Preparing DS for a 23 hour EEG - any suggestions?

[Guest guest]

My son has to have a 23 hour EEG next week at Memorial Hermann. I'm a bit (a lot

actually!) apprehensive about how he will react. He's 5 1/2 and language

delayed, so it's hard to say whether or not he's going to understand what's

happening. I'm mainly concerned about the possibility that he will have to deal

with glue in his hair/cold electrodes/etc. He's very sensitive about his head

and we have the most awful time just even getting the occasional haircut/shampoo

in. Also, he doesn't do well in confined spaces for long periods of time. We had

to wait over 2 hours to see his neuro the other day - over an hour of it was in

the little patient room - and for nearly an hour he had a raging meltdown.

Can anyone with knowledge of how Memorial Hermann conducts EEG's share their

experience? Do they use the caps? His neuro mentioned something about them, but

I'm still not sure what that means with regard to actual comfort/sensory issues.

Does anyone know of any videos I could show him ahead of time of electrodes

being placed/set/whatever? Or even a social story might do. He's a very anxious

little guy but he might do better if he has something to familiarize him with

what's happening.

Thanks!

Bonnie J.

[Guest guest]

I don't know about your particular hospital, but I recently (2 weeks ago) went through a 72hr inpatient EEG with my daughter who is 4 yrs old. We had to have the glue in the hair, and oh how she hated it.... I did several things to prepare her for the stay and the leads/head wrap that she would have. One night I had her sleep with her head wrapped, but no wires, so she wouldn't freak out at the hospital, it worked pretty well. We also wrapped up one of her bears with some "leads" (they were component cables for the TV and showed her the bear playing with her head wrapped up and sleeping with her head wrapped up and having to stay in bed or in a chair.... I also bought her a new pair of her favorite character pajamas, just beware that it will be difficult

to get anything on or off over the head, so I took dresses and pajamas with very stretchy head areas (I suppose this would be easier for a girl than a boy .... I also contacted the child life specialist office and let them know we were coming in and what some of the issues were. She was prepared when we got there and met us there to help be distracted for the test. It helped a lot I think..... You can also take things with you, things like bubbles, books (especially ones that were interactive), puzzles, games, DVD's/movies, computer (wish I had had the ipad then!!), PLAYDOH!!, and other things she loved were extremely helpful. I hope this helps. Also, if they do use glue, they don't get it all out of the hair, get non acetone finger nail polish remover before you go and have it ready for when you get home, it takes the glue right off!!!

Carolyn

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 11:21 PMSubject: Preparing DS for a 23 hour EEG - any suggestions?

My son has to have a 23 hour EEG next week at Memorial Hermann. I'm a bit (a lot actually!) apprehensive about how he will react. He's 5 1/2 and language delayed, so it's hard to say whether or not he's going to understand what's happening. I'm mainly concerned about the possibility that he will have to deal with glue in his hair/cold electrodes/etc. He's very sensitive about his head and we have the most awful time just even getting the occasional haircut/shampoo in. Also, he doesn't do well in confined spaces for long periods of time. We had to wait over 2 hours to see his neuro the other day - over an hour of it was in the little patient room - and for nearly an hour he had a raging meltdown.Can anyone with knowledge of how Memorial Hermann conducts EEG's share their experience? Do they use the caps? His neuro mentioned something about them, but I'm still not sure what that means with regard to actual comfort/sensory issues.Does

anyone know of any videos I could show him ahead of time of electrodes being placed/set/whatever? Or even a social story might do. He's a very anxious little guy but he might do better if he has something to familiarize him with what's happening. Thanks!Bonnie J.

[Guest guest]

Wow - thanks Carolyn! These are all great suggestions!

I'll definitely look into the child life specialist. I hadn't even thought of

doing that. Actually, I hadn't thought of doing any of the things you suggested

(obviously!).

Thanks so much!

