She was a wee baby when we did one last and there was nothing about being sleep deprived.

For Tom, we've always kept him up as late as possible... which has always been less than an hour after his normal bedtime, and then gotten him up early...on the 4am side. It's been good enough. Keeping him awake in the car is the challenge. Mr. Kay has always been able to go with us, so I sit in the back to keep him up. And, we've never had to last more than 20 minutes in the car. Good luck.

We have one of these in Washington DC this THURSDAY morning (about 35 miles north of us).

So our marathon night will be tomorrow night. We plan on playing at neighborhood parks in the dark, going to walmart or a store open 24 hours, and whatever else it takes to make it until about midnight. Then let her sleep for 3-4 hours, up at 4am (and here they say no food, only clear liquids for 8 hours prior to EEG at Becca's age) to head to DC before all the traffic. I am figuring that it will still be so early that it's not a huge deal if she dozes out for the short trip (as long as we do not hit traffic that is!).

We will just have to play and walk around until 0830 when we get there. . . .HUNGRY. . . and TIRED. . . . only to have head measured and things glued to her for the actual EEG.

HELP US ALL!!!!! I am so stressed and cannot wait until it's over. She has not had one since age 2. I have prepared her as best I can and bribed her with the best.

At least my hubby got off to watch my 17 month old son at home that day.

I will gather any pointers I can during the process to share with you. When is Zoe's???

Hugs,
Kathleen

Well, we made it through and it's OVER. Thank God.

It worked out well getting to the hospital really early as Becca was less likely to sleep there than being at home. I know Zoe is younger - I highly suggest no stroller for her. To tempting for sleep.

I brought a duffle bag of things to do to distract her from the exhaustion and hunger (color wonder marker books and paper, crayons and coloring books, books, a game, a couple of her favorite little dolls/toys, etc...). We also just explored the hospital and rode the elevator A LOT and the escalators too. She liked to push the buttons herself. And when she would look on the edge of dozing, I would offer to play tag or hide and seek to get her up and moving again. We were there 3.5 hours early. Mainly to miss DC traffic though. During the wait at hospital, we also went back to the car and watched a short kids movie together to pass more time.

Getting the probes on in the state she was in was awful. She kicked the tech hard in the shoulder. The tech had to leave. No matter how much I prepare and bribe Becca, and think that she is willing to cooperate - she freaks out when it comes time to do it. They could not even do the accurate mapping. . . just glued them on. Then it was fairly smooth sailing. Becca eventually fell asleep with me on the table with her. She woke and had a seizure (she had two the night before and three before the EEG due to the sleep deprivation - also one still this morning). This was the only time I was ever relieved to see her have one - when having the EEG - so they have it recorded now. I feel the sleep deprivation was key to this - as miserable as it was.

We went to the park at dark, target to get a new little mermaid doll (and I let her chow some m&m's in the car so she'd stay awake to and from target!), ate a big meal at midnight of her favorites, and then I let her sleep for just over 3 hours with me (she was seizing lots and I was worried about status one). I then woke her, gave her a bath again, went to park again, and off we went with the DVD player blasting and windows down to DC. She stayed awake!

I hope it goes as well for you all, overall. It is a pain - but at least they might be able to get some answers to treat Zoe's specific case better.

Keep us posted!

Hugs,
Kathleen

Maria has an EEG scheduled Oct 2 and this is the first time they have asked us to bring her in sleep deprived (put her to bed 2 hours late and wake her 2 hours early). The appointment isn't until 11, and she has her pre-op appointment with the eye doctor before that, so it will be a fun day for us all.

Good luck with Zoe's appointment.

Ugh, I feel for you. We've done several sleep-deprived tests and they aren't fun. I usually take someone with me who can keep Emily awake in the car on the way to the hospital. The one where we had to keep her awake for her ABR test during the 3 hour drive to St. Louis was no fun at all, especially since she kept seizing on the trip.

Then that person can drive you home and tuck you both in for a nap after it's over.

Good luck!