Need help interpreting my EEG results, any help?

[girlwithadog]

I'm going to a pregnancy specialist clinic today so I stopped in at the neurologist and got my records to bring with me, my neurologist never explained my results, only said the EEG confirmed epilepsy. I have the results here and was wondering if anyone could explain what it means... It says:
During quiet wakefulness, medium amplitude fairly present 12 Hz activity is symmetrically distributed over the posterior head regions and attenuates with eye opening. Low amplitude beta activity is more prominent over the anterior head regions. Drowsiness is indicated by an attenuation of the posterior dominant rhythm and the appearance of vertex waves over the central head regions while slow, rolling eye movement artifacts appear. Sleep spindles are not seen. During wakefulness and drowsiness, bifrontal non-lateralising sharp waves appear in brief runs, lasting for 1-2 seconds at a time. Hyperventilation and photic stimulation do not elicit a change in the tracing.
Then on the next page it says "patient presents for f/u complex partial epilepsy with secondary generalization based on the results of her EEG.

Does anyone know what any of this means? I'm a bit lost reading this.

 

[N Sperlo]

Technically, that would need to be picked apart piece by piece. The technical words make it easy for the doctors.

It looks like the specifics are mentioned from the frequency to the visible physical observations.

Really no way to break it down without a specialist.

 

[Nakamova]

The best person to ask for a translation is the neurologist, but here's a rough take:

The key phrase is "during wakefulness and drowsiness, bifrontal non-lateralising sharp waves appear in brief runs, lasting for 1-2 seconds at a time." Brief sharp waves are an interictal (between seizure) pattern that's very characteristic of epilepsy.

The hyperventilation part of the test didn't cause any abnormal brainwaves, which isn't unusual -- it's more likely to be a trigger for absence seizures. The strobe light didn't trigger abnormal brainwaves either, so you don't appear to be particularly photosensitive.

 

[girlwithadog]

Thank you both, nakamova that's what I was thinking it said but I don't know much about this.

Do you know what complex partial epilepsy with secondary generalization is?

My medical "team" has decided that I need the medication during the pregnancy and I start on keppra in two weeks when I'm into my second trimester :/

 

[Nakamova]

Complex partial epilepsy means you get complex partial seizures (seizures where you are conscious but your awareness is impaired -- a bit like sleepwalking. Symptoms can include automatic behaviors like picking with your hands or smacking your lips. A person having a complex partial seizure might not be able to speak coherently, or understand what's being said to them. More about them here: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutepilepsy/seizures/partialseizures/complexpartial/

"Secondary generalization" means that the seizure activity can then "generalize" -- i.e., spread to other parts of the brain, leading to full loss of conscious as in a tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizure. I think it's this aspect that may have the doctors worried, since losing consciousness while pregnant can be risky, esp. if you fall or convulse.

 

[JaneP]

Have fun trying to get someone to put it in English for you! :/
My experience has been that every neurologist I've ever met has had this "in & out, next patient" attitude! Why don't specialists seem to have or want to take time to develop good relationships with the people that depend on them? It never used to be this way 20 or 30 or 40 years ago. If they're THAT strapped for time then it doesn't take a genius to figure out they need to reduce their appointments to provide quality care. Regular Dr.'s do this why don't specialists? I have processing problems and find it hard to follow people many times so I always bring someone along with me. Even THEY said that they didn't care for the "professional" behavior of the last 2 neurologists I've seen -so I know it ain't ME.

 

[N Sperlo]

As Nakamova said, The "generalize" term means the activity can spread. My complex-partials would be generalized often before the start could even be found. This was ten years before I ever had a tonic clonic seizure, so don't let the thought of them scare you.

 

[girlwithadog]

Thank you all for the help, I'm so confused about all of this still and I'm sure some of you (like Nakamova) are tired of me. I've been on and off this forum since March posting about my concerns confusion and all.
I'm more concerned that it will get worse over time. And even more so that this baby growing in my belly will have to suffer because of it. I meet with my neurologist on Monday and hopefully he will sit with me and actually discuss this, last time though he just kept shrugging all my questions off. You'd think paying $300 an hour would get you at least some answers.

 

[KatieCoy83]

Keppra worked out ok during my pregnancy. They just did blood draws every 2 weeks and a few more ultrasounds (more pictures! ). My DD turned out just fine. I did have a few post partum seizure's because I lost blood and it took my Med levels low quickly.

My neuro told me breast feeding help wean baby off any meds that may be in her system.