Abnormal EEG

[blondie1956]

Abnormal EEG? My neurologist says he is not
concerned over my EEG which came out abnormal. The findings are: fundamental
frequency is choppy, poorly modulated at times around 8 waves per second
of alpha frequency over each occipital region. Slow waves at times isolated and short
sequences of theta wave activity noted over the right central and temporal
regions. Fast waves are not prominent. This is just the abnormal part of
the EEG. I have been in two MVA's, the most recent in Dec 2008 in which I
received a mild concussion. They did a brain cat scan which showed no issues. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, major depression, as well as UCTD. Have had numerous major headaches, (migraines),involuntary muscle twitches and muscle pain from the Fibro(at least that is what I think it is), in various parts of my body, speech problems (word searching, finding) and short term/long term memory problems. I am concerned about this EEG, considering all my medical problems. My neuro doesn't think I have a seizure problem or epilepsy. I want to know if this EEG is consistent for some one who has Fibro, major depression and a connective tissue disease. Or is it something else I should investigate? MS? A vascular problem?

[MG (Admin)]

Posting on behalf of Dr. Hart:-

The EEG report you sent me does not seem to be particularly abnormal, and
certainly not suggestive of seizures.
Having said that, many people who do have epilepsy have a normal EEG
between attacks and so a normal EEG does not exclude the possibility of
seizures.
Do you have any reason to believe that you have had a seizure?

Looking forward to hearing back,

Dr. Hart

[blondie1956]

I guess I have to believe my Neuro guy if he says it isn't a seizure disorder??. My question was is this EEG result consistent with someone who has Fibro, a connective tissue disease (UCTD), and major depression or the result of my car accident. I believe I lost consciousness during the car accident in Dec 2008. My neuro says I got a concussion, and abnesia concerning the accident. I am not sure what to believe. All I know is that I have major pain in my body (muscles), headaches every day since the accident, I lose my balance and fall sometimes. I lose feeling in my arms sometimes, wake up in the middle of the night with major sweats, have memory, speech problems, and urine problems sometimes. This is my second car accident where I had a brain injury. I got Fibro from my first accident according to my doctor.

[MG (Admin)]

Well the simple answer to this is..yes it is perfectly consistent. It is also consistent with somebody who is perfectly healthy.

Hope that helps

Dr. hart

[blondie1956]

I appreciate the answer Dr. Hart. I am still a little baffled..... I know I am not some medical mystery, and there are sicker people out there than me. If you say its consistent for someone with my health issues, but also consistent with someone who is healthy? It makes no sence to me, I am not a doctor. All I know is what is going on with me and what my health issues are that are being followed by my primary, pain doctor, and rheumatalogist. So, you are saying that the results of my EEG are consistent with someone who has fibro? or someone who has major depression? or someone who has a connective tissue disease? or the result of my car crash? or a result of the meds I am on?. I was knocked around quite a bit....three times at about 35-40 miles an hour. Hit the side of a bridge and played ping pong with my car (The bridge won) The neuro I saw for the results of my EEG is the same neuro I went to after my first car accident who said I would be fine in 3 months....and now its been years since the first one, and I am falling apart at the seams..

In doing research on the net, it says that Theta wave activity in an adult during waking state, is abnormal. It could be a sign of a vascular problem....Do I need to get another consult from another Neuro? Do I investigate this more, or just live with falling down all the time, memory and speech problems, major body and muscle pain, headaches when I wake up in the morning till I go to bed at night..... like my neuro guy said, it will all go away in about 3 months and I will be fine

[MG (Admin)]

I want to know if this EEG is consistent for some one who has Fibro, major depression and a connective tissue disease.

The EEG should actually be normal in all these situations except for connective tissue diseases which involve the brain (such as lupus).
Head trauma can result in epilepsy, but this looks different on an EEG and also you have never had a seizure.

If you are concerned I would advise seeing an epilepsy specialist with the actual EEG (not the report) and get their opinion (not that I think you have epilepsy, but they are the EEG experts).

all the best

Dr. Hart

[blondie1956]

Thank you Dr Hart! My neuro thinks that 3 mos of time cures all......but it didn't with me. One of the links to Lupus and other connective tissue disease I was told was having the Parvo virus and also Epstein Barr Virus, which my blood work said I had in the past. Right now I am currently in limbo on whether I have Lupus (SLE), or Mixed Connective Tissue disease. They put me in a catergory of UCTD right now I think, since my blood work does not show Lupus antibodies, but positive RNP antibody which is a sign of MCTD. The titers are not high enough yet to say it is definate. However, things are progressing as I have what they call a "shawl" type rash which was biopsied and they cannot confirm what it is. My rhuemy thinks it is a rheumatogicly based rash. In addition to all my symptoms that I shared with you, I am worried about the results and my current condition. I probably shouldn't read as much as I do on the web as it scares me sometimes, but my doctors never seem to have enough time for me with all my questions.Thus, I sought your valuable guidance. Being in constant pain everyday (body) and having a headache that I fight off with rest or pain pills for all the pain, this is just another thing added to my plate. Prior to my first accident in 2003, I never had any of these problems. I used to fly around the US 3 weeks a month lugging around heavy suitcases, laptop and live my personal life in two days a month. I went for my annual physical today, and my PCP wants me to go to another neurologist....wish you were closer I appreciate your answers to my questions. It gives me some basis to work with when I see another neuro guy. The best to you!

[MG (Admin)]

All the best, be well.

Dr. Hart

[blondie1956]

I just had an MRI of my brain on the 31st, with and without contrast. The results: On flair sequence there is a solitary focus of increased signal in the left periventricular white matter. Everything else was normal. The impression from the radiologist is: solitary white matter lesion seen in the left periventricular region. This may be compatible with small vessel ischemic change versus an early demyelinating process such as ms. clinical correlation will dictate the need for followup. What does this mean? Also, I had an abnormal EEG, a positive RNP antibody on my last blood work. My rheumy says she thinks I have UCTD. My other question is, what is this lesion caused by? Is this the start of ms since I have multiple symptoms on the list of MS symptoms? Was it caused by the two car accidents I had? HELP! I am scared to death.

[MG (Admin)]

Well from what you have told us I think that it is most likely that you DO NOT have MS ( we have criteria which define whether someone has MS or not and from what you have told us you do not fit a diagnosis of MS according to these criteria).

In fact, almost all the things you have told us could be what is described as " incidental findings" in other words, abnormal lab results which do not signal any particular disease and can be basically ignored.

My advice would be to go to a good neurologist who will speak to you and give you a thorough examination. If there is no evidence of neurological disease according to these 2 things then any minor gliches in your lab results or imaging are probably best ignored!

Let us know how it goes.

PS:- These MRI and lab findings are quite common even in perfectly healthy people!....my hunch is that your neurological exam will be normal and that you can relax once you have been checked.