Possible 72 hour hospital stay - Epilepsy Message Board

Kramer_DU · 04-07-2006, 12:34 PM

So I went to my neuro yesterday and things just don't seem to be working. I have partial complex seizures and they come in spurts. I'll go for a month without any then all of a sudden I'll get one, then I'll go for another week or so and get another. I've have had so many EEG's and MRI's and they all come back normal. I was on 1000mg Keppra in the morning and night, and 800mg Tegretol XR morning and 600mg night. Doc. raised my Keppra to 1500mg morning and 1000mg at night. He said that if I'm still having them when I go back, he wants to take me off of my meds and do a 72 hour hospital stay so they can monitor me. Ugh!!!!! I really don't want to do that. I went off my meds befor I went to college and by my sophmore year I was having around 15 a day, and I really don't want to go through that again!! I sure hope this new dose of Keppra helps. I'm just so sick of this ****, my meds always go up every time I see him and nothing is working. I just want to get rid of these dam things. I've been having them for the past 11 years.

Have any of you had to do this hospital stay? What was it like?

Travis from MN · 04-07-2006, 07:33 PM

The extended hospital stays ARE helpful in locating what region the seizures originate from, and if they expand to other regions or not. How fast your recovery is, how fast cognitive recovers compared to physical.

Usually they will have you wearing the helmet (the EEG) of wires with a long cord trailing behind you. If they intend to taper you off your meds you could be in for a 3-5 day stay so you can be brought back up on your meds without shocking the body when starting back on your full dose.

Sometimes they will keep you awake to enduce seizures. Food isn't the best usually, so if you have friends, co workers, or family, ask them to bring in REAL food. Thats usually allowed, but check. My friend loved the Gyros we brought for her.

Bring in any hobbies, books, or items to keep you busy. There isn't a heck of a lot to do when you are in there. and make sure to bring ENOUGH. Check if the items are allowed (some may not be allowed in; hospital security)

Your only privacy is the bathroom. They have cams and mics everywhere else. the PZM's do a great job of covering large areas (surface area mic's, like walls, or windows).

Is it worth it? Usually. They can remove you from ineffective meds and get you on one that better suits your needs.

--Travis

neurowreck · 04-07-2006, 08:24 PM

I almost had to do the videoEEG thing one time, and that part didn't make me nearly as nervous as being off the meds- even though I knew that they needed to be 'gone' to get the best test results....but it's still scary when going off meds before hasn't gone well. But, at least you'll have the best test you can get non-invasively..... that may help a lot with the right meds/dose....

kayakmom · 04-08-2006, 03:49 PM

My son has had a few VEEG stays.

Button down shirts are a must. Tkae things to keep you busy, it is boring and often they want you to stay in the bed. Sometimes they will let you use a laptop, other places do not since it can interfere with the tracing.

We brought crafts, books, movies to watch, word puzzles. (last time he brought his guitar too)....

It can really help if they see one of your seizures on EEG to see where exactly it is coming from and how to treat.

They can pull meds quickly as well since you are well observed to see if that brings one on if you do not have one there.

best wishes for answers and help!

tulipgirl80 · 04-13-2006, 07:25 PM

I did the video EEG last spring. I was very scared, too. It turned out not to be too big of a deal, but it really wasn't beneficial for me. They were unable to induce any seizures, so the docs didn't learn anything they didn't already know. I have heard, however, that other people have great success with these. My doc might now send me to Cleveland Clinic - ugh!! - talk about scary!