EEGs, MRIs and epileptic fits?

Question

I'm 13 and I just got back from the hospital, because I keep having loss of vision/dizzyness. Over the next few weeks I'm going to have an EEG and MRI to see if it's episepsy.

With the EEG though, wouldn't the brainwaves only be abnormal when you're having an epileptic fit?

Also, I've been reading on the internet, and if I do, it would probably be simple partial seizures. When it says muscle twitching can be a symptom, I sometimes get a funny blobby twitchy feeling in my leg, and the muscle/skin pops about. Is this what they mean by twitching?

The doctor said it's probably just normal teenage behavior, and I'm not too worried, I just wondered out of curiosity. Also, is there anything you can't do i.e. certain jobs if you have the simple partial epilepsy?

Answer 1

In order to do the EEG they will probably try to make you have a seizure.  There are different things that can set one off such as hyperventilating, strobe type lighting and even going to sleep.  More then likely they will be able to get an accurate reading.

Answer 2

The first thing to say is don't panic! What you are describing may not be Epilepsy, and don't research the web or it will just convince you that you have it.The hospital are just making sure that everythingg is ok. It is true you can have partial seizures but it is not what you are describing with the twitchy feeling in your leg. Also the feeling of de ja vou has nothing to do with what's going on. Speak to someone about how you are feeling!

Answer 3

People with epilepsy tend to have slightly abnormal brainwave patterns even when they are not experiencing a seizure, but it is possible that nothing will show up if its been a while since a seizure has occurred.    

Muscle twitching sometimes occurs during a seizure along with other events, but twitching alone is not diagnostic of a seizure since it also occurs normally.   The muscle sensations/actions you describe are normal.

There's only a slight chance you actually have epilepsy.  You do not have all the symptoms normally associated with epilepsy, but the symptoms are so variable that the doctors are probably doing the test to see if they can rule out epilepsy as a cause.  Your symptoms are more characteristic of someone with a migraine attack.  There is also a very very remote chance the problem could be caused by something like multiple sclerosis or a tumor - the MRI can detect both of these problems if they exist.  I am betting that you only have migraines.

The jobs that can be done by someone with epilepsy are pretty much the same ones that most people do, except for positions where a seizure would put other people at danger, so don't count on becoming an airline pilot if it turns out you have epilepsy,.

Answer 4

you may have seizures without even knowing it, which is why the EEG is used,  some seizures are as simple as, when you stare off into space and "day dream". So when you are just sitting in this machine, you may very well be having some abnormal brain activity, and someone with epilepsy will be diagnosed with an EEG. Depending on if they put you on anti seizure meds or not, will probably determine whether or not you are limited to certain activities.  Good Luck!

Answer 5

An EEG mesures brainwave activity. It will tell the docs if there is any unusual activity. This is important as where the activity is determines what type of seizure you may be experiancing.

  A MRI would be able to tell the docs if you have any abnormalities and any part of your brain.

  As for employment. This can vary depending on meds and how well controlled your seizures are.

Answer 6

I had 'epilepsy' when I was younger - now (40 years later) they would call it febrile convulsions (fits due to temperature) - but at the time I was on tablets and also had to have regular EEG's.  These are where they put a 'hairnet' over your head and stick it to the scalp with what looks like plasticine.  You lie on a bed while they put a strobe light on in front of your face and ask you to look at it in the hope that you will have abnormal brain activity if you do have epilepsy.  I was very young when I had these fits and so I cant really explain what they were like as most were when I was asleep anyway.  The twitching you are aware of doesnt sound like epilepsy though.  Most jobs would be open to you if it does turn out to be epilepsy, although obviously anything dangerous would be out if you could lose consiousness.  Driving may also be a problem if you need medication and have episodes during the day.

Good luck