It Burns …

I wrote in my forthcoming memoir of the day our son was born,

” …my son was in isolation and an incubator with so many wires attached to him he could have passed as a cyborg – some form of artificial life …”

Thirty-seven years later, he remains wired up, and those memories of his traumatic birth come flooding back.

Over several days, we received news that correcting the pain for his hemiplegia would be too much and would have many complications and consequences. The advice was not to have any surgical treatment but to rely on supportive orthotics until he becomes a permanent wheelchair user.

The wires relate to a multi-day EEG, and video recording, to assess his brain activity. His new neurologist hopes that she can identify exactly which parts of his damaged brain are triggering the seizures and maybe, just maybe, a new look at his medication and what is available could target specific areas identified and ease his torment. He has what is classed as generalised onset epilepsy, which, in essence, means that the whole brain is triggering the attacks. But we wait and see what the results show with fingers crossed for something to grasp hold of.

The source of his complaining about pain became apparent as the bandages were removed from his forehead, and ugly blisters were where the electrode had been. He had been burnt!

I had no idea there was a risk of burning and a reaction to the glue with which the electrodes are applied. As you would expect of me, I investigated and found that up to forty per cent of adults undergoing EEG assessments lasting more than a few hours experience this.

He persevered with it and completed his fifty hours with them. We are now treating the burns, which will heal, but once again, I question my judgment in trying to help him by putting him through so much unpleasantness. I share this as I hope it may enable someone to ask the question I did not. “Is there any risk at all?” I was told ‘no’ and accepted that without challenging it. I now know better.

Take care everyone, keep safe and stay well. :-))