Tuesday this week I was scheduled to go to Washington Regional Medical Center for an EEG test. This was my second of this test. I had one scheduled for January. It was a follow up to my Sept. 3, 2024 stroke, but a couple of weeks before that I had my first seizure. Thus, the EEG might also give them information about what happened with the seizure.
For that test, I had to be awake 24 hours before, with no caffeine, so that the test, consisting of 1 1/4 hours prep and 45 min test would be in a sleep deprived state, with me falling asleep for most of the test period. That test worked well.
After my second seizure, on April 17 (treated at the ER of a different hospital), I contacted my neurologist’s office, which is associated with WRMC, to see if they wanted to see me. After some delay, they contacted me to say they wanted me to first have another EEG. We found a mutually acceptable date, Ma7 20, and Lynda and I made the 45 mile drive. This time, the instructions they gave me, through calls with both the hospital and my neurologist, was to go without caffeine. Sleep deprivation was not part of it.
I got to WRMC, and as the EEG technician was walking me back to the room, he said this test would last two days. I would leave the hospital and go home with 20 electrodes stuck to my head, covered by a tight-fitting skull cap, and a 2-pound electronic unit in a bag slung over my head and shoulder. Don’t go near water, but otherwise go about life as usual.
Right. I take it that technician has never undergone this test. Look at the photo.
With all respect to the hospital and the neurologist, I feel like I should have been informed about the nature and duration of the test before it—I mean long before it. I had outdoor work planned for Tuesday afternoon, but no way I could do it carrying this pack. Had I known, I could have done the yardwork in the morning and saved my indoor writing work for after the test started. We are about out of groceries, which I planned to go for on Wednesday. But no way I’m going to Walmart carrying this pack, looking like an idiot. Had I known, I could have gone for groceries on Monday.
I was really hacked on Tuesday, and gave the tech an earful. It wasn’t his fault, but he was the hospital’s representative at that moment, and his organization either dropped the ball in keeping the patient informed or, possibly, purposely withheld that info so I wouldn’t back out of the test.
Having the test is good. The way the hospital and doctor failed to help me to prepare for it is a big failure. 1-star reviews for both.
I’m sorry you are undergoing such an ordeal. Here is a quote from Spurgeon that I often think of when times are hard, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” I know, it’s easy to say, but so hard to put into practice. Praying for God’s grace, mercy, healing, and blessing for you, today.
I so often research procedures, etc. online just for reasons like this! You’re right, they totally shouldn’t have blindsided you like that. And I can hardly imagine having to stay awake 24 hours straight for the first. Yikes! On a humorous note — you might fit right in at Walmart looking like that 🙂 Just teasing; prayers for good insights from the test. You’re a trooper.
Susan: I complained to the hospital via their website. A nurse called me and said that when she checked me in by phone on May 8, she told me about the 2-day thing. I’m not sure I believe her.