Scott had an eventful but seizure-free night at the hospital last night. The poor thing has been poked and prodded today. He is on oxygen, has two IVs - one for fluids and one for meds, is hooked up to a heart monitor, and was just hooked up for a sleep EEG. Dr. Dean is continuing to reduce his Depakote ER intake. (While here in the hospital, Dr. Dean is giving Scott Depacon instead of Depakote ER.) Hopefully he can get some much needed rest this evening. I'll continue to post updates on his progress.
Thanks again for all of the phone calls, emails, visits and meals. It is wonderful to have such loving and supportive friends and family. We love and thank you all!
Christa
Showing posts with label EEG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EEG. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Back to the Hospital...
Scott and I have just returned from Dr. Dean's office. He was unable to meet with Dr. Robeson for the "mapping" session because he was so tired from the three seizures. However, Dr. Dean decided to have another EEG performed. The procedure ran for a little over two hours and Dr. Dean stated that it looked better than the one taken last week.
While at Dr. Dean's office this afternoon, Scott had several simple partial seizures. Based on the fact that Scott has had 7 seizures since being released from the hospital last Friday, Dr. Dean has decided to re-admit Scott into the hospital. She has also decided to take Scott off of Depakote ER.
So, we'll be heading back to hospital shortly. Please say a prayer that the removal of the Depakote ER will halt his seizures and that Scott can return home, seizure-free, soon.
While at Dr. Dean's office this afternoon, Scott had several simple partial seizures. Based on the fact that Scott has had 7 seizures since being released from the hospital last Friday, Dr. Dean has decided to re-admit Scott into the hospital. She has also decided to take Scott off of Depakote ER.
So, we'll be heading back to hospital shortly. Please say a prayer that the removal of the Depakote ER will halt his seizures and that Scott can return home, seizure-free, soon.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
First Night in Hospital
Scott was able to rest pretty well last night even with the usual headaches of being hospitalized. Dr. Dean came by around midnight to check on him. Luckily, he was resting peacefully at that time. However, I quickly explained Scott's frustration at being woken up every few minutes and reiterated that one purpose of his hospitalization is to ensure that Scott is able to rest. Dr. Dean agreed and immediately instructed the staff to NOT disturb Scott for the rest of the evening. While the nurses did continue to check on him each hour, they never woke him.
While here last evening/this morning, Dr. Dean explained that Scott's EEG was normal. She also stated that she wanted him to have a PET scan today. I inquired as to whether or not Scott should have a sleep study - something we have discussed in the past - however, Dr. Dean stated that she first wanted to see what, if anything, the PET scan showed. When asked, Dr. Dean was not able to indicate how long Scott may be staying in the hospital. Keep your fingers crossed that Scott's stay will be short. I know that he longs to return home soon.
The staff arrived to take Scott down for his PET scan at 7:00 am this morning. He was a real trooper - thanking each and every one of them for their help. It is my sincere hope and prayer that the PET scan will reveal something - anything - that may enlighten us on the recent flury of seizure activity and allow us to start on a new course of action to help reduce it. I'll continue to update you as I hear more.
Christa
While here last evening/this morning, Dr. Dean explained that Scott's EEG was normal. She also stated that she wanted him to have a PET scan today. I inquired as to whether or not Scott should have a sleep study - something we have discussed in the past - however, Dr. Dean stated that she first wanted to see what, if anything, the PET scan showed. When asked, Dr. Dean was not able to indicate how long Scott may be staying in the hospital. Keep your fingers crossed that Scott's stay will be short. I know that he longs to return home soon.
The staff arrived to take Scott down for his PET scan at 7:00 am this morning. He was a real trooper - thanking each and every one of them for their help. It is my sincere hope and prayer that the PET scan will reveal something - anything - that may enlighten us on the recent flury of seizure activity and allow us to start on a new course of action to help reduce it. I'll continue to update you as I hear more.
Christa
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Severe Seizure sends Scott to the Hospital
Scott had a severe tonic-clonic seizure at 4:00 this morning. This seizure included many "firsts" which I have noted below:
1) The seizure lasted a full 45 minutes. This is very unusual as Scott's seizures usually last fewer than 5 minutes.
2) During the seizure, Scott let out an excruciating howl as if he were in intense pain. In the many seizures I have witnessed, I have never hear Scott make this sound.
3) Scott's legs were rigid throughout the seizure. I found this to be unusual because Scott's legs are usually bent as his usual tendancy is to collapse just before the clonic phase of the seizure begins.
4) Once the clonic phase of the seizure ended, Scott took several deep, jagged breaths and stopped breathing - which is usual for him. What happened next, however, is unusual. Usually Scott returns to normal breathing. However, this morning he again took several deep, jagged breaths.
5) It took Scott an hour after the seizure ended to recover and answer even the simplest of questions - even though I swiped his VNS magnet 4 different times over the course of 1 hour and 45 minutes. This is quite unusual as Scott normally recovers quickly and can answer very simple questions after only a few minutes.
We are not sure what triggered this seizure. Scott had eaten well the day before and had taken his medication on time. He did not seem stressed, worried or upset about anything. He was a bit tired last night and went to bed at 10:30 pm but he was sleeping peacefully when I turned in at 11:00 pm. Perhaps Scott is still not sleeping well or getting the much needed rest he needs. Or maybe it was caused by the Depakote ER he started taking 3 months ago. Or maybe still the seizure was the result of the Lamictal leaving his system. (Scott had been reducing his Lamictal intake over the past 2-1/2 months and completely stopped taking Lamictal approx. 2 weeks ago.)
