New to this EEG thing. - Epilepsy Message Board

sally0828 · 04-21-2008, 03:48 PM

Hi all. I'm new here and scared. I had a pretty bad car wreck in January where I had a few facial injuries. I hit my head, but left the hospital the same day in pretty good condition and nothing really abnormal going on. I had my first siezure about a month later, and I'm still doing testing with a neurologist now to figure out what the heck is wrong with me. I have frequent nose bleeds and headaches on the left side my head. My CAT scan, MRI, and first EEG have shown nothing abnormal. I have a 72-hour EEG scheduled for this Friday. During the last few weeks, I've experience mental "blips" I can not control. I would say it's like sneezing...completely involuntary and only lasts half a second. They get more frequent as the day goes on. You can't even tell by looking at me. It's literally all in my head. The sensation is one of just blanking out very very briefly.
Does anyone have any advice or comfort for me? I'm only 26, and I really want for my neurologist to be able to find out what's wrong.

krista.baby · 04-21-2008, 05:51 PM

Hi Sallie,
I used to work with people who were just like yourself who had brain injuries from car accidents or other instances. Most of the patients went through a rehabilitation treatment to help them get back to being able to do things on their own again. The 72 hour EEG doesn't always have to be that long, if your seizures are constant enough to where they can get the amount of data they need, a lot of times they will send you home within the time they have enough information. I also had this done before I had brain surgery, they just put the electrodes on your head and then a cap to hold them on securly so you can move around your room, then you will be asked to push a button if you feel a seizure coming on, that is how they mark the seizure on the recording.
I hope this helps you understand what to expect.
Take Care,
Krista

Travis from MN · 04-22-2008, 09:30 PM

Interesting that the MRI didn't show anything even with contrast (dye) added. I'll keep my hunches to myself rather than voice them out loud being the scans didn't show anything.

With boxing for example, the brain can have movement within the skull cavity and the reason for headaches in sports persons that have had multiple blows to the head with poor protection is due to bruising on the outer portion of the brain when it jostles around in the skull.

What symptoms show up in a person depend on the regions that are bruised.

Keep in mind your case **may not** be caused by this.

Famous Boxer Muhammad Ali's debilitating conditions are due to all the hits on the head.

--Travis

By The Way, age has no bearing. Episodes can start at 5 months or 80 years.

If you are going to be IN hospital for this, bring something to do, books, crafts. It gets dull in there quickly.

sally0828 · 04-23-2008, 08:50 AM

I'd rather hear your hunches. That's why I'm here!!!

Travis from MN · 04-24-2008, 09:43 PM

Should add this too, for removal of the glue, if a good washing of the hair doesn't work fingernail polish remover does WONDERS on the glue. Dab it on, better yet, have a friend do it, with cotton swabs where the glue was applied, and wash again.

the primary problem with the glue it smells like the craft car glue. You wish it was better ventilated when they applied it.

If you have thick hair it is harder to get out.

--Travis