My previous neurologist was useless. I saw him after a blackout episode when my family doctor was concerned I might have had a seizure.

They did the EEG and I got the following report back. He was completely dismissive of me and my questions...so I'm just curious if anyone else has any insight to what these EEG results mean:

DESCRIPTION:
"Posterior dominant rhythm measures 10 Hz, is of moderate amplitude and symmetric. EMG and eye blink artifact are noted. During hyperventilation 3-10 second bursts of large-amplitude rhythmic 2-3 cycle per second generalized slow waves fill the screen. This does not persist more than a minute an a half after hyperventilation. Photic stimulation adds no further information. Patient did become drowsy as characterized by attenuation of the posterior dominant rhythm with introduction of low-voltage slow waves. Vertex sharp waves are noted and are quite prominent with spindle activity. There appears to be rhythmic buildup to the slowing over the central head regions at times."

IMPRESSION:
"This is an abnormal adult EEG due to excessive generalized large-amplitude rhythmic slowing noted during hyperventilation, as well as excessive slowing during drowsiness and sleep. Underlying cortical irritability that could give rise to seizures cannot entirely be excluded. Clinical correlation is required."


My doctor just told me that the "blackout episode" in 2008 which happened again this month and was witnessed this time by my boyfriend...are caused by Hemiplegic Migraines. I've also been undergoing testing for MS for the last several years with no definitive answers.

So I'm not sure if this EEG is helpful at all concerning either the migraine issue or the MS symptoms. What do those abnormalities mean and what could cause them?

Hi tinymommy,
I'm no neurologist but it sounds like you are having more electrical activity in the vertex of your brain when you are blinking your eyes and hyperventilating. The neuro. doing the e.e.g. may be seeing more activity in the brain do to migraines and the possibility of MS.
Years ago I started having migraine headaches and that led to absence (petit mal) seizures where I would just blank out for a few seconds and then when I would become conscious I was tired, and confused for a few seconds not realizing where I was or what happened. If there's a chance you may be getting MS this can trigger seizures also. I have an aunt who had MS for many yrs. but she was lucky and never had any seizures. My advice to you is to see an Epileptolgist (Dr. specializing in epilepsy) If you go to a University hospital you can usually find an Epilepsy Center there and the Epileptologist can treat you for the epilepsy as well as the possibility of MS.
In the mean time stay away from anything with nutra sweet in it like diet soda because this can cause more electrical activity in the brain and cause problems with MS and epilepsy. Start taking vitamin B12 once a day, and stay away from cell phones because they can trigger seizures also. Get a calendar and write down the discription of the possible seizure along with the time of day/night the seizure happened. Take note also if you are sick or if there's a low pressure in the weather because these are things that can cause more problems with seizures starting and MS problems.
Here's wishing You well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Dear Tinymommy,

one observation. and again please take with a grain - no, a lump - of salt, because i'm not a doctor either. but i do have migraines and i've read a bit on them... amongst the newer theories of migraine cause, is the depolarization theory - where basically the charge in brain cells is reduced. but i have no idea if a brain with depressed activity would register slower waves on EEG. it might? (says the neophyte).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migrain...ization_theory

i hope you can find another neurologist to work with.

~ waves ~ wishing you well