Digging Deeper

When I went to my appointment yesterday my neurologist told me “we still need to know more”. After all of my tests thus far (video EEG, fMRI, MEG, SPECT, PET) the panel of doctors are still uncertain of where exactly my seizure focus is.

Why? Because some of the tests are indicating my seizures are coming from the frontal lobe, while others seem to be showing the left temporal lobe; and they don’t want to proceed to surgery without knowing for sure. So they want me to have an intracranial EEG. First with depth (stereotaxic) electrodes, and then with grid (subdural) electrodes.

Implanted electrodes get a better reading of the brain’s electrical activity because they are either inserted into or placed directly on the surface of the brain (Yes, that means opening things up).

Depth electrodes or “probes” are made of fine wires in thin cables that have contact points to record electrical activity. These are commonly used for cases (such as mine) when it is difficult to determine the seizure focus.

Grid electrodes are made of disc-shaped, platinum contacts and embedded in flat sheets of flexible plastic. They can be cut into grids or strips and tailored for individual patients.

Unlike other tests, this isn’t something the doctors can schedule quickly because I’ll have to be admitted to the hospital. Thus, I will have to wait (again). So I’m working with their office to set a date.

In the meantime I’m anxious (because I want to keep moving forward) and a bit scared (I don’t want to see or feel these in my head). But at least for now, I know where things stand… and where I’m headed.

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