EEG results and medication

kboester1, Keep in contact with your Neurologist, even if it's by email.  I keep her up to date on my seizure activity and any side effects I'm experiencing.  My 1st EEG (2/1) showed seizure activity in the left temporal region. My Neurologist prescribed Keppra (generic version) 500mg AM/PM. 2-weeks later, I told her I was still having "episodes" so she increased 500mg/AM & 750mg/PM.  My 2nd EEG (3/31) showed small seizure spikes in my right temporal region.  Now I'm on 750mg AM/PM.  So far so good.  I'll have my 3rd EEG in a few months...maybe I'll know more (fingers crossed).

That is a really good question. I know sometimes for the longer video EEGs they take you off all you Rx's to make you have a seizure but what does that show since that is a side effect of many Rx's? I feel like that would effect the type or severity of the seizure recorded on the EEG. I've had several normal EEGs and a couple abnormal ones and one with 2 actual seizures captured/recorded so it has been a process but each time we learn a little more about what is happening, where, and why. I too have had concerns about being over medicated or with ones that don't effectively treat my type of epilepsy and that is why the EEG tests are so important. When I 1st heard of them they sounded like a nightmare: go hook your head up to a computer and "hope" to have a seizure or try to make yourself have a seizure but if you are going to have a seizure that is the best and safest place to be.  I recommend the video EEG tests that go up to 5 days long, the 30 minute ones aren't long enough to show anything and it's like a shit in the dark or winning the lottery if you get any useful information from it. That said my 1st 5 day video EEG didn't show anything either which was disapointing but the 2nd round a month later did. Part of me wants to say if you are still having seizure activity you aren't medicated enough but some people never stop all seizure activity regardless of Rx or surgery so I think you are right to proceed with caution and you may have to find a balance between seizure activity and Rx that you are comfortable living with.

      I was diagnosed with epilepsy today 5-3-17. I am 49 years old. I had a 72hr in home EEG. The report said abnormal seizure activity in all areas but because we could not get the actual (threads?) printout of the activity, my neurologist is ordering another one. Yay- .          This all started because I starting seeing really bright white squiggles. Had been seeing them for years but only in the shower. Then suddenly I started seeing them everywhere, 24/7.  Being the artist as I am; I just found it fascinating rather than alarming until I mentioned these events to my PCP.      This is when he ordered the 1st EEG.  When the report came back, my neurologist promptly put me on Keppra 500mg x2 daily. I was on it a week before I had severe side effects. When I called the nurse, I told her this was an evil medicine! Keppra turned me into a very hostile person (that's putting it lightly). When I wasn't yelling; I was sleeping. (Saving my energy for when I was awake to be this estranged, aggitated person I'd become).       I am glad to hear someone has success on this med, but it's not for me. I was switched to Trileptal 1200mg daily (I had to titrate up but within a month; I reached 1200mg.) The next day I found myself in vertigo. I spent 18 hours spinning. Having never had this condition; I found it rather unpleasant but still better than Keppra.       Knowing that Trileptal is one of the better seizure medications according to my Dr; and since I can't tolerate Keppra he decided to keep me on Trileptal but bring me down to 600 mg.  I also have Trigeminal Neuralgia and take Tegretol 200mg x3 daily.  And most recently put on Lyrica 100mg x3 a day for spinal cord injury nerve pain. I only mention the Lyrica because I read that it is also used to control certain types of seizures.  Let's not forget my pain meds for the spine injury.  (Yes I am certain my liver is suffocating- this is quite worrisome I itself). I have another doctor taking care of this problem. Unfortunately, we do not know which type of seizures I have, but should be able to control them with Tegretol, Trileptal, & Lyrica        With all these medications, I am surprised I still see the lights.  In the last two days they have appeared brighter and larger- more like flashes of lights that catch my attention but in a moments' notice, they are gone. Does anyone else see lights? I have looked up indicators for prediction of preseizure events but I haven't come across lights like these. . My Neurologist seems to think these are definitely seizure activity.       I had another short EEG test last week. It showed seizure spikes too, so doc is upping the Trileptal back up to 1200mg. (Wish me luck).       I was told today that I have to be seizure free for 2 years before I can stop all the meds. So I will apologize now for the typos and sentence structure not sounding correctly because no matter how much I proof read; my brain is in overload and just doesn't work like it use to.       I am anxious to learn about which type of seizures I have because 1) obvious reasons and 2) because I hope it gives me peace (weird way) to know why my cognitive functions are declining.      I tried to tell doctors on the past 6 months, that something was wrong, but I always got the standard answer, "it's normal for your age to forget things, etc". I knew something wasn't right.      I will be 50 this year. It's nice to have this forum and be apart of a community where we can support each other.      Thank you for allowing me to vent a little. It's nice to have someone who cares. Wish you all the best. Amy