EEG:
- Hair must be clean and dry, with no hair tonic, oil, gel, mousse, etc., and especially, no hair spray. If you wear braids, some of them may need to be undone. If you wear a hair weave, check with the technician prior to making an appointment.
- Take your regular medicines and eat your regular meals. Bring a list of your medications with you.
- Do NOT drink any beverage with caffeine or alcohol in it for at least 24 hours prior to the test this includes coffee, tea, and most soft drinks. You may drink water, milk, fruit juices, or decaffeinated beverages.
- If the doctor has ordered a sleep deprived EEG on you, be sure to get no more than 4 hours of sleep (1/2 your usual amount of sleep) the night before the test, so that you will be able to fall asleep during part of the test. If you feel that you will be too sleepy to get home on your own after so little sleep, be sure to bring someone with you who can help you get home.
72‑Hour EEG:
- Follow instructions I and 2 for EEG as above. You may have up to 2 caffeinated beverages or one alcoholic beverage the day prior to the test, but you should not have caffeine or alcohol on the day of the test, or during it. You do not need to be sleep‑deprived.
- Wear a shirt or blouse that buttons up the front, as otherwise it will be quite difficult to take it off.
- Wires are glued to your head, going to a soft collar worn around the neck, with a cable going from there to a tape‑recorder worn on a belt around the waist, which you wear home. You will look somewhat peculiar, so you may want to bring a hat or scarf, and possibly a coat.
- The solution used to remove the glue is somewhat oily, so plan on going home and washing your hair, after having the wires removed on the second day.
Carotid, Venous, Arterial, TransCranial Doppler Ultrasound:
Doppler ultrasound (a non-invasive test) is a test that uses sound waves to create images and sounds of your blood flow. This test can detect narrow or blocked arteries or ulcerated plaques. An ultrasound scan of the carotid arteries screens for buildup of fatty plaque - the leading cause of strokes. A hand-held probe placed against the skin emits sound waves. The sound waves bounce off the moving blood cells in the arteries and echo back to the probe. The echo is translated into an image that appears on a screen. The test involves no radiation and is harmless, there are no injections of contrast and gives important information about real-time physiology of the vascular systems going to the brain and the Circle of Willis.
Before your test:
Getting ready for this requires little effort. You should wear a button down shirt. This test usually takes from 30 to 45 minutes. Be sure to leave time for check in, and relax while you are getting ready.
Tell the sonographer if you've had:
- A stroke, hypertension and/or high cholesterol
- Symptoms, such as short-term loss of strength, speech, or vision.
You may be asked about your health. Your answers will help the sonographer.
During your test:
You will lie down on an exam table. Your head will be turned to the side, as if you were looking over your shoulder. Non-greasy gel will be applied to your neck. The sonographer will then press a hand-held transducer (probe) against your neck.
Be aware that:
- The gel may feel wet. But don't worry. It wont harm your skin or clothes.
- You may feel pressure. If the test is painful, let the sonographer know.
During Doppler ultrsound, you may hear a "whoosing" noise. This is the sound of your blood flowing. You may also see tracings of your blood flow on a screen. The sonographer can answer your questions about the test. But only a doctor can explain the results.
EMG and Nerve Condition Test and Prep
Most of the tests below take 60-90 minutes, sometimes a bit less, depending on your symptoms and the results. Most patients have a nerve conduction study will be scheduled for and EMG on the same day.
UPPER BODY STUDY PREPARATION and WHAT TO EXPECT:
No oils or lotions on your arms or shoulders and wear a short sleeve loose fitting shirt or tee shirt and (or bring it with you to change into here at the office).
ABOUT THE TEST:
the nerve is stimulated at the wrist, elbow, axilla(armpit) and sometimes at Erb’s point, which is just above the collarbone. There are 3 main nerves in the arm, the median, radial and ulnar nerves, and each nerve has both a sensory branch (one that you feel with) and a motor branch (one that makes a muscle move), and usually both types are tested and at least 2 of the 3 nerves are done. Depending on your symptoms, both arms may need to be done for comparison purposes.
LOWER BODY STUDY PREPARATION AND WHAT TO EXPECT:
No oils or lotions on your legs or feet. Please wear shorts (or bring it with you to change into here at the office).
ABOUT THE TEST:
The nerve is stimulated at the ankle and just below and just above the knee and on the back of the leg. Usually, 3 motor and 1 sensory study is done, tibial moto, peroneal motor, sural sensory and H-Reflex. Occasionally, other nerves in the leg will be studied, if ordered by the doctor. Once again, both legs may need to be done for comparison purposes, depending upon the results during the study.
ALERT: FOR ANY NERVE CONDUCTION STUDY, IF YOU HAVE A PACEMAKER, DEFIBRILLATOR, VAGAL NERVE STIMULATOR, OR OTHER NEURAL STIMULATOR, TELL THE TECHNICIAN OR THE DOCTOR PRIOR TO SCHEDULING YOUR APPOINTMENT, AS SPECIAL PROCEDURES WILL BE NECESSARY.
EMG (Electromyogram) PREPARTION:
No lotions or oils on the areas being tested and as for the nerve conductions, short sleeved loose fitting shirt for the upper body and shorts if the lower body is being tested (or bring them with you to change here in the office) The doctor interprets this test as it is being done but may not be able to give you a result until he’s gone over all your test results which won’t be on the same day.
ABOUT THE TEST:
This a passive recording from various muscles in your body, that is, no stimulation is used. It is normally done by the doctor only and involves putting a tiny electrode the size of a pin through the skin into the muscle. This is somewhat uncomfortable, but it usually very quick, lasting 5-10 minutes at the most.
48 HOUR NOTICE IS REQUIRED FOR CANCELLING A SCHEDULED TEST TO AVOID BE CHARGED THE RATE OF THE TEST. THANK YOU
TM Flow/ENG Test
- No lotion on feet day of the appointment.
- Bring or wear short sleeve shirt since we will be monitoring your blood pressure
- Wear loose pants or shorts because pant legs will be rolled up to put on a blood pressure cuff on your ankles/legs.
48 hour notice is required to for any cancellation, in order to avoid the late cancel fee.