SSEP Test & getting a bit desperate

[twist330]

Has any one had this done?

Having seen my neurologist today he has  decided that I should have this done. He also wants me to see a neuropsychologist as although he keeps stressing that he believes my Symptoms are organic he feels in it may be be due to a chemical imbalance?

My latest MRI has come back the same as the one before with just a solitary T2 Hyperintense focus in the right parietal subcortical white matter which is non specific. He believes this is of no importance to the symptoms I am having. Everything else has come back normal. He is refering me for a second opinion. But will see me in 2 to 3 months. Not sure what to do the thought of stay like this for another 2 months is virtually unbearable.

[twist330]

Thank you for this really useful information I am so pleased I have found this forum it is keeping me sane. I'm quite happy to do this test and see the Neuropychologist. Anything that will help resolve the situation. My Neuro is also setting up a second opinion which is good.

At the appointment yesterday he re-did some of the original neuro exam and pointed out that my reflexes were abnormally brisk (but this was on both sides) and was particularly concerned about one foot! I'm not quite sure what it did to concern him. He also asked me to do the walking heel to toe like on a tightrope 3 months ago this was not a problem yesterday I couldn't do it at all.

I had thought my neuro had ruled out MS as my LP was negative so was auditory evoked potentail and EEG and only a single "thing" in the white matter on the MRI. Now I think he may be reconsidering having order the SSEP, I wondered what others thought?

Quix thank you for your explination of the neuropychological test and also to pastordan for his journal entry.

So I will just have to wait for the next round of appointments, and see what happens.

[Mike_Shuswap]

My experience with the SSEP was about the same as PastorDan's as far as it being the one I'd least likely want to repeat. In my case they shocked my wrists till my thumb twitched, then my ankles till my toe twitched.

A bit painful, but the pain/discomfort stops the second the machine stops. No big deal really.

I also had the VEP and the auditory test (forget what it's called) at the same time. The whole works took about an hour and a half.

In my case all 3 were negative.

I haven't had any neurosychological testing done but if this was something my trusted neuro wanted me to do I wouldn't hesitate.

Good luck!

Mike    'possible MS'

[PastorDan]

Momma Bear, that's perhaps the best and most succinct description I've seen about neuropsych testing, FYI.  In my case, they said I wasn't nuts, not even measurably depressed (thanks to drugs), but said that there are some specific functional deficits traceable to some ongoing disease process in the white matter of the brain, consistent with my MRI findings.  Otherwise, I function pretty well for such an old so-and-so.

[Quixotic1]

Pastor Dan - I want to say thank you for the help you have given here.  By journaling your experience with this testing you are able to give real support and experience in something specific.  It is this kind of recording and sharing of experiences that is soo helpful to others when they come to it.

Twist - The SSEP (SomatoSensory Evoked Potential) is a test that can show whether there is a delay in a sensory signal before it reaches the area of the brain that gets and interprets it.  It will show an area of demyelination in the part of the sensory nerve that travels through the spinal cord -> brainstem -> brain.  When the SSEP is positive it gives evidence pointing toward MS, in the same way that a positive result in the VEP and the LP can point toward MS.

The Neuropsych Eval is NOT for the purpose of determining if a person's problems are all due to anxiety, somaticization, or depression, though it certainly can be useful for this.  The Neuropsychologist has a battery of tests that can show "where" a person's higher brain functions are messed up.  It looks for problems in different kinds of analysis - spatial, auditory, visual - a person's ability to follow directs, to multitask and to stay on task (measuring any amount of attention-deficit).  Then there are tests for different cognitive functions, judgement, hand-eye coordination, and many more.  So a referral for this kind of testing does NOT mean your doctor doesn't believe you.  It means they want more info as to exactly how and what is going wrong.  Along the way it can also discern primary anxiety from the anxiety caused by a person's symptoms.  

So you can see that both kinds of testing can be very useful.

Quix

[PastorDan]

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/80671?personal_page_id=398099

[PastorDan]

I had an SSEP in the same sitting as the VEP.  They told me my VEP was normal and that the SSEP was unable to be interpreted because of a technical error.  Very disappointed in that lab.  Actually, in most of that hospital system, which is sad, because Lulu's had great success with the same place.  Go figure.

The test itself was somewhat interesting, and it's probably the test I'd least like to repeat, unless, as I suspect, it might actually show some abnormality.  Basically, they applied voltage to my ankles, & cranked it up until my big toe twitched, then held it at that level while they tried to measure my brain's response.  Somewhat painful, yes, but I've experienced much, much worse.

My neuropsych evaluation was helpful.  The doctor who oversaw it and signed the report met with me for a half an hour, maybe a bit more, a month or so afterward.  That experience was very affirming for me.

Might've journaled both of these experiences; I'll check.

[twopack]

I didn't have a SEEP but it isn't very invasive (as I understand it) and can give you more information to fill in the pieces of your diagnostic puzzle.  Same thing with the neuropsychologist

I apologize that I'm not recalling your symptoms or how long you've been searching for answers.  I do recognize the frustration and even despair that results from the drawn out process.  Many of us have been in this place of praying for symptoms to disappear yet needing them to display full bloom for doctors to witness.  Is your present doctor at least willing to offer you some symptom relieving treatment?

I have found through the years that what I have become able to bear and then learn to live with in a reasonably happy manner is far greater than I would have thought possible.  I wish that wasn't the best I had to offer today.  But you have possibilities for good health still ahead of you and I wish you well.

Mary