EEG results

[angie2312]

I have just had an ambulatory EEG done on my very long road to diagnosis . Whilst I was hooked up to all these wires I had a seizure .... Or a supposed seizure as my neurologist says . I now have a month wait to find out the results . I was quite confident until I read an Article that says some seizures are not picked up by EEG . This has left me feeling a little deflated as I have been going through this process for nearly a year and all I want is to feel better . Just wondered if anyone could give me some advice please

[BuckeyeFan]

It is true that EEGs do not always pick up abnormalities. I have had some come back normal, but obviously have still had seizures. Hopefully the seizure you experienced will show up.

If you are not getting cooperation from your neurologist, don't be afraid to switch. Several people here have needed to go through 2-4 Neuros before they found out what was going on.

I had to do one of those ambulatory ones several years ago. That sucked because he wanted me to go to work with it.

[Loopy Lou]

Buckeye - You had to go to work with it on?

Angie - I suppose i was "fortunate" (ha!) to have something show up on my first EEG, but i have heard from some people on this site that they have either never had a seizure show up on EEG, or that they have not very often.

I suppose the only thing you can do is wait and see.

[Nakamova]

Hi Angie --

Sometimes the seizures originate too deep in the brain to be picked up on a standard EEG. But a good neurologist will be able to analyze all the data -- including the clinical facts (i.e. your actual experience of the seizures) -- and make a diagnosis.

[Rae1889]

You know what i've learned from this site when it comes to an EEG? Not to worry.

If it doesnt show up, it doesnt show up. If it does, it does. The only thing that matters is that your healthy otherwise, and the steps that are taken afterwards are in the best interest for you. YOU know you have seizures, and that's what matters. YOU know you need to better your quality of life, and thats what matters. There will be another EEG, another MRI etc etc for the rest of your life, and lots of tests and there are plenty of neurologists that you can change to if anything doesnt fly with you.

Just take it one step at a time and ignore the ignorant. It's not worth your precious time.

So chin up butter cup! all the best to you!

[Nakamova]

Well said Rae.

[Crystal11]

I had an ambulatory EEG while in college (had to wear it to classes!) and it showed spike and waves and a seizure or two. All of my other EEGs showed pretty normal but alittle slow compared to average brain activity/voltage. I had several EEGs show driving responce with photostimulation portion of the test. I wasn't expecting to find anything out on th ambulatory EEG but we did which was a good feeling (Even though abnormal tests isn't really good.) It was nice to have additional tests backup what my neurologist was diagnosing me with. I've had seizures since ave 6 but even at age 6- that EEG didn't show actual seizure activity but showed problems in waveforms speed and driving response.

Having an EEG that records more than one day will most likly show abnormalities or possible seizures.
I have tachycardia and I would go into the office to have a 20sec EKG and nothing would show up even if I had tachycardia all night long. I went to ER and the machines were constantly going off because every three beats my heart would stop for one beat. Anyways I had normal looking in-office EKGs and so dr ordered a AEKG where I had to wear it for two days and sure enough it picked up a decent amount of abormal activity. It picked up tachycardia and my heart rate going up to 136bpm while resting.
So even though most of the office EEGs and EKGs were normal the ambulatory tests definitely showed things which helped.

Take care,
Crystal

[Rae1889]

Yeah, I had irregular heart beats during my seizures at the ER, but they said my heart was fine. I'll sstill get it during complex partials and it sucks. leaves you feeling breathless and sore in the chest. My printouts i got to keep had my heart beating at 178bpm, 151bpm and 162 bpm while sleeping. probably a nocturnal seizure, but i was resting so, who knows.

[Meetz1064]

I have those blasted ambulatory EEGs, my neurologist likes to hook me up for anywhere from 3 to 5 days at a time. They FINALLY started to find the seizures on the EEGs about 4 years ago. A first. The EEGs had been totally clean for more than 40 years.

I've worn them to work, and school (college)....oh, what fun. NOT!!

[Loopy Lou]

Lol... my work wouldn't let me in if i had an ambulatory. Theres a client i support who will grab and pull your hair as soon as she gets the opportunity - the last thing i'd need would be some nice shiny wires and extra handholds

[Meetz1064]

Wally World wouldn't let me in, either. Said I'd scare the customers away, even if I wore a hat, and hid the wires under my shirt. Go figure.

The schools didn't care--they would even accommodate me and make sure that my sub jobs were easier than normal....