poorly after EEG Scan

[sospan]

I had my first ever EEG scan today. I thought it would be a forality I didn't realise I would rough afterwards.

Anyone else feel poorly

[iforget]

I did... I think its because the brain receives so much deliberate stimulation in this testing. Be gentle with yourself and take it easy.

[sospan in reply to iforget]

Thanks,

haven't felt this poorly for a long time, balance and speech has gone to bits

[RogerCMerriman in reply to iforget]

EEG is passive,that is all it is doing is listening for electrical signals.

[iforget in reply to RogerCMerriman]

The strobes are the deliberate stimulation I meant...couldn't think what they are called.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to iforget]

ah fair enough, though interestingly there is some research in active stimulation.

we had a talk last headway meeting with the doctor who is doing such reasurche and others.

tbitalk.weebly.com/the-cres...

[aqua4]

Hi Sospan, not had one but hope you're feeling a bit better tomorrow. K

[sospan in reply to aqua4]

Thanks x x

[sospan]

I went in thinking it would be a doddle and couldn't have been more wrong

[cat3]

I don't remember any after effects Sos (except for the greasy patches on my scalp). Do you think you might have been very tense, and what you're feeling now is a nervous reaction.

I hope you'll get a good sleep tonight and wake up feeling fine ! Best wishes for a better day tomorrow. Cat xx

[sospan in reply to cat3]

I was kind of looking forward to it. I had to deep breathe for a few minutes and got so dizzy nearly fell off the bed. The strobe light wasn't a problem though.

The only odd bit was I told to shut my eyes at certain stages at one point the technician told me off because the reading were showing I was moving my eyes whilst they were closed - now that is some clever technology

[cat3 in reply to sospan]

I always go dizzy after taking deep breaths. I used to think it was 'cause I smoked but gave up almost 5 years ago and it's still the same.

I think most people's breathing is quite shallow, so deep breaths flood the brain with oxygen which can be overwhelming ; we're obviously not athletes are we !!

But yes, it's certainly great technology ; when do you get results ?

You seem a bit more relaxed now Sos, I hope that's the case. Love Cat xx

[cat3 in reply to cat3]

PS, everything happening inside your head can be seen on the monitor so, yes, the technician would see your eye movement ! x

[sospan in reply to cat3]

Hope she didn't see everything going on in my head - some of my thoughts would be more than a bit embarrassing ......

[cat3 in reply to sospan]

The mind boggles !

[angelite in reply to sospan]

Hi Sospan,

I too found the deep breathing knocked me silly - I forgot where I was up to in whether I was supposed to be breathing in or out ! They make you hyperventilate to check for epilepsy - sufferers can often have an attack triggered in this way. In the end I had to cease the deep breathing bit as I was really dizzy and not with it !

The strobe lighting I found really annoying - the technician kept telling me to unclench my jaw during this ( Apparently a lot of people unconsciously do this in response ) I was equally impressed that they could see this small physical action on my brainwaves : ) Hope things settle down for you soon x

[sca2013 in reply to angelite]

The thing that causes you to feel light headed or dizzy after deep breathing is lack of, believe it or not, carbon dioxide. Dr Buteyko discovered that in order for the oxygen to get into the cells, especially in the brain, the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide has to be exactly right. Deep breathing reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the system and therefore the amount of oxygen getting into the cells is reduced. What he found is that if you are breathing in and out through your nose you are most likely to get the correct ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide. Any time you are mouth breathing the ratio goes off and you can develop sinus problems, caused by carbon dioxide levels being too low. He also found that when the CO2 levels are too low the body tries to reduce the amount of air coming into the system by blocking the sinuses.

[Ro_76]

Hi sospan I hope you are feeling a bit better now after that. I am waiting for an appointment for my first EEG at Kings. How long did it take to do? I've got really thick hair so I'm wondering how they'll put the things on. Take care xxx

[sospan in reply to Ro_76]

Mine took about 30 - 40 mins. I didn't get the plastic skull cap that I was expecting, I got some sort of thick hair net almost like christmas tree cables.

