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Neurology (Expert Forum)
eeg results
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eeg results
by heather, Feb 18, 2001 12:00AM
Dear Doctors,
I am 24 year old female. I have been seeing a counselor for depression and memory problems. To make a long story short, he diagnosed me with ADD without hyperactivity. I have also been seeing a psychiatrist and am on 250 mg of effexor. The effexor helped with deppression and I'm doing 100% better in that area, but it didn't help the bad memory and poor organizaation. I became worried that the medicine could cause seizures which I have a history of. When I was 2 years old I had three grand mal seizures. So, I mentioned this to my psychiatrist and he ordered an eeg. The eeg was sleep deprived. I didn't sleep and that night. The last time I had slept was 6am the morning before. That's when I woke up. The last time I had eaten was 8pm that night, that was also the last time I had caffeine. I took 75 mg of effexor at 12am that night but didn't take my morning dose of 150 mg. Since I got the results I have been worried and reading everything I can find about eeg results. I do have a neurologist appointment on March 5 but I'd appreciate any info that you can give me about these results. Also, I'm a little nervous about the appointment. I'm supposed to have a full neurological evaluation. What will this involve do you think?
Anyway, these are the results,
This is a standard 16-channel digital eeg using international 10-20system for electrade placement.
Four modalities were used for this recording; two bipolars and two referentials.
Alertness and drowsiness is recorded intermittently throughout the recording.
Photic assimilation maneuver performed in the last minutes of the record revealed physiologic changes.
Eye movement, muscle electrede and ekg artifacts were identified with these appropriate changes on the recording.
The outstanding finding was seen in almost every epoch of the record with an intermittent left frontal temporal spike and slow discharge, slightly spurting to the contralateral side, almost on each even lasting 2 seconds. This activity was noted throughout the recording and in every montage.
Interpretation
Abnormal eeg due to the epileptic form activity mentioned above lowering the seiure threshold.
I asked the technician what happened(I felt that I was conscious the whole time, but just to make sure I asked) she said she didnt see anything. I do remember a muscle twitching every now and then. Nothing huge, minor twitches.
Thanks
Heather
I am 24 year old female. I have been seeing a counselor for depression and memory problems. To make a long story short, he diagnosed me with ADD without hyperactivity. I have also been seeing a psychiatrist and am on 250 mg of effexor. The effexor helped with deppression and I'm doing 100% better in that area, but it didn't help the bad memory and poor organizaation. I became worried that the medicine could cause seizures which I have a history of. When I was 2 years old I had three grand mal seizures. So, I mentioned this to my psychiatrist and he ordered an eeg. The eeg was sleep deprived. I didn't sleep and that night. The last time I had slept was 6am the morning before. That's when I woke up. The last time I had eaten was 8pm that night, that was also the last time I had caffeine. I took 75 mg of effexor at 12am that night but didn't take my morning dose of 150 mg. Since I got the results I have been worried and reading everything I can find about eeg results. I do have a neurologist appointment on March 5 but I'd appreciate any info that you can give me about these results. Also, I'm a little nervous about the appointment. I'm supposed to have a full neurological evaluation. What will this involve do you think?
Anyway, these are the results,
This is a standard 16-channel digital eeg using international 10-20system for electrade placement.
Four modalities were used for this recording; two bipolars and two referentials.
Alertness and drowsiness is recorded intermittently throughout the recording.
Photic assimilation maneuver performed in the last minutes of the record revealed physiologic changes.
Eye movement, muscle electrede and ekg artifacts were identified with these appropriate changes on the recording.
The outstanding finding was seen in almost every epoch of the record with an intermittent left frontal temporal spike and slow discharge, slightly spurting to the contralateral side, almost on each even lasting 2 seconds. This activity was noted throughout the recording and in every montage.
Interpretation
Abnormal eeg due to the epileptic form activity mentioned above lowering the seiure threshold.
I asked the technician what happened(I felt that I was conscious the whole time, but just to make sure I asked) she said she didnt see anything. I do remember a muscle twitching every now and then. Nothing huge, minor twitches.
