I Have Epilepsy
Another trip to Stanford on Thursday put me through what's called a Functional MRI. I was in the machine for about two hours. With this test, they are trying to determine just what side of the brain works harder to answer questions. The questions were simple, any five year old could have easily answered them, but they aren't trying to make things difficult.
With the set up, they put my head into a special frame, and cushioned my head so I couldn't move it. There was a small screen up on top so that they could show me sketches for me to identify while going through the MRI. I couldn't wear my own glasses, as they have metal in them, so they traded me for a pair of theirs. Other than making me see double, they worked. I just had to shut one eye at times.
So the layout of the test was that they'd show me 3 pictures, one at a time, then a break for about 15 seconds, then 3 more. This went on five times. Then the next test, the same....
Between each test, they'd turn on the noise of the machine for a certain period of time, then we moved on to the next test... So, you get the gist of how each test went....
Now, while these tests were going on, I could not speak. What I had to do was THINK about the answers.
The first test was just to think about what the pictures were...A dog, an apple , a plane...rest...a pear, a couch, a desk....rest....etc for five times.
The loudness of the machine for a certain period of time....
The second test was to identify the picture AND what they do/what they are for...
A dog barks, a plane flies, and apple is eaten...rest...a pear you eat, you sit on a couch, you write on a desk...etc... for five times, (and no, the pictures weren't the all the same or in the same order, I'm just using those as examples)
MRI noise again...
Another test was to identify things that the screen defined...'a large pink bird'...a flamingo;
'something that you watch'...A movie. 'something that you drive'...a car. Five times.
By this time, I must have been in there for an hour. I think I may have fallen asleep at one point while the machine was doing it's thing.
There were a few other tests, although I don't remember them. The only other one I remember clearly is movement of the fingers. They'd show me on the screen a certain way they wanted to move the fingers, to touch the thumb, and I'd have to follow, then a 10 second rest, then again, a different way, rest....etc...five times.
By the time I was done, I was exhausted, drained. My body was stiff from laying that way for two hours. I never lay on my back at home. My mouth was dry and I'm sure my stomach was growling. I desperately needed help getting off the machine. Luckily, they allowed me to wear my neoprene knee wrap. I'm sure that if I hadn't, I wouldn't be able to walk without excruciating pain.
Unless they call me in for testing prior, my next tests are in March. I am hoping with those, they will be able to come up with a conclusion as to what they want to do. These tests are exhausting. This one was on Thursday, and I'm still feeling worn on Sunday! A big ordeal, plus the 2 hour drive either way.
All I can hope is that this will all end up worthwhile.
With the set up, they put my head into a special frame, and cushioned my head so I couldn't move it. There was a small screen up on top so that they could show me sketches for me to identify while going through the MRI. I couldn't wear my own glasses, as they have metal in them, so they traded me for a pair of theirs. Other than making me see double, they worked. I just had to shut one eye at times.
So the layout of the test was that they'd show me 3 pictures, one at a time, then a break for about 15 seconds, then 3 more. This went on five times. Then the next test, the same....
Between each test, they'd turn on the noise of the machine for a certain period of time, then we moved on to the next test... So, you get the gist of how each test went....
Now, while these tests were going on, I could not speak. What I had to do was THINK about the answers.
The first test was just to think about what the pictures were...A dog, an apple , a plane...rest...a pear, a couch, a desk....rest....etc for five times.
The loudness of the machine for a certain period of time....
The second test was to identify the picture AND what they do/what they are for...
A dog barks, a plane flies, and apple is eaten...rest...a pear you eat, you sit on a couch, you write on a desk...etc... for five times, (and no, the pictures weren't the all the same or in the same order, I'm just using those as examples)
MRI noise again...
Another test was to identify things that the screen defined...'a large pink bird'...a flamingo;
'something that you watch'...A movie. 'something that you drive'...a car. Five times.
By this time, I must have been in there for an hour. I think I may have fallen asleep at one point while the machine was doing it's thing.
There were a few other tests, although I don't remember them. The only other one I remember clearly is movement of the fingers. They'd show me on the screen a certain way they wanted to move the fingers, to touch the thumb, and I'd have to follow, then a 10 second rest, then again, a different way, rest....etc...five times.
By the time I was done, I was exhausted, drained. My body was stiff from laying that way for two hours. I never lay on my back at home. My mouth was dry and I'm sure my stomach was growling. I desperately needed help getting off the machine. Luckily, they allowed me to wear my neoprene knee wrap. I'm sure that if I hadn't, I wouldn't be able to walk without excruciating pain.
Unless they call me in for testing prior, my next tests are in March. I am hoping with those, they will be able to come up with a conclusion as to what they want to do. These tests are exhausting. This one was on Thursday, and I'm still feeling worn on Sunday! A big ordeal, plus the 2 hour drive either way.
All I can hope is that this will all end up worthwhile.
