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Joined: 2/28/2023
Posts: 4
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What is an EEG??
Is that a standard test in determining alheimers or dementia??
My mom had a telehealth phone visit with neurology today.
She questioned them about her medication, and they went over with multiple times and even though she read along, and repeated what they told her...she soon forgot it, and couldn't grasp what they were saying. (as noted in her chart by the doctor).
They asked me about the frequency of these episodes.. I told them it happens multiple times everyday.
The doctor said that was very concerning...and that my mom is to be scheduled for an EEG early next month. It requires her to be hospitalized for 5 days.
Will we finally have a diagnosis for what's happening to her afterwards???
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Joined: 9/21/2017
Posts: 1821
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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/9656-electroencephalogram-eeg
Is one description of the test.
While she is in the hospital is a golden opportunity for whomever holds her healthcare proxy/DPOA [if anyone] to consider whether she should be brought directly home , who will live with her or if depending on her test results she should be in assistive living/ memory care.
Suggest whomever handles her bills checks if there will be out of pocket charges for the 5 day hospital stay and if so, how to minimize them upfront.
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Joined: 3/6/2017
Posts: 4154
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Tidd-
Is this neurology practice specific to dementia or more of a generalized practice?
It seems odd that your mom will be hospitalized for an EEG. Is she having other procedures or tests? Normally this is a relative quick outpatient test. If they need an ambulatory one, they typically attach the wires and send the patient home for the duration.
This is usually part of a complete workup and you might not get a definitive diagnosis until all the tests have been completed. Sometimes doctors will schedule a second appointment to go over results.
HB
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Joined: 3/16/2023
Posts: 8
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Hello Tidd,
I am not sure if an EEG is needed for diagnosis. My mom had a full geriatric workup in December of 2021, and it did not include an EEG. The diagnosis at that time was mild cognitive impairment. Last month I took my mother for a nuerological pych evaluation which determined that she has moderate Alzheimer's and Vascualr Dementia.
Does your mom have other problems, such as seizures or epilepsy? If you are comfortable with this, I would speak with your mom's primary care physician to see what they recommend.
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Joined: 11/30/2011
Posts: 4499
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I have no idea why it would require 5 days. It can be done as an
outpatient which takes about 2 – 3 hours. If they need a long period one, they
can hook her up and take it home for multiple days. I have done both of them.
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Joined: 6/3/2013
Posts: 1273
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The neuro wants to establish whether your mom is experiencing seizures. Since the episodes are unpredictable, an EEG done at only one moment in time may not catch an episode, so a continuous EEG is needed.. A patient with impaired cognitive functioning cannot be expected to comply with multiple wires connected to her head in an at-home test; thus, she’ll need to be under close observation, not only to document any seizure activity visually, but to ensure compliance with the attachments. Also, once seizures have been documented and patterns established, the neuro can trial medications to reduce seizure activity, while still under observation. This may not take the full five days.
Good luck with getting some answers.
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