What I did was got the procedure code they use and called the insurance company myself for approval. I do that even when my doctors say that they did to be sure. I don't know your type of insurance, but I have Aetna PPO (open access plan), they paid most of it. I paid $150 co-pay and was billed later for around $1,400 (the total bill was like $7,000).

Make sure when you see them pick the cotton swap off of the wooden Q-tip and scratch it on your head, if you feel pain tell them to stop. Trust me on this one! They only need to remove the dead skin, some get carried away and remove even more and it will stay like an open sore (like when you smash your hand on something and it peels skin off) with a metal electrode atop it for several days.

Pick up some Johnsons First Aid Cream and bring it with you. Also bring a fragrance/alcohol-free lotion facial cleanser. Once you're about to leave, tell them you'll wash your own face (use lotion cleanser). Once you wash, immediately apply the first aid cream to all of the red spots.

I'm not sure if you live near an Ulta beauty supply store, but their signature products run about 9 dollars each (buy two get one free) and they have extremely gentle face wash and toner. I use it always now, but did use for EEG/VEEG and EKG (stickers peel my skin off, too).

If you find my VEEG post, I pretty much told the blunt end of it all. I figure online they tell the gist of things, doctors tell the technical part and I am here to give the nitty gritty!

If you have any seizure increases with your cycle (or even the time your cycle used to be) tell them and try to schedule it for one day BEFORE your cycle or when it used to be. If you have any videos that would increase seizures, bring those, too. Bring anything that would trigger a seizure (order coffee, alcohol, etc). The faster you have one, the faster you get to go home.

Keep us updated!!

*Hugs*

Ellie

I had a pinhead epi specialist put me in the hospital for only two days, in the middle of my cycle, when I have catamenial epilepsy, and when I had finally gotten on the right AED...... PLUS, my seizure threshold is decreased by stress, and I had the two most relaxing days in a looongggg time when I was in the hospital doing nothing Needless to say, I didn't have any seizure activity. I was actually ticked that I had to go in in the middle of my cycle, but that was when the bed was open. What a waste of time! The epi then said I wasn't experiencing seizures. Doh. My general neuro had a good laugh over that, since she had seen me at the ER experiencing status GM seizures a few months before that!

So......the VEEG is what it is, and the results can vary. Ihope yours tells you something!

I'm hoping that since we haven't heard from Garney that she is in the hospital! Keeping my fingers crossed.

To All,

I entered Dartmouth-Hitchcock on Tues. afternoon for veeg monitoring. Boy those little suckers hurt. Actually its putting them on that hurts. First night they took me off newest med put on. the next morning had an episode. The dr. was called and he came right down. After looking at eeg strip said they did not appear to be epileptic seizures. That night took me off all other meds. Came home Fri with diagnosis of non-epileptic seizures and off all meds except Ativan.
We talked about other possibilities, and said stress related or hormonal or both. I had mentioned several times that I had been having mainly night sweats for about four-five months, but in recent weeks started having a lot during day. Wants me to get levels checked by primary card dr. and also try seeing a counselor to see if stress related. I said I would do both.
Since being home and off meds. I do feel clearer, but still having trouble at times with trying to get out what I want to say, either mixing the words up or forgetting what I wanted to say. Also feel weakness in legs, like I had just run a 10 mile marathon.
Will see dr. in about a month back at Dartmouth. Said if seizures continue or change in any way to call. Going back to work on Mon. Said I could drive again. I haven't driven since Oct2. My husband wants me to wait a week or so. He is very confused about how the episodes are just going to stop I guess I am also weary. Any way I guess time will tell.
Thank you all for the info and good wishes. Jingle I hope you get in sooner than March 6. Are you on a cancellation list? I will be thinking about you.
Best to all.

Garney

Oh Garney -- I hope this is the best for you. It is the ONLY thing that matters I don't understand any of it.
I don't see any diffference between a non-epileptic seizure and an epileptic seizure. To me - a seizure is a seizure.
And I don't understand you being taken off your meds permanently that fast. ~sigh~ But we all know I'm not very smart.
I'm wishing you well. Please stay in touch. God bless.

Gosh sweet Garney, I'm with Jingle, a seizure is a seizure. I hope they can give you more answers once they analyze the data. I will keep you in my prayers. Big hugs dearie.

Oh, Garney, I'm worried about you! How are you feeling and doing? I can't believe the doctor just took you off all your meds.....I'm assuming because your seizure episodes weren't showing up as abnormal neurological spiking? Is that why he said they "weren't seizures"? Had the medication been helping prevent your "non-seizures"? Dang, who cares what's causing them as long as you are having them, if the medication was working!!

FWIW, I suspect more and more that my seizures are due to chemical imbalances and not something inherantly wrong with my brain. My endo changes some endocrine meds and I've been having nocturnal panic attack-like seizures (partials? simples?) and "head trembles" almost every night. I have hardly had a single good night's sleep in two weeks. (I see my neuro tomorrow). Changed my body chemistry slightly and blammo. Oh, and sure, stress makes it worse. But that doesn't mean that I therefore shouldn't be on my two AEDs!

I really hope you are okay without your meds. Personally, I would seek out a second opinion, but all that matters is how YOU are doing. Take care!

Footprints -- Of course, I'm very interested in every word that's said here. You said you were in hospital for veeg for TWO days ?? Good grief. No wonder you didn't have any. Being taken off meds for two days doesn't have to have a big impact that fast.
Even at my age (61 then) my sz came at an almost catamenial (impossible) schedule and I've had no triggers BUT my hospital told me I would be there for 7 to 14 days. Seven to Fourteen. They expected it to be 7 days before they forced me to have a seizure. I did have two within 4 days so they could do MORE MRIs and let me go home.

Garney -- All of us want to drive so much but what if you have a non-epileptic seizure while driving? That's so scary. I know it's none of my business and I'll shut up now. But I'll keep praying for you.