[salukigirl]

So I got my biopsy back and my thyroid nodule is benign which means no surgery which is awesome. I also got my EEG back which was 'abnormal'. The nurse said that there were huge spikes in brain waves from my frontal lobe. She said it's not a definite dx of epilepsy but points to it. I have an appt. with my neurologist next thursday so hopefully he will have more info for me.

[Amazonmom]

Good luck at the neuro appt!

[shezbut]

((salukigirl))

It's best that radiographers don't give the patient any information about the EEG, because it only gives our minds new things to think about and imagine.

I hope that everything goes well with your neurologist next Thursday and that he/she fully explains the results of the testing to you. And if you do have epilepsy, welcome to the E community!

[salukigirl]

The radiographers didn't say anything to me. The nurse was reading notes that my family doctor had put on my chart. I even asked her if she would during the test and she said she wasn't allowed to. The nurse said that, since my family doctor doesn't specialize in it, I should go to my neurologist to have him go more in depth. And the nurse didn't fully understand the notes either, she was just reading me what he had told her.

When I first called the neurologist to have my records transferred and set up an appt. she said that she would call me back because he originally wanted to have a heart monitor put on me for 30 days. Then when she called me back she said he told her to cancel the heart monitor and just have me come in as soon as possible. That tells me that he must attribute my symptoms to this brain activity or else he wouldn't have canceled the other tests. Did all that crap just make sense? lol sometimes I confuse myself thinking about this.

[shezbut]

It's hard not to let our minds wander after hearing a little of this, knowing some of that, pretty natural.

With all of the tests you've had (and others planned), I am sure you're anxious to find answers too. It makes sense that they've seen some abnormal activity on the EEG. Lots of different things can cause seizures and not lead to epilepsy, that it is why I warn not to think about it too much. You will get answers. It's just too bad that you have to wait until next week to get them!

Out of curiosity, have they told you not to drive? That would be a warning that you may be predisposed to having recurrent seizure activity (=Epilepsy).

[salukigirl]

He hasn't flat out told me not to drive but he has asked if it has happened while I was driving and told me to have someone pick me up and drive me home.

[Perna]

"Focal EEG abnormalities may be categorized as epileptiform or nonepileptiform. Epileptiform transients such as spikes and sharp waves are the interictal marker of a patient with epilepsy and are the EEG signature of a seizure focus." From: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1139025-overview

No clue; good luck at the neuro, glad your thyroid nodule doesn't need operating on.

[salukigirl]

Thanks Perna. That's exactly what she said was "spikes and sharp curves". I'm going to read over that article and see if I can get a little more informed so at least I know what he's talking about on Thursday haha

[Perna]

Yeah, I was reading it but it kept losing me as it was so technical and I've never had an EEG. That was all I got from it, you have your epileptic and your non-epileptic :-)

[salukigirl]

So I just left the neuro office and I guess the nurse told me wrong. He said that I had 2 sharp waves originating from the temporal lobe, not frontal. He said that my symptoms don't necessarily sound like actual seizures.

This is the pattern: feeling lightheaded, dizzy. Then either lose vision completely or almost completely. I kind of sway for a second, typically forget what I was doing/thinking/talking about. Then they all kind of recede. This whole process takes less than a minute. Afterwards and during I either have a headache, ringing in my ears or tremors.

My B12 was almost low (216 when the low is 211) so he told me to take a B12 supplement. Other than that my workup was fine. I don't get how, when seizures are so varied and there are over 40 types, that my symptoms don't match up with ANY of them?

[Perna]

Can you take B12 supplements? I thought it's usually low because one is either vegetarian or one's body doesn't process oral B12 well and need shots (why old people get B12 shots).

That's too bad even the neuro is hedging his bets so far.

[salukigirl]

I was a vegetarian for a long time. And things like antacids, birth control, smoking.....can cause lower absorption of B12. He didn't say that I couldn't so when I get my script filled tomorrow I'll get a bottle I guess.

[Perna]

There's always calves liver I made myself learn to eat liver when I was out at restaurants in my 20's (I was big on the B vitamins for mental/physical health) and got so I liked it okay, not enough to make at home, like fish now for all its benefits.

Here, I love this site: http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=107

Looks like shrimp cocktail works too, yogurt and eggs.

[shezbut]

Hi salukigirl,

Your description sounds a bit similar to the complex partial seizure. However, mine typically begin with a "scary deja vu". Within seconds, I look down in terror ~ to hopefully avoid others seeing the sz occur. I'm partly conscious for a minute or two, having no awareness or memory of what occurred later. I then, come to. The room is very dark, and sound is muffled hard. Those senses slowly come back to me, with crackles and a "ssshhhh" sound in my ears. At the same time, my body is momentarily exhausted. I must sit down, but I'm likely to fall without some help from another person.

Simple partial seizures can be similar, but the deja vu isn't scary. I also don't lose awareness or memory of the events.

Perhaps a visit with an epileptologist (a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy) would be appropriate for you. It isn't uncommon for EEG's to fail at picking up abnormal brain activity. Epileptologists are much more aware of subtle seizure activity and symptoms than neurologists.

Something to think about anyway. Very best wishes to you!