Another test as follow-up from my earlier hospital visit.
The EEG is an electronic inspection of the brain. There was some special preparation required. First of all I needed to diet after midnight and second of all - the tuffy - I needed to stay awake all night. Lots of luck here. I have trouble staying awake past 11:30 at the best. Well - I'll try.
Finally Carol suggested that I sleep for a couple of hours and then get up and I will still be tired by 10:30am when the test starts.
The reason for the sleep deprivation is they want to record the brain in both a stimulated mode and a resting mode.
OK - 28 electrodes are attached all over my head. I then relax in this La-Z-Boy and hear various things while a strobe light erratically flashes to cause the stimulation. The attendant is typing away at the keyboard of her computer and the room lights have all been turned off.
Then I am prepared for the second test. This is where I am supposed to try to go to sleep. Again - the lights are dimmed and it became clinically quiet. And the keys on the keyboard begin sending their secret words to the center of the processor. It was so quiet that it was hard to fall asleep. Each of these tests lasted about 45 minutes. About ten minutes - or so it seemed - the attendant said we were all through. I had gotten a nice little nap.
I asked her if people ever where unable to sleep and what happened. Well - they would only get one half of a valid test. She told me the day before two guys could not sleep and they both told her that they had done the sleep depravation thing.
I suggested that she provide spare TV remote controls for her patients to hold. I'm sure it would help at least the guys fall asleep.
OK - now I wait for my appointment with Dr. Safdor to get the results of this test and my previous MRI.
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