Pregnancy Blackouts & Severe Dizziness: Seeking Medical Guidance

Question
First of all this is my 3rd pregnancy. The same thing started happening toward the end of my last pregnancy. When consulting my doctor in the clinic, my problem was dismissed. I don't find that blacking out while pregnant is easy to dismiss. Give you an example by what happened just last night. I was standing at the cabinet preparing a meal for my kids, I got what was like a lightening bolt shooting in my left eye. From there I got dizzy, then weak, then horribly nauseated. I had to sit down immediately cause I fell I was going to hit the floor. Upon sitting down, it doesn't go away. The lightening bolt (for lack of better way of saying it) stays in my eye, fading within a few minutes. When all is said and done I'm so weak I can barely move, feel the immediate need to sleep. My last doctor tested me for Pre-eclampsia only to come out negative. After that they just dismissed the problem. Well now, I'm only 3 months and its happening already and way more often than the last time. I have hardly no appetite, I'm super tired all the time. I'm taking iron supplements and my prenatal vitamins, I read somewhere it can be iron deficiency, but my iron levels are fine. So, my question, what are some other possibilities to look into. Something isn't right for sure. I have 2 other children that need me on top of this one, I really need some help. Thank you very much for your time, and a reply even if you can't help, would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Dear Dawn

From your history, it does not seem to be either hypertension/hypotension or anemia. Although no diagnosis or treatment can be 100% sure without thorough examination, I had many cases with similar complaints and I was able to diagnose them as gestational epilepsy. This type of epilepsy is minor and usually have no sequelae after the end of pregnancy.

Gestational epilepsy occurs only during pregnancy; hence the name gestational, give similar manifestations to your description. An attack of gestational epilepsy may occur in the form of auditory or visual hallucination and is characteristically followed by fatigue and desire to sleep.

I advise an electro-encephalogram (EEK)on brain. This is painless investigations and is similar to the ECG of the heart.

I do hope that my answer is helpful. Please keep me informed of your progress with your doctor.

Good Luck