Is A Twitching Sensation In The Head A Sign Of Epilepsy?

Posted on Thu, 20 Apr 2017

Question: Hi. As I have asked before, my "ticks" or "seizures" are still here, and they are worse when I try to go to sleep. I get a "twitch" (just for a second) where I sudden turn my head to the side.
I sometimes get it also when just sitting calm and I do feel they originate in the head AND in the "chest or upper stomach" area.
I have seen a neurologist, and he says he doesnt think it's epilepsy, but have ordered an EEG. Should I not also take bloodtests? Because I read online about people having similar symptoms and turned out it was b12 deficiancy or / and some problems with stomach, and silent reflux.
I probably have silent reflux.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
In my opinion it is not silent reflux.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for asking.
I have carefully gone through your clinical details and also to your other questions.

1.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be slow to develop, causing symptoms to appear gradually and intensify over time. It can also come on relatively quickly.
Symptoms may include:
strange sensations, numbness, or tingling in the hands, legs, or feet
difficulty walking (staggering, balance problems)
anemia
a swollen, inflamed tongue
difficulty thinking and reasoning (cognitive difficulties), or memory loss
paranoia or hallucinations
weakness
fatigue

Your "ticks" is not a typical symptom of this condition.Anyway ,a blood test is needed to confirm or exclude this diagnosis.

2.About the second option(the silent reflux)i can say that Silent reflux is a confusing term used to describe laryngeal pharyngeal reflux. It is a condition in which stomach acid causes throat discomfort. The term can be confusing because the condition is not exactly silent. It is marked by hoarseness, frequent throat clearing, and coughing.

If you do not have these symptoms,the cause of your problem is not silent reflux.

3.Your neurologist has excluded the neurologic basis,so, in my opinion your symptom can be attributed to anxiety and this anxiety can be due to a possible thyroid disease.

For this reason,as endocrinologist, i suggest to do the thyroid function tests(TSH, free T3 and freeT4)because (as i said)a thyroid problem can cause anxiety.
(if you do these tests let me know your results,and if you have any thyroid disorder,i will be happy to help for the treatement and the follow-up.)

Hope this information if helpful.
If you have other questions,feel free to ask.
Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (25 minutes later)

Thank you very much for quick reply. I do have b12 deficiancy, and all the symptoms you listed exept the tongue swollen.

I will ask for thyroid tests.

I do have a change in my voice, and feeling that my vocal chords are swollen, I can not reach high notes and sometimes feel like beeing strangled. The doc says he thinks its silent reflux. I get a weird feeling in throat when I turn my head side to side, like its "something the vocalchords needs to go over a bump".

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If you have the symptoms,than you should do the diagnostic tests

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

If you have the symptoms of B12 deficiency and of silent reflux,then these diagnosis should be taken in consideration.
A blood test can confirm the diagnosis of vit b12 deficency and oral tablets replacement or Vit b12 supplements will help to resolve this problem.

About the silent reflux possibility,you should talk with a gastroenterologist because you need treatment and follow up.

Let me know the results of your thyroid tests.

Hope i have clarified your doubts.
Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad