Weslee is scheduled for a hospital stay (the EMU ward ... Epilepsy Monitoring Unit) in May. So I started packing. Why so far in advance? Because he is also on the cancellation list. If someone cancels, we will get a call.
Testing will be from 3-5 days. As soon as he settles in, he will get into a hosp gown (his preference), they will put in an IV so they can administer emergency seizure meds when needed, and the tech comes in with the horribly stinky glue to attach the EEG leads to his head.
Then every time he starts a seizure, he (or more likely, I) will push a special button that marks the time in the recording (audio and video, plus the EEG readout) for analysis purposes. This also brings a nurse running.
They will try to induce seizures. They may or may not discontinue medications that evening, although they might wait a day or two. They also may or may not let him sleep that first night (sleep deprivation). They will also do other things that rarely work for him anymore, like flashing lights or blowing on a pinwheel to cause a lack of or reduced oxygen.
When they get enuf data (or when the insurance gives the directive), he is discharged, hopefully back on his meds for at least 24 hours.
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This is his 8th (?? 9th??) EMU visit so I know just what to take for the both of us. Two suitcases, one duffel, my purse and Weslee's murse. At the last minute, we will grab our electronics, charging cords, and pills to put in the purple suitcase.
Light at the end of the tunnel.
Well, a pinlight.
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