I called The Epilepsy Institute at 8:00 am this morning and requested that Scott be seen. We arrived there shortly before 10:00 am so that Scott could have an EEG performed. Nurse Cindy also took several vials of blood to see what they could tell us. While we were in the office, Dr. Dean called from the hospital where she was making her rounds and stated that she wanted Scott admitted to the hospital for observation and further testing. At this time, we believe that Scott will remain in the hospital until the end of the week. I'll continue to post updates on his condition.
As always, thank you for your love and support.
Christa
1) The seizure lasted a full 45 minutes. This is very unusual as Scott's seizures usually last fewer than 5 minutes.
2) During the seizure, Scott let out an excruciating howl as if he were in intense pain. In the many seizures I have witnessed, I have never hear Scott make this sound.
3) Scott's legs were rigid throughout the seizure. I found this to be unusual because Scott's legs are usually bent as his usual tendancy is to collapse just before the clonic phase of the seizure begins.
4) Once the clonic phase of the seizure ended, Scott took several deep, jagged breaths and stopped breathing - which is usual for him. What happened next, however, is unusual. Usually Scott returns to normal breathing. However, this morning he again took several deep, jagged breaths.
5) It took Scott an hour after the seizure ended to recover and answer even the simplest of questions - even though I swiped his VNS magnet 4 different times over the course of 1 hour and 45 minutes. This is quite unusual as Scott normally recovers quickly and can answer very simple questions after only a few minutes.
We are not sure what triggered this seizure. Scott had eaten well the day before and had taken his medication on time. He did not seem stressed, worried or upset about anything. He was a bit tired last night and went to bed at 10:30 pm but he was sleeping peacefully when I turned in at 11:00 pm. Perhaps Scott is still not sleeping well or getting the much needed rest he needs. Or maybe it was caused by the Depakote ER he started taking 3 months ago. Or maybe still the seizure was the result of the Lamictal leaving his system. (Scott had been reducing his Lamictal intake over the past 2-1/2 months and completely stopped taking Lamictal approx. 2 weeks ago.)
I called The Epilepsy Institute at 8:00 am this morning and requested that Scott be seen. We arrived there shortly before 10:00 am so that Scott could have an EEG performed. Nurse Cindy also took several vials of blood to see what they could tell us. While we were in the office, Dr. Dean called from the hospital where she was making her rounds and stated that she wanted Scott admitted to the hospital for observation and further testing. At this time, we believe that Scott will remain in the hospital until the end of the week. I'll continue to post updates on his condition.
As always, thank you for your love and support.
Christa
Thursday, September 13, 2007
PET PICS
Here are the pics of me with my EEG leads wrapped tight to my head.
And the two techs who wrapped it.
This is me about to go into the PET scanner.
And the two techs who wrapped it.
This is me about to go into the PET scanner.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The PET Experience
I just got back from the imaging center at Baptist Hospital. The procedure was not that bad. Here's how it went:
I went and got EEG leads placed. They then wrapped my head tightly with gauss so that the leads would not fall off as they took me over to imaging. I get there and go over some paperwork and they request some cash before doing the test. Then they stick me with some saline fluid and a "butter-fly" needle. After a wee-bit of saline, the tech brougt out the radio-active stuff, glucose with radioactive flurine. Not much... just a few ml. He had to bring it out in a case about the diameter of my arm and perhaps 10" high. After inserting that, they had me sit in the dark for 45 minutes. The instructions were to try to rest and not think too much. THAT was rough. After about 30 minutes my head started hurting really bad. I'm not sure if it was lack of food, the EEG leads pressing into my head, or the radio-active positrons flying out of my head. But I made it through and then they removed the portable EEG & Leads. Then they put me in the tube detector thingy. It was a bit larger than an MRI, but not nearly as loud. I only had to stay in that for 10 minutes. And that was it!
I got a copy of the images. I'm still figuring out how to get the things off the disk and onto the net. Soon as I figure it out, I will post. I won't know any news about the test until my dr. or another Dr. gets to do the analysis.
I went and got EEG leads placed. They then wrapped my head tightly with gauss so that the leads would not fall off as they took me over to imaging. I get there and go over some paperwork and they request some cash before doing the test. Then they stick me with some saline fluid and a "butter-fly" needle. After a wee-bit of saline, the tech brougt out the radio-active stuff, glucose with radioactive flurine. Not much... just a few ml. He had to bring it out in a case about the diameter of my arm and perhaps 10" high. After inserting that, they had me sit in the dark for 45 minutes. The instructions were to try to rest and not think too much. THAT was rough. After about 30 minutes my head started hurting really bad. I'm not sure if it was lack of food, the EEG leads pressing into my head, or the radio-active positrons flying out of my head. But I made it through and then they removed the portable EEG & Leads. Then they put me in the tube detector thingy. It was a bit larger than an MRI, but not nearly as loud. I only had to stay in that for 10 minutes. And that was it!
I got a copy of the images. I'm still figuring out how to get the things off the disk and onto the net. Soon as I figure it out, I will post. I won't know any news about the test until my dr. or another Dr. gets to do the analysis.
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