnosis and treatment of pseudoseizures is the misconception that people who suffer from the phenomena are hypochondriacs, hysterics, or "faking it." The name for the condition alone, "pseudoseizures," leads some people to think of the occurrences as medically suspect.Many patients who experience pseudoseizures are urged to seek counseling. This can be a good or bad therapeutic option, depending on the context. As pseudoseizures are a physical manifestation of intense emotional or psychological stress, or a physical response to a childhood trauma, counseling to work through the underlying cause of the pseudoseizures is certainly an important step toward resolving the concern.

Not to lose the point of this, There was this Smart -Ass, Neurology Resident, somewhat of a bright spot among the usual dull, neurology types. He is yelling "Dickerson, get your Ass over here. We got a Serious test to run."

As I went over to the veiled area, he finally shut up and there he was just watching a 26 year old woman, in hospital Garb. He winked at me and began a monologue about the fact that he was going to use a Prototype drug to induce a Seizure in the Patient, so we could reach a diagnosis.

I was thinking, "What the hell is he talking about" but the lady seemed to be into it so I just watched.

He had a a piece of Gauze, that was soaked in a brownish fluid and the gauze piece had tape on it. He spoke more to the woman in a lower tone about how he would attach the Medicine to her arm, it would be absorbed by the skin within 5 minutes and he Guaranteed it would cause this poor woman another seizure. To make me part of this, I got to tape the Gauze to the patients inside wrist.

At that, we sat back...and within 30 seconds the woman was in an apparent seizure except that it looked different than most Grand Mal seizures I had seen. She was thrusting her Pelvis, Arms were tighter and she was not incontinent. Also when he casually spoke to me , "The effects of the Seizure Patch" are almost gone. Give her 10 more seconds and check her vitals.

Sure as the world, within 10-15 seconds , the Patient woke, not in a confused , Post-ictal state like most who had seizures, but awake and oriented.

He took off the patch, told the woman he had found a cure, and promptly strode out through the curtains.

"Dickerson, you need this more than I do.....and he through me gauze patches, tape and a bottle of Betadine.......The Betadine Seizure Patch!