Video EEG

[Beanogirl]

My neurologist said she wants me to get a video EEG done. The next opening is in August. I'm not allowed to drive until they figure out what is going on. They think I am having simple partial seizures. My regular EEG was normal. What is the video EEG? How does it work? My episodes (or seizures) seem to happen in clusters towards the end of the month. My dr. said to get in as soon as they can get me in. I'm just worried if they take me in the beginning of the month I won't have an episode until the end of the month. Any feedback would be great!


Tracy

 

[Loopy Lou]

Does the time these episodes happen around your menstrual cycle at all? A video EEG is just basically an inpatient EEG where you are being recorded so there is a visual of what happens if you do have a seizure. Plus it has a slight advantage in that its done over a longer period of time than a normal hour long EEG so theoretically there's more chance of catching a seizure in that time.

 

[nana1]

When i had mine, i was in the hospital for 12 days. They try to see at least two or more while you there.

 

[RobinN]

My daughter was only allowed 24 hrs on hers. I believe they were only attempting to appease me, since the test was not done near the time of the month that I had suggested might be her trigger.
It was an easy test, and a selection of videos and reading material is recommended.

 

[momof3boys]

I had my first video eeg done in march of this year. I recommend taking some reading material, they have tv and my room had a dvd player in it. The first couple of days were ok... it wasnt til the second day that I started having seizures. I took my lap top with me to surf the internet and stay in touch with friends. you're there to have seizures, so they can try to pin point where the seizures are coming from. The only thing I didnt like about it was that I felt "trapped" by the third day. If you need to use the restroom, a nurse has to be in the room at all times. You're pretty much stuck in a bed the whole time youre there.

 

[Endless]

Hi, Tracy,

For a video EEG they'll wire you up with electrodes like they did for a regular EEG, and then they'll confine you to a nice padded bed with a camera aimed at you. You have to call the nurse to help you use the bathroom, or do most anything. It helps to have a family member there to help out, too. Towards the end of my stay my doc let my mother help me to the loo, instead of having to call a nurse.

They'll do everything they can to provoke a seizure. They'll stop your meds, sleep deprive you, make you breathe funny, flash lights in your face. If you have any seizure triggers now is the time to trot them out. I wish I had smuggled in a triple martini. I'm sure it would have done it for me. Do you have any that you can control, like caffeine, extreme emotions, alcohol, a food or chemical, etc.? Pack it just in case.

Also take your favorite pillow, lots of books and music, a laptop if you have one, games, and a list of your friends' phone numbers. Also about a half cup or so of olive oil, to help get the glue out of your hair. You rub it in and work the glue globs inbetween your fingers. It takes about a half hour, but it works better than most methods.

Hang in there. It's not all that bad. Nothing hurts. It's just mega boring.

 

[Beanogirl]

Does the nurse go in the bathroom with you? That won't be fun! Especially since I am pregnant and pee every 15 min!

Nothing seems to trigger my episodes except the time of the month. I never had one by itself. They always happen in clusters around the same time. Hopefully they will catch one while I am there. I need answers!

I'm going to talk to my Ob. They mentioned sleep depriving me to bring one on. I don't want to stress the baby out so I need to make sure it is safe.

Thank you for all the info. I'm dreading it b/c I've never been away from my kids or husband that long & I'm sure I will be bored to death! But I'm looking forward to getting some answers.

 

[momof3boys]

Does the nurse go in the bathroom with you? That won't be fun! Especially since I am pregnant and pee every 15 min!

Nothing seems to trigger my episodes except the time of the month. I never had one by itself. They always happen in clusters around the same time. Hopefully they will catch one while I am there. I need answers!

I'm going to talk to my Ob. They mentioned sleep depriving me to bring one on. I don't want to stress the baby out so I need to make sure it is safe.

Thank you for all the info. I'm dreading it b/c I've never been away from my kids or husband that long & I'm sure I will be bored to death! But I'm looking forward to getting some answers.

When I had my VEEG, anytime you had to get out of the bed, the nurse had to be in the room with you. They would unhook you from all the wires, and some nurses would just stand in front of the door with it half way open. They need to be there incase you have a seizure. Now i had one male nurse who was determined to be IN the bathroom while i went pee! I said HELL NO! I convinsed them to let my mom come in with me, Finally he said ok., But still stood out by the door.

Now when I was there, I had to take my glucophage for my PCOS, I would take that before my evening meal. The first two days, the nurses would come in with the medication. I started having really bad stomach problems, and couldnt figure out why. I had cramping like I had to go #2 and it was the worst to feel when I couldnt get out of bed on my own to use the restroom.
Turned out, they were giving me the generic form of glucophage, (metformin) and it was giving me really bad side effects. When I was put on the glucophage years ago, my dr tried the generic and it did the same thing. Gave me bad problems. I even told the nurses when I handed over my prescription bottles that I had to take the brand names of all medications due to side effects. That was the only BAD thing that happened while I was there.