[Dysmas]

After being told at first it was very possible that i could have Bipolar, i have now been told i need to have an EEG.

I have been sent a letter to be told what in involves, but i don't really have any idea what they are looking for, and what i should expect.

Can anyone please help?

[Schatje]

Sorry I can't help with specifics about an EEG, but I wanted to wish you luck with the procedure. Did they tell you why you need to have an EEG exactly?

The closest I can come to something that might help take some of the mystery out of the procedure is to tell you a bit about an ECG. They are similar in the fact that they are used to check electrical activity. With an EEG it is the electrical activity in the brain and with an ECG it is the electrical activity in the heart. From what I've read they are alike in that they place electrodes on you in specific places that are hooked up to a machine that will measure the electrical activity. I wouldn't think there would be any pain. There was no pain with the ECG. That is if you don't count taking off the electrodes, which was a bit like ripping off a band-aid. My biggest fear is that it might be painful and it wasn't. I would think that small patches of hair would have to be removed to place the electrodes on you.

Again I wish I could be of more help. I know that the idea of having electrodes placed on you and having those electrodes plugged into a machine is very sci-fi and crazy sounding. Just wanted to let you know that if you need any support I'm here.

[Dysmas]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you have any idea what they will find from this exam? My doctor said that this was to ensure i didn't have epilepsy (which he said he doesn't think for a second i do), in order to start looking at what actually is wrong. The reason for this is that apparently with some form of epilepsy it can create emotional stress i presume, which i suppose isn't a completely different ball game from what i will most likely be told i have, without sounding presumtuous.

[Schatje]

I really don't know what exactly they will find other than if there is any abnormal electrical activity in your brain that would signify some problem like epilepsy. Let me know how it turns out. It is really strange how bipolar and epilepsy seem to be linked somehow. I take Lamictal which is made to treat epilepsy, but works on bipolar. Strange... Hey, if it is epilepsy you get to escape the stigma of mental illness right?

[Dysmas]

Haha, exactly.

[gravyyy]

I think I can help some of your anxiety surrounding the test. The EEG is meant to look at the electrical signals throughout your brain. It looks for signals that may be abnormal. Abnormal signals in the brain can mean you have seizures. There are all different kinds of seizures, from the whole body shaking to simply having episodes of staring. Some seizures can look like little twitches in one part of the body. The EEG itself is a painless procedure. They stick little electrodes to your head in a bunch of different places and you just sit there while it looks at your brain waves. It's very similar to having an EKG or ECG done except that they look at your heart instead of your brain. Hopefully everything goes well for you. Take care and I hope this helps a little bit.

[Dysmas]

It did, thanks for the reply.