Questions about EEG.
 

If I don't have a seizure during the EEG will anything show up?

No, It is difficult to time an EEG with the occurrence of a seizure. They flash lights and other triggers to try to cause a seizure. If seizures are frequent, sometimes the neuro will order a 24 hour EEG to increase the likelihood of recording a seizure.

I have never had a seizure during an EEG. I got a report of 'inconclusive' because there were abnormalities that were not identifiable. The only EEG that indicated a problem was a qEEG, a specialized EEG with more leads and analyzed by computer comparison to a database.

I had an EEG and it did not show what they were looking for, then a couple months later, I had a "Sleep Deprived EEG" and about half way through i had a partial seizure, it showed what they needed to see to diagnose me.
I hope they can do this for you to.

Kay

Yes, maybe a sleep deprived EEG will help.

I have symptoms just as I fall asleep so they tried to do a sleep deprived EEG. I stayed up all night before. They got me wired up and told be to try to fall asleep. There were workmen next door pounding with hammers so it made it difficult. When I was finally about to fall asleep, I realized that during that final relaxation point, I was not breathing involuntarily. The head support was putting my neck in a position that caused Central Apnea.

Now I know that my Central Sleep Apnea contributes to my seizure like activity during sleep. I have never been able to resolve this issue other than taking gabapentin before going to bed.

Welcome to the gain!!
 

Darlene,

What do you mean by welcome to the 'gain' ?

I have never heard gain used in such a context.

Sleep deprived EEG
 

It depends on what is causing the seizures and your brain activity when you are either sleep deprived or sleeping. When I had my SD EEG, they told me to try to fall asleep but it was ok if I did not. The room was very quiet and comfortable, they put warm blankets on me and I was very tired. I did not think that I would fall asleep but I did for just a little bit. And that is when I had a seizure. I am not sure if they would have been able to diagnose me properly if I did not have a seizure at that time, i forgot to ask that question.
It was mostly to confirm that I do have partial seizures and the next step was to have CT scan, MRI etc to see if there is something in there causing it. That could be a tumor, scar tissue or what ever. So far after all of those tests they can not see what is causing my problem. Very frustrating.

Ive only had 1 EEG show up. And that was when I had my "first" seizure and it landed me in the hospital of course and so i had no meds in my system at all yet eather. And they did the EEG and i was wide awake and it showed i was having them while awake. I was then dxed with complex partial seizures. However since having sevral more EEGs they have come up negative, but i dont think its going to nessisarly show anything when your on a boat load of meds. The 1 eeg I had it even showed somthing, i cant remember the name and i asked what that ment and she said it meens that your meds are sitting on your brain!

That is a strange thing to say "sitting on your brain" I suppose they mean the meds are keeping the seizures from happening but they do not know what is causing them. That is where an MRI and CT scan come in. (and other tests I am not aware of).
I am certainly not an expert on any of this, i am just learning myself. I am only sharing what my neurologist has told me.

Kay