Sleep deprived EEG for a 8 Year Old - Tips Needed

[itsy1]

I need suggestions for keeping a very regular sleeping 8 yr old awake for his sleep deprived EEG.  Anyone got any suggestions?  The preEEG paper says no caffine.  I don't think I'd do that anyways since we're testing for seizures/ staring spells.

He just turned 8 and has a very regular sleep cycle.  I mean the little dude will fall asleep during favorite activites if he's tired.  Plus, I've got to drive him 45min to the hospital and his favorite place to sleep is in the car.  Yikes!

[JennaChristine]

I have an epileptic with a brain mass and we have sleep deprived EEG's twice a year, and sedated MRIs twice a year.  We are EXPERTS at this!!   So, here is our routine. (if you work and are on a schedule this might take several people, it takes us 3 adults to get through our two day routine).   For example, say our EEG is scheduled for Wednesday AM.  Monday night we stay up as late as possible.  I say "we", it is kiddo and which ever adult is assigned this part, for us, it is usually me the night we stay up late. He loves it, we have a pizza party and movie night in the middle of the living room floor.  I work the next day, albeit super tired.  Then Tuesday he sleeps in late because he was up super late Monday night. Tuesday we keep him active enough so that he doesn't want to sleep just because he is laying around, but nothing physical or that will wear him out.  We play board games, go to the grocery store, go to the library etc.  Then Tuesday night I stay up til about midnight with him, then I sleep (this is where you really need extra people, remember you have to drive and be alert enough to take in everything going on the next morning so you CAN NOT be sleep deprived)  My sis and my mom come in here.  My sis lays down and sleeps til about 3 am while my mom keeps him occupied, he usually does fine for this part but starts getting cranky.  Then my sis gets up and has the hard job, God love her!!  She starts with the activity at this point because by then, moving is the only thing that will keep him awake.  They play Wii, have treasure hunts, go outside and play this game we call Statues where you run around the yard crazy and when a car lights hit you, you freeze in that position til they go away. I know it sounds stupid, but it keeps him moving!!!    Then I get up and drive to the hospital.  We do NOT keep him awake in the car, trust me 30 or 45 min of sleep is not enough for him to catch up, he is still sleep deprived when you wake him up to get him into the hospital and set up for the test.  

If you have any questions or just want to chat feel free to message me!! We got our diagnosis when he was 6 (complex partial and absence seizures) and he is 12 now

[LisaRiu]

Is the whole family planning to be awake or just you and him?

If it's the whole family it could be easier, mainly because it'd be more acceptable to use noise to help keep him awake. If not, it might be more difficult.

Does he like things like treasure hunts? If he can find lost 'treasures' (maybe the treasures could be things he really likes) from a map, it might keep him interested..........for a while anyway.

I would do as Selma suggested and try to tire him out the day before the day before so that he might sleep in a bit later and not be so tired during the night before the eeg. It is worth checking what time he needs to be awake from though. That way you could plan a sleep for him then wake him at the deadline.

I had an eeg when i was 11, but cant remember if i had to stay awake though.......sorry, that doesn't help you does it. I do remember that i was tired and ratty though, so maybe i didid have to be kept awake.

I don't fancy your chances at keeping him awake in the car though. My son did like the AA mapbook we had which showed the signposts on the map - he used to tell us which sign was coming up next........it was a great distraction for him as he used to get car sick.

Good luck. Lisa

[itsy1]

Oops I can't write.  ~lol~  I knew what you meant.

Thanks Selma :)

[selmaS]

  I was referring to the day b4 he has to be awake...so that he is well rested.

  No worries I hope it works : )

   "selma"

[itsy1]

They're telling me that he is not to sleep the night before.  I know with his 10yr old sister being around the day before will probably be a normal day.  I'll give a call and see if he needs to be awake for more than just the evening before.

I know we rescheduled this test so it would be done while he's in the most normal environment, not in vacation mode or anything.  I'll check and see if the oversleeping the day b4 would be okay.

Thanks Selma :)

[selmaS]

  How long prior to the test does  he need to be deprived?.....can u get him to over sleep the day b4?

U know take him on some activity get him really exhausted and let him sleep more than normal?....so that keeping him awake will not be so diff?

Sorry...that is a toughie....

   "selma"