EEG results

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kate705

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Hi everyone,

I do realise that I cannot ask anyone here for medical advice but I do not really understand my results. I have an appointment in 2 months time so I was hoping some kind people could offer any knowledge on my letter?

While the ambulatory EEG was taking place I did not have any seizures but did have epileptic potential over both temporal regions. My interpretation is that the conditions were right for a seizure seen in those regions but it did not happen at the time of monitoring. Does this result make it more likely that I have epilepsy?

Thanks in anticipation
 
Hi Kate --

Some kinds of epilepsy produce very characteristic brainwave patterns even when you're not having actual seizures. These patterns are different from what would appear if you were actually having a seizure during the EEG, but they are so definitive that neurologists can make an epilepsy diagnosis based on them. (This was the case with me). If that's what was showing up on your EEG, then an epilepsy diagnosis is pretty likely.
 
Thank you so much for your response, I guess its hard to know as a patient trying to make sense of just one part of a picture. A diagnosis is dependant on a lot of factors. Keep smiling! :-)
 
Welcome to CWE

Hi Kate,

Welcome to CWE. It is a warm and friendly place with many knowledgeable members.

Have you had seizures? What was the reason for an EEG? If you have had seizures, do you really have to wait two months for a diagnosis? That doesn't make sense. If you do have epilepsy, you want to begin treatment.

I apologize for my confusion. Just trying to help.

Tom
 
Hi there, yes have had seizures back in October - complex partial and simple - classical migraine and autoimmune disease. All slightly vague but maybe now a bit clearer as mud lol.
 
kate705 said:
Thank you so much for your response, I guess its hard to know as a patient trying to make sense of just one part of a picture. A diagnosis is dependant on a lot of factors. Keep smiling! :-)
Click to expand...

How is A Diagnosis depend on a lot of factors? Like what kind of factors? The reason I'm asking is becuase, I went to the Nuroligist today and gave him all the papers that my psych wanted me to give him, he also wanted me to sign a paper saying its ok for him to get the lab, reports, brain scan reports, and the diagnositic report from the hospital I was at. I didn't want to sign the paper beause I wanted him to do his own work and not base his diagnosis of of that report.
All the papeete I handed him today, they were, seizure tracking log, witness report from both my husband and a few friends, a hospital report from when I was a baby saying stuff about what brain injuires I had, and a letter from my psych. Can he just make a diagnosis Fromm thoes paper? I hope so

One more thing all the test (brain scans,EEG,ekgs,lab, etc) came back normal except one were it said that there was brain waves that looked like suspicious epileptic activity. They did on their one and it said that a longer one should be done. I did the longer one and I think it came back normal to.
 
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Maybe history and the whole person as in lots of factors but I agree with you it is hard to know what to think. Its not easy I think to do this quickly, I wish you well. Why are you reluctant to sign the paper? If they work together it might help you get a better diagnosis? Best of luck.
 
DadofTwins said:
If you have had seizures, do you really have to wait two months for a diagnosis? That doesn't make sense. If you do have epilepsy, you want to begin treatment.
Click to expand...
I had seizures and received treatment for them for 6 years before I got an official diagnosis. :)

In my own experience, and observations, treatment is normally begun before a diagnosis is settled upon. Because all the scan and such are time consuming, and not 100% reliable, they will typically begin treatment for seizures before a diagnosis is established via medication.
 
Maybe as I don't have regular seizures and they were not tonic clonic type? only guessing here. I am not keen to take meds at the moment as I am coping ok and not sure of side effects etc. I am surprised that you have the experience of treatment before diagnosis I didn't realise this.
 
I have just started on meds 3 days ago after my second total loss of consciousness seizure in 6 months. All scans and eegs normal. The dr feels that as epilepsy is the most likely cause I should start on meds now. I see my neuro next week. Will be interesting to see what his opinion is. All kinds of seizures are mentioned here....I have no idea what type mine are???
 
I have two kinds. The first kind is when I get a really intense feeling of du Ja vu which lasts for about 5 seconds but stops me in my tracks and leaves me tired and confused. The other type is when I totally lose consciouseness and fall to the ground, first time I hit my head quite badly. Before I lose consciouseness my thoughts race or I get the de Ja vu for about 2 seconds. While unconscious my limbs have been seen to stiffen and maybe twitch but nothing dramatic. I am awake again within about 15 seconds but I never remember coming round.
 
Hi Rachel, the first kind sound like partial ones. I don't know why my Neurologist hasn't got me on any meds then unless its because the activity is caused by my Immune system. I read somewhere that anti-epileptic meds do not work if its caused by antibodies and people take immunosuppressants instead. I think I am still being investigated to see which type I have but it does seem strange that I can't start on anything. Its been nearly a year since I got ill.
 
Rachel -- Yes, it sounds like you are having Simple Partial seizures (more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_partial_seizure). When you have the deja vu followed by a loss of consciousness, that means the partial seizures have "generalized" -- i.e., spread to the rest of the brain. The kind of seizure where you lose consciousness and your muscles tense and then spasm is called a "tonic-clonic" or grand mal seizure.

Kate -- If you've only had one seizure, or your seizures don't involve loss of consciousness, the neurologists will sometimes hold off on prescribing meds. If the seizures interfere with your daily life, or present a safety issue, or are progressing in frequency or duration, these would be reasons to consider medication or other treatment.
 
I have had more than one seizure, I was having 8-10 partials a day late last year. I had 2 auditory hallucinations yesterday. Can anyone please interpret my results at all?
I am told this is not psychiatric but neurological but now that the forum members have said that I should have started on meds it has made me wonder. I am more interested in the EEG and hallucinations to be honest and if anyone has an opinion I would be grateful.
 
DadofTwins said:
If you have had seizures, do you really have to wait two months for a diagnosis? That doesn't make sense. If you do have epilepsy, you want to begin treatment.

Tom
Click to expand...

Just wanted to chime in and say that unfortunately, yes we do need to wait this long in the UK. NHS might be free but they also have an enormous caseload and long waiting times. I think i waited 6 months for an eeg and a further 3 months for the results and i waited 5 months for an MRI and another 4 months for the results.

Price we pay for free healthcare!
 
Kate - Yeah they definitely sound like seizures. Hopefully you don't have to wait too long for the results. I think i started on medication pretty much as soon as i went to see the neurologist. Perhaps you should try and contact him and say that you're worried why no proventative action has been taken?
 
The good old NHS has worked for me! They have called me in next week!! :-D
Thanks everyone
 
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