My hair isn't much of a challenge ( ) but they used this gel which went on like wallpaper paste but set like toothpaste !

Be interested to see how you got on

[RogerCMerriman]

not heard of that, not had one though helped people have plenty.

Its a fairly full on tiring day could it *just* be that?

[sospan in reply to RogerCMerriman]

I am only about 10 mins from the hospital and was quite looking to having the test and talking to the technician about the test and what she was seeing. The test only lasted about 30 mins but afterwards felt dreadful

[iforget]

Hope you are feeling a bit better today sospan?

[sospan in reply to iforget]

Feeling a lot better today thanks.

PS. I was going to say "feeling myself today" but post 4.5 years post injury still not quite sure who "myself" is

[malalatete]

Hi Sospan

Hope you feel better!

I haven't heard of this causing problems. Last time I had an EEG was 3 years ago when taking part in a clinical trial/research at Newcastle. I crashed badly after those 3 days, but it was 3 days including loads of other tests too, so I can't recall whether the EEG in particular was an issue to be honest.

I suppose (this is how I explained my total exhaustion after 3 days in hospital being measured and prodded) it being a new experience, something out of routine, the brain is firing away taking notice of every little thing, especially as at the back of your mind you are aware of its potential as diagnostic, and that in itself is perhaps a bit like sitting a 30 minute rapid fire question exam?

Blessings for rapid recovery x

[sospan in reply to malalatete]

Thanks, maybe I am just getting soft !

[gabimou]

Hi Sospan,

I had my second EEG just recently and must admit compared to the first one this second one made me feel a bit off.

Whether it was due to the pressure on the head when they stick those gel things in your head to hold the wires and the second attempt properly had to put more pressure.

I remember the neurologist saying don't move your head forward with the pressing push back into it.

My second EEG shows that my meds have helped compared to the first one before I started taking meds and its showing good.

Still can't get my head(excuse the pun) round how I still get really off days and then really good ones.

I'm trying to still find out if its from the brain op (craniotomy) or my ear op(mastoidectomy) all on the right side of the head which one of the two is causing me more problems,but obviously doesn't help that its the same side.

My Neurologist has suggested I could try this treatment where they use Thermography and maybe be able to see if I can find out anything.

Like he has said I have nothing to loose and together we are trying to find out whats going on and do process of elimination.

He works at another clinic 1 day a week and there is this Dr(not a neurologist) who uses this technique and at first I laughed with him saying he sounds like the mad professor when he explained how its done.

Thermography thermal imaging can detect inflammation like sinus,headaches,TMJ and many other things sounds fascinating actually well worth a google to get a better idea.

Mandy

[Elenor3]

Hope you're feeling much better now? Ive seen it on tv before but didn't know what it was. what does the test look for? Xx

[sospan in reply to Elenor3]

Much better thanks

An EEG may help identify the cause of certain symptoms – such as seizures (fits) or memory problems. However, the main use of an EEG is to detect and investigate epilepsy but may highlight dementia, head injuries, brain tumours, encephalitis (brain inflammation) and sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnoea.

Quite a wide range of things

[Elenor3 in reply to sospan]

It's just amazing that someone has invented a method of measuring these things with a machine.....hope all your results are positive ones and that you get sorted out. x

[sospan in reply to Elenor3]

Thanks,

Its a funny thing with tests - you don't want them to find anything wrong with you but you have the tests because there is something wrong with you. Weird ?

[mayagreen]

I had my first EEG yesterday and I still feel off. About half way through I became very uncomfortable and noticed some jerking movements in my shoulders and arms and had to readjust my spine. When the strobe started my breathing became heavier and I felt a panic attack coming on so I did some Yoga breathing and was able to continue. By the 2nd sequence my palms were sweating. By the last one I was very uncomfortable and I wanted it to stop. I was able to communicate this to the technician but she didn't really give me any feedback. The test was over at that point. Looking forward to getting results.