NoN Photosensitive Test But Rapid picture trigger?

[JRuner]

I tested negative for photosensitivity during video EEG. But keeping a diary for triggers have noticed fast forwarding a DVR can cause migraines and Shaking together or separate. Is this normal?

John

[chaosdemon]

Hi

I tested negative with the flashing light part of the eeg but saying that, if I'm near a flashing yellow, blue, or orange light I'm away in complex partial land. If these colours are flashing on a tv programme tho I have a drop attack, so go figure as I sure can't. Christmas sucks as alot of people have the outdoor decorations that are now using the blue led's and then of course they flash grrr, walking down the street ends up like an episode of Total Wipeout

I'm severely photophobic so any trips outside however short have to be with my trusty sunglasses, and asda walmart or any place with those nasty bright lights cause simple and complex partials without my sunglasses on. I can spot a flickering light even if its minor, and my friends have to really concentrate to see the flickering, so yet again go figure lol

[chaosdemon]

What I guess I'm trying to say is it depends on the frequency / refresh rate and colour of what your looking at, which wasn't included in the photosensitive part of the test.

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

Ok guys. It's not you...it's probably the EEG itself. EEGs are not the be all and end all of testing. I know a guy who had FIVE EEGs before he was properly diagnosed!

Perhaps it's time to explore other testing options. Take a look at Beyond EEGs…Diagnostic Tools for Epilepsy Beyond EEGs…Diagnostic Tools for Epilepsy

Hope this helps!

[JRuner]

Thank Phylis, I now realize it may just be the fact I only had one video EEG or even Docs writing me off because of my Mental illness (PTSD and Major Depression) I have average intelligence slight brain damage and still managed to get A's and graduate with an associates Degree as a Pharmacy Technician. Yet Mental Illness means dumb or crazy to many docs! Either way at least I am on Klonopin now for anxiety and it may help whether these or non-epileptic or epileptic seizures. I do hope that when I see the Epileptologist I get some more definitive answers.

John

[KelVarQ]

I had 3 EEG and about 4 MRI and nothing ever came up and I had a doctor ask me, "are you really having seizures" as I sat in his office with cracked ribs from a tonic clonic. Needless to say I moved on and went to NYC (I'm only an hour away and should've went there to begin with) and 1st thing they said, "We're starting from scratch and we're not interested in any of your past files." 1st EEG and 1st MRI...BANG they found it all and I had the Temp Lobe Lobectomy 6 months later. They explained to me that they had the latest and greatest equipment and if something is there they would find it and sure enough they did. Meanwhile the hospital I went to prior is fairly well known here in the region I live in and yet it wasn't the best. I say make sure you're going to a hospital that's located in a fairly large city so you know they have the latest and greatest equipment. NOTE: Flashing lights never bothered me and now they do. I guess things can change over time

[JRuner]

KelVarQ,

Thanks for the reply. There are two major Hospitals in the City I go to. One has a horrible rating in many areas. The one I go to has very high national ratings including Neurology, yet one doctor wrote me off as "lying" to him from one Video EEG with regular brain waves! As we all know here, that doesn't mean much. My wife and son have both witnessed me have short tonic clonics in my sleep and awake looking beggingly at them to stop and been balling when I they were over. Good for you for finding a yourself a Doc who listens. I just hope the new doc will look at my child hood records the tell a lot about my juvenile seizures.

John

[Loopy Lou]

The flashing lights also didn't show anything on my eeg either, but certain colour lights affect me, and if i see a pattern with red and blue together on it, it tends to make me space out.

[Jan4you]

Well John, not to get into your personal history, but did you have head trauma ever?
And yes some docs, once they learn about mental illness, dismiss any other kinds of evals or diagnoses because they already have an diagnosis.

Its interesting to me that some EEGs never show abnormal results. Or..the upteenth EEG finallly does. Figure that ??

My husband had the temporal lobectomy and they laid the EEG electrodes on his BRAIN during the surgery.. to prove he had NO seizure activity ( the opposite of what they are usually looking for abnomral waves). Well he had no activity=successful surgery..right?
Well 6weeks later he had a tonic clonic..and many more after that. DISAPPOINTING for sure..still..he had yet another surgery cuz they were SURE they just needed to get another little piece out.. they did..it cost him his peripheral vision..and still..had seizures. They tried.. they really tried.

Its an educated guessing game... So hang in there.

Jan

[skillefer]

It would be nice if EEG's were that accurate for diagnosis....I've had epilepsy for over 30 years....and only once have I had an abnormal EEG.

[JRuner]

Jan, yes I was dropped from about three feet head first on to a cement floor at age three because my older sister was mad at me (having to baby sit) I have had at least four concussions from balance issues as a kid, one two years ago as an inattentive adult, my mother lost three babies between me and hemorrhaged and took all kinds of meds to keep me alive in utero and the nuero that treated me when I went status epilepticus at age three thought I may of had some kind of encephalopathy at birth.

There also used to be spot on the left side of my brain when I would get childhood cat scans but it went away by age 9 and I don't know which exact area it was in. I still have a hard time with math and puzzles and delay my speach when trying to express crtical thoughts. My grammar is horrible now and I used to love creative writing in highschool and be considered moderately talented by the teacher.

I could not speak or walk until age two and have had life long problems with pneumonia and bronchitis and ringing in my ears (eardrums ruptured at six months deaf until one and a half). Vertigo is something I developed about five years ago so I hate heights.

Hopefully that and my abuse history gives those of you with More life experience some good info to mull over.

Thanks,

John