Thanks
Heather
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Feb 18, 2001 12:00AM
Dear Heather:
I think that the EEG shows that you have epileptiform discharges in the left frontal/temporal area. Although you told me that you have had seizures at the age of 2 years, I will assume that since you have been seizure-free and not on seizure medications. Having epileptiform discharges without having frank seizures is not common but we do see it. Memory problems can arise from epileptiform discharges coming from the temporal lobe, especially if this is your dominant temporal lobe (left temporal lobe is usually dominant in right handed people). Since you are having symptoms, not necessarily seizures, it might help your symptoms alittle to be put on medication. But, one has to remember that medications have side effects. A trial of a medication might answer whether it will help with your memory. Let us know what your neurologist has to say.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
I think that the EEG shows that you have epileptiform discharges in the left frontal/temporal area. Although you told me that you have had seizures at the age of 2 years, I will assume that since you have been seizure-free and not on seizure medications. Having epileptiform discharges without having frank seizures is not common but we do see it. Memory problems can arise from epileptiform discharges coming from the temporal lobe, especially if this is your dominant temporal lobe (left temporal lobe is usually dominant in right handed people). Since you are having symptoms, not necessarily seizures, it might help your symptoms alittle to be put on medication. But, one has to remember that medications have side effects. A trial of a medication might answer whether it will help with your memory. Let us know what your neurologist has to say.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Thanks for answering my question so quickly. You're right I haven't had any seizures(that I know of) since the ones I had when I was two. I took mysoline until I was 5 or 6. The medicine was discontinued because I was seizure free.
I am right handed mostly. I write and eat with my right hand and most other major things but a few things I do naturally with my left hand like bat, golf, breath toward left when lap swimming. I can't do these things with my right hand.
The memory problems are frustrating and I have some social problems. It takes too long for me to say what I'm thinking, but not to the point where I cant function. I just have to work harder. I have read about side effects of seizure medicines and many of the side effect are the same as what I'm trying to cure.
Oh well we'll see
Heather
I posted a question on February 18 about my abourmal eeg results and what it could have to do with symptoms of ADD without hyperactivity and depression. I had no seizures that I know of since I was 2. I'm now a right handed 24 year old female. All thats in my previous post. Anyway, I went to see the neurologist on March 5. At that time I didn't have the actual eeg waves because the hospital said it was on computer and difficult to print out. The neurologist basically didn't beleive the eeg report(it was read by a different hospital neurologist). He scheduled me for another eeg; so that visit was basically a waste of time and worry. In the mean time I was able to get the actual waves from the hospital and sent them to my neurologist. I had an appointment yesterday and he told me that there is no doubt that seizure activity is shown on the eeg. He showed me where it was and I was able to easily see the difference in wave pattern. However, he thought that medicine would not signifigantly make my symptoms better(to offset the side effects). He did not restrict my driving, thank goodness because, he said that it would not be fair to me(There is no evidence that I've had seizures). I almost didnt go because of that fear. He said that he would send a letter to my doctors about low seizure threshold. I'm trying to get more information about people who have abnormal eeg without seizures. Have you personally ever seen it? Do you think that it could be causing my ADD or is that different altogether?
Hi, my name is Rob (22) and I feel for you!!! I went through similiar situation two years ago. To make a long story short I was in college - studying and wrking a lot - and I had a grandmal seizure (BIG ONE). I had never had one before nor did I ever have symptoms. But as it turns out, after all the tests (CT, MRI, EEG) I have a low seizure threshold. So yeah.. I saw the EEG too and I saw the pattern change in the waves. -- I was like this damn this test is BS... Frankly I thought Neurology was a load of Horse poop. But that was my down time.. I was in denial and I didn't want to admit to myself that I was invinsible. I was unable to drive for 6 months and I was so mad I hated my life.. they put me on meds (depakote) and I felt changes in my lifestyle.. I was doppey and stuff but what could I do.. I ended up having another one.. STUDYING FOR A CALCULUS III exam my soph. year and that locked me up as an epileptic.
Time has passed and I drive now.. I take meds and I 'think' I am ok. No more seisures cuz I take better care of my body and thats that.
What I was trying to get at.. after telling you a breif description of my story... was - I had an abnormal EEG and I felt the same exact way.. I was scared, mad, upset, frightened.. all rolled into one.
But its ok-- just take care of yourself emotionally and physically, get plenty of sleep and don't do stress.. and you should be fine.. (mind you I am an Engineer not a Doctor)
Life goes on and so what if you have to take meds.
There are great tradgeties in the world ... RIGHT???
Cheers
ROB
aka. Pharoah72