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    why an EEG?

    I'm going for a mri of my neck and an eeg. I assume the neuro is trying to rule out things, but why an eeg?

    Also, I looked on the doctor's website and of all the neuros there, only one has MS listed and it's NOT my doc. I guess she does not specialize in MS. So ... I was wondering if maybe I should switch? Or maybe all the neuros share and help each other so it might not matter which one i see anyway?

    I like the neuro I have but I guess it seems nice if her specialty is MS. But maybe it's not even ms anyway?! Any advice?

    Not officially diagnosed due to non-MS-specific spots on MRIs, but the neurologists all agree it's MS.
    Frustrated. January 2019: finally saw an MS specialist worth seeing. Maybe we'll get to the bottom of this.
    EDSS of 5.5, sometimes 6.0

    #2
    What symptoms did you tell him you were having?
    Disabled RN with MS for 14 years
    SPMS EDSS 7.5 Wheelchair (but a racing one)
    Tysabri

    Comment


      #3
      Just My Humble Opinion

      Based on my very limited experience. My first neurologist is an MS specialist. I went to him because I was referred. I was already seated when he came into the room, and right away he said that I don't have MS, like it is something I WANT.

      My new patient visit lasted all of ten minutes. The only reason he even ordered am MRI is because of my double vision. I was unable to drive myself to the appointment because I am unfamiliar with the area. My daughter took me. He blew off the numbness and tingling in my right pinkie and arm, saying it is carpal tunnel, which I didn't think I had but if that's what it was then ok.

      Three weeks later he did the EMG and another test they do during the same session and carpal tunnel was ruled out. There was an abnormal needle result, which surprised him and suddenly he was nicer.

      My point is, I don't necessarily believe that just because a neurologist is an MS Specialist makes him or her any better. I felt like a total idiot and completely blown off after that initial visit. I don't care how much of an expert one is, how can you diagnose someone without performing neurological tests and talking about symptoms? I had a short, concise one page timeline that he wasn't interested in at all.

      JMHO, I think the specialists tend to blow you off unless you have a diagnosis already or have a "textbook" case.

      My current neurologist treats MS patients although he isn't considered an MS specialist. Yes, it is good to check credentials. At the same time, I want someone who is willing to take the time to evaluate me and work to find out what is wrong instead of saying after 10 minutes I am just tired and need to take a muscle relaxer at bedtime :/

      Best of luck with your appointment

      Hugs,
      Minnie

      Comment


        #4
        oh how I SOOO agree with Minnie!!!! My "M.S. specialist" of a neuro is a HORRIBLE doctor on all levels, while my PCP seems to want to work with me on my M.S.
        MORE than my neuro
        Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by 22cyclist View Post
          What symptoms did you tell him you were having?
          I had all my symptoms typed out with a loose time line included. Burning (this has been nearly constant for 1 1/2 years now), tingling, loss of sight in one eye for a few hours (that happened only once), spaghetti legs (can't walk normal and is hard to control my legs), hard to concentrate at times, unable to talk or spell right at times (maybe that was it? sometimes I struggle to even read out loud to my children and take a long time to get through the chapter in the bible - whereas normally I'm an excellent reader), coordination is all off at times (sometimes I cannot even do simple things efficiently like peel potatoes), numbness in various places (even in my tongue at times), extreme fatigue for seemingly no reason at all (out of the blue, any time of the day or night), sometimes I ache all over for no reason, vertigo ... I think that's it?

          Since then two new symptoms have surfaced: my right leg went numb for about 4-5 days and now I have burning sensations around my lower back and abdomen.

          It has been a while since I met with her and she ordered these tests (EEG and MRI of neck). I put them off for several months thinking I'll get better. Well ... I'm not. But anyway, I remember when she mentioned the eeg she said something about seizures. Does that sound right? Something that was going on made her think that maybe I was having mild seizures(?). But then what about all the other symptoms? She mentioned carpel tunnel too and a few other things. I remember thinking, why all the sudden would I get all these differing ailments at the same time when I was an otherwise very healthy, active, fit person?!?!