>

> I don't know about your particular hospital, but I recently (2 weeks ago) went

through a 72hr inpatient EEG with my daughter who is 4 yrs old.  We had to have

the glue in the hair, and oh how she hated it....  I did several things to

prepare her for the stay and the leads/head wrap that she would have.  One

night I had her sleep with her head wrapped, but no wires, so she wouldn't freak

out at the hospital, it worked pretty well.  We also wrapped up one of her

bears with some " leads " (they were component cables for the TV and showed her

the bear playing with her head wrapped up and sleeping with her head wrapped up

and having to stay in bed or in a chair....  I also bought her a new pair of

her favorite character pajamas, just beware that it will be difficult to get

anything on or off over the head, so I took dresses and pajamas with very

stretchy head areas (I suppose this would be easier for a girl than a boy

....  I also contacted the child

> life specialist office and let them know we were coming in and what some of

the issues were.  She was prepared when we got there and met us there to help

be distracted for the test.  It helped a lot I think.....  You can also

take things with you, things like bubbles, books (especially ones that were

interactive), puzzles, games, DVD's/movies, computer (wish I had had the ipad

then!!), PLAYDOH!!, and other things she loved were extremely helpful.  I hope

this helps.  Also, if they do use glue, they don't get it all out of the hair,

get non acetone finger nail polish remover before you go and have it ready for

when you get home, it takes the glue right off!!!

> Carolyn

>

>

>

> To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 11:21 PM

> Subject: Preparing DS for a 23 hour EEG - any

suggestions?

>

>

>  

> My son has to have a 23 hour EEG next week at Memorial Hermann. I'm a bit (a

lot actually!) apprehensive about how he will react. He's 5 1/2 and language

delayed, so it's hard to say whether or not he's going to understand what's

happening. I'm mainly concerned about the possibility that he will have to deal

with glue in his hair/cold electrodes/etc. He's very sensitive about his head

and we have the most awful time just even getting the occasional haircut/shampoo

in. Also, he doesn't do well in confined spaces for long periods of time. We had

to wait over 2 hours to see his neuro the other day - over an hour of it was in

the little patient room - and for nearly an hour he had a raging meltdown.

>

> Can anyone with knowledge of how Memorial Hermann conducts EEG's share their

experience? Do they use the caps? His neuro mentioned something about them, but

I'm still not sure what that means with regard to actual comfort/sensory issues.

>

> Does anyone know of any videos I could show him ahead of time of electrodes

being placed/set/whatever? Or even a social story might do. He's a very anxious

little guy but he might do better if he has something to familiarize him with

what's happening.

>

> Thanks!

> Bonnie J.

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, Carolyn! You are one smart mama!

 

I don't know about your particular hospital, but I recently (2 weeks ago) went through a 72hr inpatient EEG with my daughter who is 4 yrs old.  We had to have the glue in the hair, and oh how she hated it....  I did several things to prepare her for the stay and the leads/head wrap that she would have.  One night I had her sleep with her head wrapped, but no wires, so she wouldn't freak out at the hospital, it worked pretty well.  We also wrapped up one of her bears with some " leads " (they were component cables for the TV and showed her the bear playing with her head wrapped up and sleeping with her head wrapped up and having to stay in bed or in a chair....  I also bought her a new pair of her favorite character pajamas, just beware that it will be difficult

to get anything on or off over the head, so I took dresses and pajamas with very stretchy head areas (I suppose this would be easier for a girl than a boy ....  I also contacted the child life specialist office and let them know we were coming in and what some of the issues were.  She was prepared when we got there and met us there to help be distracted for the test.  It helped a lot I think.....  You can also take things with you, things like bubbles, books (especially ones that were interactive), puzzles, games, DVD's/movies, computer (wish I had had the ipad then!!), PLAYDOH!!, and other things she loved were extremely helpful.  I hope this helps.  Also, if they do use glue, they don't get it all out of the hair, get non acetone finger nail polish remover before you go and have it ready for when you get home, it takes the glue right off!!!

