I've just finished a 3-day ambulatory eeg, and happened across this site as I was trying to figure out how to get the blasted glue softened up and extricated from my hair [2 applications of baby oil, 2 shampoos and 4 hours later--no luck yet!]
My story: Dec. 2009 I began seeing a neurologist due to prolonged (5 months), unexplained vertigo. My general dr. referred me to ear specialist who referred me to neurologist. I had among other tests an MRI, eeg, and sleep study. Neurologist concluded that the dizziness was a migraine symptom. I had 1 migraine with aura a month for about 40 years, and treated myself with OTC meds. The dizziness was a new wrinkle. Neurologist prescribed Frova to abort migraines when they occurred. In Oct. 2010 migraines increased drastically in frequency, obviously in response to stress and lack of sleep (up until age 58 stress and insomnia didn't phase me). I began taking Topamax (preventive) for migraine, working up to 75 mg daily.
Feb. 12, 2011 I was awakened in the night by a strange, scary episode. Large bright lights flashed in my head, I was unable to speak words (I was able to make noise), and my lower body moved rather like a mermaid swimming (I was unable to control this). It was surreal, and I wondered if it was a seizure or stroke or ? When it was over I could speak and regained control of my body. I called my pharmacist (could this have been another Topamax side-effect?) and neurologist. He ordered an MRI (normal for someone my age with migraines) and eeg which showed "focal slowing in the bilateral temporal regions". When this was reviewed with me by the nurse-practitioner she noted that the eeg I had in 2009 had the same impression, but the doctor did not think this was pertinent at that time and did not follow-up (I'm not sure why). I did not know what this meant--focal slowing..., but now that I've had this scary episode the dr. is taking note of it and ordered the ambulatory eeg as a follow-up to see if the focal slowing is more pronounced at night. I know very little about seizures, epilepsy, and the tests I am having. I try to do some research before I see the dr. because if I don't have questions prepared and ask them fast he is gone. The dr. initially believes the scary nocturnal episode was a migraine with new bells and whistles and has increased my Topamax to 50 mg a.m., 50 mg p.m. If there is anybody else like me out there, please advise. Thanks for listening.
My story: Dec. 2009 I began seeing a neurologist due to prolonged (5 months), unexplained vertigo. My general dr. referred me to ear specialist who referred me to neurologist. I had among other tests an MRI, eeg, and sleep study. Neurologist concluded that the dizziness was a migraine symptom. I had 1 migraine with aura a month for about 40 years, and treated myself with OTC meds. The dizziness was a new wrinkle. Neurologist prescribed Frova to abort migraines when they occurred. In Oct. 2010 migraines increased drastically in frequency, obviously in response to stress and lack of sleep (up until age 58 stress and insomnia didn't phase me). I began taking Topamax (preventive) for migraine, working up to 75 mg daily.
Feb. 12, 2011 I was awakened in the night by a strange, scary episode. Large bright lights flashed in my head, I was unable to speak words (I was able to make noise), and my lower body moved rather like a mermaid swimming (I was unable to control this). It was surreal, and I wondered if it was a seizure or stroke or ? When it was over I could speak and regained control of my body. I called my pharmacist (could this have been another Topamax side-effect?) and neurologist. He ordered an MRI (normal for someone my age with migraines) and eeg which showed "focal slowing in the bilateral temporal regions". When this was reviewed with me by the nurse-practitioner she noted that the eeg I had in 2009 had the same impression, but the doctor did not think this was pertinent at that time and did not follow-up (I'm not sure why). I did not know what this meant--focal slowing..., but now that I've had this scary episode the dr. is taking note of it and ordered the ambulatory eeg as a follow-up to see if the focal slowing is more pronounced at night. I know very little about seizures, epilepsy, and the tests I am having. I try to do some research before I see the dr. because if I don't have questions prepared and ask them fast he is gone. The dr. initially believes the scary nocturnal episode was a migraine with new bells and whistles and has increased my Topamax to 50 mg a.m., 50 mg p.m. If there is anybody else like me out there, please advise. Thanks for listening.