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Neurology (Expert Forum)
eeg changes ? post viral encephalitis
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eeg changes ? post viral encephalitis
by WACKYNURSE, Dec 23, 2003 12:00AM
I started not feeling right in feb. 03' . funny weak feeling in r.leg but leg not weak and fog in head,trouble concentrating and dizzY, not spinning dizzy but just felt like i was always moving. and sudden onset of severe panic attacks (never had)and i kept saying "i feel like im gonna die" after about a week i was very sick my whole body felt like worse flu ever but no temp or headache EVER just pressure in head,nausea and no appetite. 2 weeks of this lost 13LB and a hosp admiss. it CONT. very bad for about six weeks. then very gradually got a little better. all labs normal and i do mean all they ran every thing inc (CRP AND ANA, TUMOR MARK. HEAVY METALS AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. mri clean of head neck and chest CT also clean. echo ok, but eeg showed excessive theta wave when awake. although I was never told this til recently. was disch. and told dehyd. from viral illness.(assumed),ok..all through summer i was still sick, head in a fog, vision hazy, never felt well,FLU LIKE SX,and sleep was terrible, felt like my brain would not rest. still bouts of dizzy and nausea, perceived weakness in arms and legs and enough anxiety to kill someone. still having bouts of that not right feeling that comes over me like an impending doom but it often only last for 15 sec or so. it wakes me up in a panic sometimes. current now 9 m later mri ok eeg reads THIS IS ABNORMAL EEG DUE TO PRESENCE OF EXCESSIVE THETA WAVES WHILE AWAKE STATE. NEURO SAY IS POST ENCEPHALITIS AND WILL RECOV.100% HOW DOES HE KNOW THIS AND HOW LONG? got dx of encep. by neuro in phila. this sick from slow eeg?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Dec 24, 2003 12:00AM
Unfortunately without more of a description of where the theta activity is I can not interpret it. If the theta activity was in the temporal regions on the left and right, and you are over the age of 55, it may be normal. If the theta activity is only present during parts of the recording it may indicate a mild dysfunction in the region where the activity is located. The EEG changes you have described can be seen in encephalitis, but also in many other conditions as well. I wish I could be more precise, but I would need more information about the EEG. I hope this helps in explaining your question. Good luck.
I went for years being sleep deprived and had anxiety attacks as well. Please, please please see your doctor and have him/her begin a treatment plan for these things. You've got to start getting some regular sleep and bring down your anxiety so your body can start to heal. Lack of sleep over long periods of time can bring on a plethora of physiological as well as mental problems including psychosis, feeling like you're going postal.
It sounds like your body and brain are screaming for rest. You were and probably are still having side effects and need a time out. You may have to ask family and/or friends to pitch in and help while you recover. This was no small thing that happened in your life. It probably scared you on somed level and that's being played out through not sleeping and these anxiety attacks, no matter how long they last.
I'm just concerned because you ARE young and active. It's not giving up to take a break and allow others to assist you until you get stronger.
If you have an excellent Nuerologist, keep in communication with him and keep monitoring those symptoms. I'm sure the Nuerologists on this board will have some good ideas as well.
Have you heard of Myalgic Encephalomylitis? You may have been tested for it, as you said you were tested for all kinds of autoimmune diseases, but your description of the symptoms rang a bell.
I hope you can find some answers, some relief from what you are going through and some peace of mind.
Many good wishes for your continued recovery and good health. Happy and Healthy New Year as well.