Last Friday was set to end like every other day at work, and then it didn't. ;-D
At work Friday night, around 1015pm, I had a sudden bout of confusion while handling a call (I'm a Directory Assisitance Operator), as a blinking light on the screen would not turn off, and I heard a supervisors voice when there should not have been one.
The next thing I knew was awakening in a hospital emergency room, about 11pm, and was told I had a Gran Mal Seizure.
This scared, confused, and concerned me, as you can imagine!
I'd had brief moments of confusion before, but always attributed them to being tired during a long shift, and always passed the call to a supervisor.
This, obviously, was different.
8 1/2 hours, 2 removals of blood, several other tests, and a cat scan later, I was finally cleared to go home, with a prescription to fill, plans to see a neurologist for a battery of tests as soon as possible, and orders to stay home the next 3 days, at least, and rest.
My Cat, Nikita, played nurse all week, making sure I rested, took my meds, and visited the Doctor.
I am scheduled to see a Neurologist on May 27th.
I visited my personal physician, earlier in the week, and yesterday went to Hoag Hospital for an EEG.
This is what I know so far...
My Doc told me, yesterday, that my Blood Work showed that I have very Mild Anemia.
Iron Deficiency Anemia is the most common type of anemia throughout the world.
The Doc told me to increase the Iron in my diet, and set up a follow-up appointment for a month from now.
I was given the OK to go to Hoag Hospital, yesterday morning, for an EEG, and so decided to dress appropriately for the occasion. ;-D
My choice of attire was a huge hit at the registration desk, and most particularly in the Neurosciences Institute itself. ;-D
A very nice lady, named Tracy, was in charge of administering the EEG, with the help of an assistant, and was very reassuring, and helpful, during the entire process which, including the 20 min. EEG itself, lasted 50 min.
Tracy asked me questions about what led up to the incident, and the incident itself, about my own health, and the fact that I had a cycling accident in the mid-90's which involved hitting my head on pavement, and a short period of nerve damage that was treated with medication, and my family medical history (Dad was a mental patient for 18 years until his death, Mom Died of Diabetes, and Leukemia.).
I then had 6 small electrodes stuck on my head, with a mild abrasive cleanser, and conductive cream, and an electrode cap, and was instructed to lay back, stay still, close my eyes, and relax, even take a short nap if I wanted (I didn't manage the nap.).
The recording procedure included something called phonetic stimulation...a flashing strobe light given in 10 second increments.
After all was done I was told a hospital Neurologist would examine the results, and in a week all conclusions would be sent to my Doc, and the Neurologist I am scheduled to see, and I might not know more until my meeting with the Neurologist.
While at the hospital I picked up all sorts of flyers, and pamphlets, that will help me understand about EEG'S, and seizures.
Looking over this stuff was quite entertaining for Nikita.
He climbed up into the top of his cat tree, and settled down to read.
He, and I, learned a lot of interesting things.
A seizure is "the physical response to increased electrical activity in the brain, causing synchronized firing of brain cells."
Depending on what part of a human brain is affected a person can have symptoms such as changes in concentration, muscle contractions, body jerking, or numbness, and tingling.
These events can last from just a few seconds to up to 3 minutes, and sleepiness, and confusion afterwards can last longer.
I had a Generalized Tonic Clonic which involved full body shaking, a loss of awareness, and the appearance of unconsciousness. Once I awoke I was confused, and sleepy for a time, afterward, at the hospital.
The Electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded the electrical activity in the brain in the form of brain waves.
The idea is to see if my noggin had any abnormal electrical activity going on inside it.
Some folks might consider my poetry, songs, humor, opinions, and other blogging, over the years, as proof enough, without the need of any ol' EEG, but what do they know?
Um, hee, hee! ;-D
Anyway, now that the initial excitement is past, and I settle down into the routine of taking my Anti-Seizure Meds twice a day (The Generic form of Keppra, called Levetiraceta - 500mg), and finding out what Iron rich foods I should start eating more of, we can both get back to our regularly scheduled Blogging.
I'll post updates as time goes by, and I learn more. ;-D
Take care of yourself, Kiril.
Sending good wishes your way that they get this all sorted out and taken care of.
And work on that iron!
Posted by: Greta Koehl | May 17, 2010 at 09:19 PM
Kiril, this is scary !
Take good care of yourself.
Posted by: sue | May 22, 2010 at 03:18 AM