A top that buttons or zips up is advised, so you don't have to pull anything over your head. Jewelry is permitted, but keep in mind that large or dangling earrings could get in the way depending on where the electrodes are placed. You should wash your hair the night before or the day of the test and ensure that your scalp is clean and free of natural oils.
Refrain from putting any conditioners, hair creams, sprays, or styling gels in your hair. Hair products and oils make it more difficult for the sticky patches or adhesive paste to stick and adhere to the electrodes to your scalp.
Avoid anything with caffeine, like coffee or tea, on the day of the test or at least eight to 12 hours prior. Caffeine can interfere with the test results. It is important to eat before the test, as a low blood sugar level can also interfere with the test results. If you are taking any prescription medications, or regularly take over-the-counter drugs or supplements, make sure your healthcare provider is aware.
You should take your medications as usual, unless instructed otherwise. Most medications are fine to take prior to an EEG, although anything that acts as a sedative can interfere with test results. It is best to confirm what you should take on the day of the test prior to the procedure.
With health insurance, an EEG can be covered as long as it is considered medically necessary and corresponds to the terms of your policy. Of course, you may be responsible for a copayment for the procedure or visit, especially if you have not met your annual deductible. Some hospitals may offer discounts of up to 30 percent for patients who don't have health insurance or who pay out-of-pocket for an EEG.
Be sure to ask. Try to verify your financial responsibility prior to the testing if this is a concern. When you arrive, you will likely be checked in and asked to sign a form of consent. The EEG technician will be responsible for running your test and monitoring you during its duration. She will escort you to the testing room, or if you are in a hospital, the epileptic monitoring unit, which is usually in the neurology or epilepsy department.
The room you will be tested in will probably be dim and quiet. You will be asked to relax and to sit in either a reclining chair or to lie comfortably on a bed. Before placing the electrodes, the technician will measure your head to find the accurate spots to place them. She will mark these spots with a wax crayon.
At least 16 and even up to 25 electrodes can be placed on your head for the sleep-deprived EEG. The technician will gently scrub each spot with a gritty cream that allows for better application of the adhesive paste or glue, which in turn, will help lead to a quality reading. At the start of the sleep-deprived EEG, the technician will ask you to relax and close your eyes. She will probably suggest starting with a few deep breaths. Once the test begins, it is important that you remain as still as possible.
Even blinking or swallowing can throw off a reading. During the test, it is alright if you doze, and you might be encouraged to do so. The technician will also be watching you to see any signs of seizures triggered during the test. Once the test is over, the EEG technician will remove the electrodes, and will probably use the help of some warm water or acetone to wash off or remove the adhesive paste. After the test, you should be able to return to your normal activities, although you will likely be much more tired than normal.
Losing sleep can affect the mood and quality of life for people with epilepsy. In fact, one of the most common complaints in people with epilepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep issues in people with epilepsy are likely due to a combination of factors, including the effects of nocturnal seizures, the side effects of antiepileptic drugs, and the stress and anxiety that often go hand in hand with managing epilepsy and coping with the social stigma.
Here are several topics that may be helpful to discuss with a doctor:. While working with the medical team to manage sleep issues, people with epilepsy can also benefit from improving their sleep hygiene. Good sleep hygiene promotes quality rest by focusing on habits that affect sleep. Here are some tips for improving sleep hygiene:. Rob writes about the intersection of sleep and mental health and previously worked at the National Cancer Institute.
Wright, M. She has a decade of experience in the study of disease. Terminology about sleep can be confusing. Our sleep dictionary clearly explains common sleep terms so that you can better understand…. This guide to diabetes and sleep discusses common sleep problems, consequences of sleep deprivation, and the link between type 2…. Some sleeping problems tend to go unnoticed.
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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. Updated November 13, Written by Rob Newsom. Medically Reviewed by Heather Wright. Epilepsy and the Brain The brain consists of nerve cells that communicate through small electrical impulses.
Epilepsy and Sleep Doctors and scientists have long observed a relationship between sleep and epileptic seizures. Sign up below for your free gift.
Your privacy is important to us. Was this article helpful? Yes No. Heather Wright Pathologist MD. National Institutes of Health. A look at epilepsy: Electrical outbursts in the brain. Sleep quality and related clinical features in patients with epilepsy: A preliminary report. The epilepsies and seizures: Hope through research. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Frequently asked questions about epilepsy. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Epilepsy Foundation. Lanigar, S. Yes, it can. Seizures are very sensitive to sleep patterns. Some people have their first and only seizures after an "all-nighter" at college or after not sleeping well for long periods. If you have epilepsy, lack of "good sleep" makes most people more likely to have seizures.
It can even increase the intensity and length of seizures. Some forms of epilepsy are especially prone to sleep problems. Sleep can affect seizures in many different ways.
These changes can be related to why some people have more seizures during sleep than others, and why not getting enough sleep can trigger seizures. They may have all of their seizures while sleeping, when falling asleep or waking up.
For others, sleep may not be a common trigger, or the association is less clear. For example not getting enough sleep may trigger seizures only when other triggers are going on too. Here are a few factors to consider. If behavioral strategies don't work, over-the-counter sleeping aids such as melatonin or diphenhydramine may be relatively safe options.
Yet, any sleeping pill over-the-counter or prescription should be used only under a doctor's advice. Even with short-term use, they must be handled carefully.
Stopping certain types of sleeping pills, especially the benzodiazepines such as triazolam Halcion , clonazepam Klonopin , and temazepam Restoril , can trigger seizures in some people. During a period of big stress, such as loss of a job or a relationship, the careful use of sleeping pills for several nights can help to prevent a seizure caused by sleep deprivation. If you find yourself in this situation, talk to your epilepsy doctor. Childhood victimization and drug abuse: a comparison of prospective and retrospective findings.
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Physiol Behav. Shouse MN. Sleep deprivation increases thalamocortical excitability in the somatomotor pathway, especially during seizure-prone sleep or awakening states in feline seizure models. Exp Neurol. Sleep: changes in threshold to electroconvulsive shock in rats after deprivation of "paradoxical" phase. Experimental procedure. Ethical and practical principles of the use of laboratory animals.
Effects of stress on drug-induced yawning: constant vs. Different stress modalities result in distinct steroid hormone responses by male rats. Braz J Med Biol Res. Sleep deprivation induced by modified multiple platform technique: quantification of sleep loss and recovery. Kumar P, Raju TR. Seizure susceptibility decreases with enhancement of rapid eye movement sleep.
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