EEG question - vent | Epilepsy Foundation

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Has anyone ever dealt with a tech who just doesn't get what the real deal is? I mean when you have requested a pain reliever and they haven't gone through with it, how do you deal with it? I'm totally ballistic! Here's the situation. I have to go in for an EEG tomorrow. I've contacted the EEG people and told them about my back situation and the fact being I cannot lay down for a long period of time - this is a four hour long test mind you. The response I got was they can manage it. I didn't get a straight answer on how they were going to deal with it. I called the neurologist and talked to the secretary over there; no better issue - just got me more fired up. She leaves me this really messed up message. She says to me that she talked to the tech at the hospital and it is not necessary for them to use anything and I can stand up and sit down for them to put on the nodes then they can do the procedure.. WTH!!! That isn't why I had asked for this issue to begin with and they knew it!!! Why oh why cannot these people listen?!? I am so P@##$% right now I could scream!! I tried talking to my husband about it and he said to me to go ahead and cancel it, he's tired of hearing me crank over the issue, basically he didn't seem to be too concerned about it at this point. Usually he's right there beside me through the good and the bad but this time, he just gave up on the issue. Grant it I don't want to get the test done but you know, if they're going to do it, I want it done right and NOT have back pain. So I called back to the neuro's office tonight, left a really nasty message and told them flat out that I'm taking my zanaflex with me to the EEG tomorrow and will have it available so when my back starts acting up it's there. If my back freaks - it's THEIR screw up, not mine. My neuro will be hearing about this when I see him on Dec 11th, I've already decided on that issue when I'd talked to the tech last week. It's been a very poor service since this entire issue started. I'm a patient and should be treated as such, why don't they do it? I just don't get it. Sorry all but I just needed to get this off my chest and I'm beside myself at the moment over this entire issue. Will write more if I'm feeling ok after I get back if not the next day.

Comments

Re: EEG question - vent

Submitted by Gina Marie on Thu, 2006-11-30 - 16:43

Yes, you can stand and sit while the nodes are being put on, but that's not the issue. Take a deep breath and explain like you'd explain to a rather stupid adult or a very slow child. They didn't get it. I'm glad you typed that here, that would have frustrated me to no end to because they were listening but not Hearing and understanding what you were saying. Take care

Re: Re: EEG question - vent

Submitted by suebear on Thu, 2006-11-30 - 19:59

Hi Gina, Thanks so much for your reply. Wanted to pop in and let you all know I didn't go; too much stress from everything that has been happening and both my husband and I just decided it wasn't worth dealing with it. The other thing is, the lack of communication wasn't helping matters much either. I contacted the tech at the EEG place when we got back to the house and did give them the courtesy that we weren't coming in. The tech I spoke to was the same one I'd spoken to previous week so she knew who I was. Explained the issue to her and what was going on, why the situation, etc. She totally understood why I was upset. Explained to me the entire EEG procedure. I already knew how they worked but wanted to hear it from them directly. I take Zanaflex for muscle spasms and I said to her that I had the intensions of taking one before I come into get one done, would that be an issue, she didn't say that it would be so I'll most likely go ahead and do that if my back is having fits. Her comment to me was I worry too much. HA HA HA! Ya, I guess I do worry about things too much but when it comes to my health and these kinds of situations I tend to go a little ballistic when I don't get straight answers. What got me is the fact being, she didn't know that I was epileptic, she didn't know that I'd had brain surgery before, she have an idea of what type of seizures that I had, she know what meds that I was on and she didn't know about the fact that I had brain surgery back in '95. Basically, she didn't know anything when they called to make the appt, they didn't tell her anything - I couldn't believe it. The tech said to me as we were talking a thanks for letting her know because it gives her a better idea of what's up. It isn't a big issue or anything to be worried about but she likes to understand each of the cases that she works with; I can understand that. I need to reschedule because the test does need to, well should be done - I'm 10 yrs over due. The dr's office didn't ask when was a convenient time for us, they just scheduled it. We sleep during the day. My husband works at night - computer programmer and his hours are from 3pm to whenever. It can be difficult at times but at the same point, he can go in later on if he has to because of his long hours. All's well that ends well I suppose. I still have a few issues in the fire with the secretary at the dr's office, she's on my @#$% list still. At least the important issues are resolved and I feel like the weight of stress is pulled off of my shoulders. Thanks for letting me vent all. Great to have a place where I can let things go in times like this.

Re: Re: Re: EEG question - vent

Submitted by tonialpha on Mon, 2006-12-04 - 10:14

Hi, I worked in Neurology, I was a gal friday from nursing to EEG's. I also have a seizure disorder. I have had 2 brain surgeries and VNS. Certain medications do effect the EEG readings. The doctor requesting the EEG should notify them the reason of the EEG and you of the does and don'ts. Your hair had to be washed as you know. Pain relievers can make you sleepy and make your brain waves generally slower than usual, some medication have fast activity riding on the waves, some do not effect it at all. Make sure the tech. know all the medications you have taken in the last 3-4 days, even some over the counter can effect the reading, too. When I dealt w/ patients w/ back problems we used hospital beds and we could contour the bed to the patient. Some places have chairs some have beds. We also used pillows for support too. The doctor I last worked w/ in Ger. told the patients not to drink any coffee, choc. milk or tea before an EEG. If they use collodion make sure they have a fan to keep the fumes from accumulating in the room. A friend told me that there is a new collodion that is easier on patients. I haven't worked w/ EEG's for 10 years. I have been in telemetry 3-4 times do to sz control but I was out of it at the time. If you have any questions you can contact me. I have friends I can ask, or I might be able to help you. I worked w/ older people w/ a lot of physical and mental problems and you have to contour the test to the patient.

EEG question - vent