Question about EEG

[munchy]

Hey,

I had my first EEG today, well, a video EEG, wasn't expecting that! Anyway, It was fine until we got the the flashing light part. I've never noticed having any photosensitivity and I didn't have a seizure, but it was extremely unpleasant. It was worse while I had my eyes closed, I had a sort of diamondy, coloured pattern on my eyelids, that was changing, it was very psychadelic really! But because of the flashing also very unpleasant. It felt like my eyeballs were shaking around, I could feel them rolling all over the place. When we got to the last and fastest flashing part the wierd pattern seemed to be coming closer to me, and I was worried about what would happen if it came to close, like I'd lose control and have a seizure!

When it was done the lady doing the EEG didn't say anything about having a seizure, nor did she ask if I'd had one, or anything unpleasant. I assume she would have told me if anything unusual had happened, as she warned me that if I had a seizure during the test then the year of losing my driving license would re-start today.

Was that a normal reaction to the light? I assume it must have been or she'd have told me right? I think if it was normal they could have warned me that it would be so unpleasant! What happens to everyone else? I'd be really interested to know.

Thanks, Munchy xxx

[sixpack]

I can't respond directly here as to whether you had a seizure or didn't but I do know that techs, while they may know if you had a seizure, aren't supposed tell you how the test looked or anything like that. I do know that some techs will tell sometimes but technically they are supposed to let the radiologist or neurologist or cardio (depending on the test) read the test and let them tell you all about it.

I agree the tech should have told you about the lights and anything else that would happen to you during the EEG. Some medical personnel are very good about explaining what will happen and how it may make you feel. Then there are some out there that couldn't give a rat's a** and just do the testing without considering the people who are taking the test.

My daughter has seizures and hasn't had that type of EEG before, but I've heard that many people find the flashing lights disturbing. I know I probably would.

[brain]

Munchy!

I cannot tolerate the photo-activating lights very well
during EEG's, they cause similar effect as you experience
and sometimes I get these kaleidoscopic effects, very
similar to a nocturnal aura that I get and I have to look
away from them, they cause me to tremble. I actually
whimper when they want to go photic!

There are special types of photic lights that they use,
and not just strobe lights. The problem is, they do not
usually trigger anything really that unusual on my EEG,
maybe a spike or some little gunk, nothing out of the
ordinary - that's not the issue, the issue is - just wait
until later on, that's when you'll see the problem arise!

It takes me a long time to get that out of my head, it's
like it's embedded in my head and it would take hours for
it to go away and visually - it becomes very hard, reading,
watching television, or whatever, it still is "stuck" in my head.

I loathe it. And many times they skip and Neurologists
often request that the photic lights not to be activated.

But that may just be me and not applying to anyone else.

[munchy]

I know just what you mean about the kaleidoscope effect Brain, Thats what I had, trouble was the test left me very tired for some reason and I couldn't think right! Now I've had some sleep I'm feeling a bit better, but I can still picture this pattern, made up of hundreds of tiny diamond shapes of all different colours. It would have been very pretty to watch if the flashing wasn't freaking me out so much!

I'm sure I'll hear if anything unusual happened. But I really think they should warn people just how horrible it is going to be!

Munchy xx

[drarvindr]

Yeah . it really sucks. The techs usually do not proffer opinions on the EEG , not because they're not qualified but because they think "'s not my job".To eliminate the kaleidoscope , try looking at a bright bulb or the sun with your eyes closed. Everything should turn red and you should get rid of the after images. Not exactly medical advice but it helps me.

[ziggidypoo]

My EEG last week showed LOTS of "Beta Waves" but no seizing. He said it showed I either was very sleepy or on a beta drug. (Klonapin??) I can sleep through an MRI. Not a head cold though.

Sometimes I wonder if when the techs tell you info if it is truth or not.

All I know is I am sleeping a LOT with upped meds.

If EEG is norm - how can a neurologist correctly diagnose you??

I've only had ONE EEG that showed seizures and I was being tested for narcolepsy - no narcolepsy but epilepsy.

SHEEEEESH!!

[Molly97]

I have had 4 or 5 five EEG's in the last 12 years.
The first one showed activity of some sort on the left side of my brain. Then, the next one showed activity of some sort on the right side of my brain. I was concerned that it seemed to be moving around so I asked my neurologist about it. He said that obviously one of the readings had been done incorrectly. That the person writing the report wrote "right" when he meant "left." That's crazy!!!

During my last EEG, done about 5 years ago, I really tripped over the light portion of it. My then neurologist said that the EEG was inconclusive because "everybody is triggered by light." I no longer have a neurologist in my life.

I know for a fact that I am very triggered by light patterns. I too have had images of patterns engraved visually for long periods of time. Not good.

[BuckeyeFan]

I have had several EEGs with the strobe light and never had a seizure, but the waves registered a reaction. Generally, I do not have any problems with strobes, though some video games/screens will make me feel funny (differant than an aura).

I have also had EEGs that did not register anything and the docs told me it was because I was on the meds. My thought then was why did you do the test?

[brain]

Yeah . it really sucks. The techs usually do not proffer opinions on the EEG , not because they're not qualified but because they think "'s not my job".To eliminate the kaleidoscope , try looking at a bright bulb or the sun with your eyes closed. Everything should turn red and you should get rid of the after images. Not exactly medical advice but it helps me.

I've been advised of this, and it does not work for me, however,
to me it becomes "orangey-reddish", then I get stuck with this
"orangey-reddish" stuck in my head ... Screw that option!
Then years later - I was advised NOT to do that, and it wasn't
recommended. (Heck, I didn't do that anymore, sufficient enough
that thing was a torture, why torture myself even further?)

though some video games/screens will make me feel funny (differant than an aura).

I also have problems with video games, certain ones,
my gosh! I am not a true photic, they had labeled me
as "semi-photic" ... or "semi-photo sensitivity".