A few questions

[Yorkie]

Hi everyone!!

Well after a long wait, I have received an appointment to see the Consultant on the 26th September!!

As I know very little about epilepsy, I wanted to ask a bit of advice.

The mri scan and the eeg I had before the sleep deprived eeg were negative. If the sleep deprived eeg results are also negative does this mean I don't have epilepsy?

I am still having the episodes as I have described in my introduction, in fact my partner tells me I had one last night. I don't know what I should be asking the Consultant as I say, I am clueless!

Although my Brother has been diagnosed with temperal lobe epilepsy and absence seizures, he doesn't like to talk about it, it is a part of his life he keeps locked away and I respect his wishes.

Thanks

Donna xx

[Bernard]

Hi Donna,

No, negative EEG tests just mean no epileptiform activity was measured/captured during the duration of the testing. The MRI merely offers a picture of the brain to look for abnormalities (scar tissue, tumor(s), shrunken/enlarged tissues, etc.).

Many people have negative tests, but have epileptic seizures.

From what I've seen on the UK epilepsy forums, if all your EEG testing is negative, I would expect the doc will suggest you with may have NEAD and refer you to a psych doc - especially if you did experience seizures during the EEGs but not abnormal brain wave activity was recorded. See here for more info: NES vs PNES

If you didn't experience any seizure activity during the EEGs, I'd say the testing was merely inconclusive.

~~~

... in fact my partner tells me I had one last night.

Nocturnal seizures could be an indication of sleep apnea. You'd need a sleep test to diagnose it (something to ask the doc about - especially if your partner says you snore and you experience the other symptoms).

[skillefer]

Actually, just because a test result is negative, it doesn't mean you don't have epilepsy. Just think of the EEG as a snapshot of your brain activity at that specific moment in a controlled environment.

[Meetz1064]

my EEGs were ALL negative, until about 3 years ago, and I've had E for 43 years now.

I'm glad that you finally have an appointment though........make sure you write down your list of questions, so you don't forget them. And don't be afraid to ASK them! Your doctor is NOT a god. They ARE human......