          Ok, I hope all of that made sense. Thanks for listening.

          Not officially diagnosed due to non-MS-specific spots on MRIs, but the neurologists all agree it's MS.
          Frustrated. January 2019: finally saw an MS specialist worth seeing. Maybe we'll get to the bottom of this.
          EDSS of 5.5, sometimes 6.0

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by MinnieGirl View Post
            My point is, I don't necessarily believe that just because a neurologist is an MS Specialist makes him or her any better.
            Hello Minnie - you made a good point here. I was thinking the same thing last evening after I submitted this thread. I really liked the woman I saw. She was very sweet and spent a good amount of time with me. I think I'll just stick with her and see what happens.

            One thing she did (maybe someone can help me understand this one?) is she took a pointed object and rubbed down the bottom of both of my feet. I cannot remember now if she went top to bottom or bottom to top or both but I do remember she did it over and over again and then she got her keys out and did that over and over again with her keys (more pointed). My feet did not move. It really shocked me. I thought for sure I was in for a big tickle, however nothing happened. She seemed really puzzled by it. I did not ask her about it but I guess I should have. Maybe someone here has some wisdom on what that was all about?

            Not officially diagnosed due to non-MS-specific spots on MRIs, but the neurologists all agree it's MS.
            Frustrated. January 2019: finally saw an MS specialist worth seeing. Maybe we'll get to the bottom of this.
            EDSS of 5.5, sometimes 6.0

            Comment


              #7
              JJS

              I have had many EEG's in my life for suspected epilepsy since it can mimic some of the MS symptoms. I also have sleep apnea and I get one a year for that. So I am pretty experienced. I even sleep well with all those wires on.

              The EEG measures the electrical activity from one point in your brain to the other. As from your temple to the back of your brain. Disturbances can reveal many things like a problem in your emotions to you vision center. They measure a lot of lines and line interactions. It is the Primo of it's time and still is to sort out brain electrical activitie disturbances.

              Mine shows from the temple to the back of the visual center is a scarred area from a silent stroke I had years ago. It shows that my emotions have to re-route around the damaged area (pot hole) to get to the visual center. It shows that I have a lot of re-routing going on in the stroke area since it is damaged or dead tissue and thus effects a lot of traffic that has to go through there. Great diagnostic tool.

              No pain involved and gives tons of information. No need to fear and is much cheaper than an MRI for isolating problems.

              Take care. Just keep telling yourself it's a good thing and tells you and them a lot.
              Dave
              "Journeyman"

              Comment


                #8
                If you are indeed diagnosed with MS, you will probably want to have an MS specialist to manage your condition going forward. If there is one in the group you are already seeing, then it should be a no-brainer to transfer.

                I believe that EEG are often used to diagnose/rule-out seizure disorders, but probably other things as well. When in doubt about something, you should always ask your doctor why she ordered a particular test.

                Comment


                  #9
                  My current neuro is excellent and he is an MS specialist, but prior to finding him, I went through several "MS specialists" that I did not think were very good at all.

                  On the other hand, the very first neurologist I saw was outstanding and he was a general neurologist. The only reason I did not continue seeing him was because we had moved to another state.

                  If you like your current neuro and are pleased with the way your care is going, it may not be worth it to change.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Hi JJ

                    The test you are referring to is the Babinski. A "normal" reaction is that your toes curl under. Some consider no reaction as normal, but an abnormal reaction is if your toes fan up and out.

                    My physical therapist had found it unusual that I cannot curl my toes under. This is before I began to try to find out what was causing my fatigue, tingling and numbness on my right side, especially in my arm and hand, why my balance was off, and my vision suddenly went bad.

                    The neurologist you have sounds like a good one.

                    Best of luck,

                    Hugs, Minnie

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by jjs View Post
                      Hello Minnie - you made a good point here. I was thinking the same thing last evening after I submitted this thread. I really liked the woman I saw. She was very sweet and spent a good amount of time with me. I think I'll just stick with her and see what happens.

