So I thought I'd do a blog post about video telemetry's and EEG's after my recent hospital stay. I did plan to write this whilst in hospital but I didn't get round to it and its a bit delayed as my recovery from being hospital has been slow and I've had a lot to deal with.
A video telemetery is a EEG which is also video taped and sometimes there's also a microphone too.
An EEG is a 'electroencephalogram'. Tiny metal discs are glued to the scalp and forehead; around 24 discs are applied. I also have two on my arms to record my heart rate and muscle activity due to my myoclonic seizures in my right arm.
In the video telemetry I was more-or-less constantly hooked up to the machine that and there is a camera above me. I had a little bag which all the wires on my head was pegged into and then from that box (pictured) there was a wired connected to a monitor which displayed the EEG readings. Each time I have any kind of seizure activity I have to press a button (pictured) that is almost like a bookmark on the recording and it also alerts the staff in the nurses bay so they could come an check up on me. I/the staff also had to keep a written record of my seizure activity. For the most part I was glued to my bed and the machine but I could have 15 minutes off the machine to allow me to say use the bathroom.
Each day the clinical neurophysiologist came to renew the tape and make sure the metal discs where all still intact and ask how I was getting on ask what seizure activity I'd had.
The purpose of scalp telemetry is to record on EEG (electroencephalogram) any spontaneous electrical activity of the brain. At the same time it aims to record any physical movements and sounds that may occur during your usual attacks, episodes or seizures. A wall mounted video camera; microphone and the EEG cabling are set up at the telemetry bed. We aim to record three or more of your usual attacks, episodes or seizures. The purpose of recording both the EEG and video is to establish if any electrical changes occur in the brain prior to or during any physical symptoms you may experience. The telemetry test can be helpful in:
- Confirming a diagnosis of epilepsy or other conditions such as sleep and movement disorders.
- Establish the epilepsy focus as part of the epilepsy surgery assessment process.
- Recording exactly what occurs during the attack, episode or seizure.
The purpose of my 5 day admission for the video telemetry was to try and record as much seizure activity as possible both on the EEG and on the video and microphone to work out what is causing my seizures so my Professor can make a plan in terms of treatment and moving forwards with my care.
Once all the data has been collected it will then be reviewed and analysed and a report will be sent to my Professor.
I get the results of my video telemetry next week when I see Professor Edwards. I'm feeling quite anxious about the results and the knock-on effects of those results, such as prognosis. But I keep trying to stay in the moment and just hold out until my appointment on the 3rd July.