Carolyn

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 11:21 PM

Subject: Preparing DS for a 23 hour EEG - any suggestions?

 

My son has to have a 23 hour EEG next week at Memorial Hermann. I'm a bit (a lot actually!) apprehensive about how he will react. He's 5 1/2 and language delayed, so it's hard to say whether or not he's going to understand what's happening. I'm mainly concerned about the possibility that he will have to deal with glue in his hair/cold electrodes/etc. He's very sensitive about his head and we have the most awful time just even getting the occasional haircut/shampoo in. Also, he doesn't do well in confined spaces for long periods of time. We had to wait over 2 hours to see his neuro the other day - over an hour of it was in the little patient room - and for nearly an hour he had a raging meltdown.

Can anyone with knowledge of how Memorial Hermann conducts EEG's share their experience? Do they use the caps? His neuro mentioned something about them, but I'm still not sure what that means with regard to actual comfort/sensory issues.

Does

anyone know of any videos I could show him ahead of time of electrodes being placed/set/whatever? Or even a social story might do. He's a very anxious little guy but he might do better if he has something to familiarize him with what's happening.

Thanks!Bonnie J.

[Guest guest]

Ok, I really can't claim being all that smart, I was super stressed about it too, and so I called the child life specialist and just added on to what she said It also helps that I am a nurse and can prepare her for some things because I have been a nurse for like 11 yrs......

Carolyn

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 5:21 PMSubject: Re: Preparing DS for a 23 hour EEG - any suggestions?

Wow, Carolyn! You are one smart mama!

I don't know about your particular hospital, but I recently (2 weeks ago) went through a 72hr inpatient EEG with my daughter who is 4 yrs old. We had to have the glue in the hair, and oh how she hated it.... I did several things to prepare her for the stay and the leads/head wrap that she would have. One night I had her sleep with her head wrapped, but no wires, so she wouldn't freak out at the hospital, it worked pretty well. We also wrapped up one of her bears with some "leads" (they were component cables for the TV and showed her the bear playing with her head wrapped up and sleeping with her head wrapped up and having to stay in bed or in a chair.... I also bought her a new pair of her favorite character pajamas, just beware that it will be difficult to get anything on or off over the head, so I took dresses and pajamas with very stretchy head areas (I suppose this would be easier for a girl than a boy

.... I also contacted the child life specialist office and let them know we were coming in and what some of the issues were. She was prepared when we got there and met us there to help be distracted for the test. It helped a lot I think..... You can also take things with you, things like bubbles, books (especially ones that were interactive), puzzles, games, DVD's/movies, computer (wish I had had the ipad then!!), PLAYDOH!!, and other things she loved were extremely helpful. I hope this helps. Also, if they do use glue, they don't get it all out of the hair, get non acetone finger nail polish remover before you go and have it ready for when you get home, it takes the glue right off!!!

Carolyn

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 11:21 PMSubject: Preparing DS for a 23 hour EEG - any suggestions?

My son has to have a 23 hour EEG next week at Memorial Hermann. I'm a bit (a lot actually!) apprehensive about how he will react. He's 5 1/2 and language delayed, so it's hard to say whether or not he's going to understand what's happening. I'm mainly concerned about the possibility that he will have to deal with glue in his hair/cold electrodes/etc. He's very sensitive about his head and we have the most awful time just even getting the occasional haircut/shampoo in. Also, he doesn't do well in confined spaces for long periods of time. We had to wait over 2 hours to see his neuro the other day - over an hour of it was in the little patient room - and for nearly an hour he had a raging meltdown.Can anyone with knowledge of how Memorial Hermann conducts EEG's share their experience? Do they use the caps? His neuro mentioned something about them, but I'm still not sure what that means with regard to actual comfort/sensory issues.Does

anyone know of any videos I could show him ahead of time of electrodes being placed/set/whatever? Or even a social story might do. He's a very anxious little guy but he might do better if he has something to familiarize him with what's happening. Thanks!Bonnie J.