                      One thing she did (maybe someone can help me understand this one?) is she took a pointed object and rubbed down the bottom of both of my feet. I cannot remember now if she went top to bottom or bottom to top or both but I do remember she did it over and over again and then she got her keys out and did that over and over again with her keys (more pointed). My feet did not move. It really shocked me. I thought for sure I was in for a big tickle, however nothing happened. She seemed really puzzled by it. I did not ask her about it but I guess I should have. Maybe someone here has some wisdom on what that was all about?
                      This is the Babinski test but your big toe not going up and small toes not fanning out is a normal variant. It may also point to other brain issues, not usually MS or a brain tumor. It is not as localizing. That is why the EEG most likely.

                      No big deal, if it is normal, you will move on. Eye problems in MS do not last a few hours. This may be related to migraine. Some of your other symptoms could be related to MS, but also to many vitamin deficiencies too, and peripheral neuropathology. She is just ruling everything out.

                      Have you ever had an MRI of you brain?

                      My MS specialist is very good, she is an immunologist too and looks at every scan. She relies heavily on physical exam to make changes and listens to us. Not all MS specialists are created equal.

                      Good luck.
                      Disabled RN with MS for 14 years
                      SPMS EDSS 7.5 Wheelchair (but a racing one)
                      Tysabri

                      Comment


                        #12
                        While an EEG is not usually ordered to help dx MS, it can be useful when compared with an MRI. The relationship between symptoms, findings on the MRI, and the results of the EEG can help correlate damage to a particular area of the body.

                        The doctor could be looking at the EEG for both the size of the response and the speed in which the brain receives the signal. Weaker or slow signals may indicate that demyelination has occurred and that MS is a possibility. This test is not specific to MS; abnormalities could indicate another problem, so your Dr may be trying to rule out other problems.

                        Also, if MS is the Dx, then your Dr may be considering treatment options. One option is Ampyra to help with gait issues. Some neuros want an EEG to rule out any seizure activity before prescribing Ampyra as it has a risk of causing seizures in some pts.

                        EEG's are painless, but laying still for so long and trying to get all that goop out of your hair is annoying. Just wash your hair a couple of times tho, and it will come out, no problem.
                        Echo
                        DX 2007 Started Ocrevus on 2/14/2018

                        "Some where over the rainbow...."

                        Comment


                          #13
                          THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I really appreciate the help here. My appointment is next wednesday, Lord willing. I'll post an update when I have one.

                          Thanks again; this really has been a great help. I appreciate this forum a lot.

                          Not officially diagnosed due to non-MS-specific spots on MRIs, but the neurologists all agree it's MS.
                          Frustrated. January 2019: finally saw an MS specialist worth seeing. Maybe we'll get to the bottom of this.
                          EDSS of 5.5, sometimes 6.0

                          Comment


                            #14
                            re EEG

                            Hi,Iam getting this test next wk.You,had said test showed you had a stroke,before.
                            Did you have any signs of that? Mom,had 5 mini strokes,we only saw one.
                            I have left side burning,for months.Dr,thinks may of had stroke.At,this pt just a guess.
                            Pat

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re eeg

                              Thanks,for such a good explanation.😁take care

                              The doctor could be looking at the EEG for both the size of the response and the speed in which the brain receives the signal. Weaker or slow signals may indicate that demyelination has occurred and that MS is a possibility. This test is not specific to MS; abnormalities could indicate another problem, so your Dr may be trying to rule out other problems.

                              Also, if MS is the Dx, then your Dr may be considering treatment options. One option is Ampyra to help with gait issues. Some neuros want an EEG to rule out any seizure activity before prescribing Ampyra as it has a risk of causing seizures in some pts.

                              EEG's are painless, but laying still for so long and trying to get all that goop out of your hair is annoying. Just wash your hair a couple of times tho, and it will come out, no problem.[/QUOTE]
                              THANKS

                              Comment

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