We will communicate your appointment time to your referring physician's office. If you do not receive confirmation within a few weeks, please ask the office to follow up on the status of your referral.
How to Prepare
Your stay at the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit will last until enough data on your seizure activity is recorded. Because you'll be staying at the EMU for as long as 1-3 weeks, it's important to pack what you'll need. You should bring everyday clothes and toiletries as well as recreational materials to help pass the time in the monitoring bed.
Some suggested items to remember are:
- Comfy clothes
- Overnight toiletries (toothbrush, face wash)
- Ear plugs (to help you sleep better at night in a shared room)
- Reading material (books, magazines)
- Laptop computer or tablet (there is free Wi-Fi for patients in the rooms)
- Video games or word puzzles
- iPod or other personal music devices with earphones
Please bring with you a list of your current medications. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamin or mineral supplements and herbal remedies.
Checking In
When you arrive at Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, check in at the reception desk. Please have the following ready:
- Health card (OHIP card). If you do not have an OHIP card, please bring another form of government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license, passport or other provincial health card). Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment.
- Your name, address and birth date
During and After Your Stay in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
On your first day, you will see an EEG technician who will glue the electrodes that will be used for monitoring onto your skull. You will proceed to the EMU and will spend most of the time in bed or in a comfy chair. Your anti-seizure medications will be stopped by the neurologist. This will allow the neurologist to locate the source of the seizure.
You may leave the EMU only if you're accompanied by a family member of friend and only twice per day. It's very important not to miss any collected seizure data so we encourage you to leave the EMU as little as possible. Because your medications are stopped, this is also for your safety.
The Results of Your Stay in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
When enough seizures are recorded, your medications will be restarted and the EEG recording stopped.
A follow-up appointment will be made in the Epilepsy Clinic with the neurologist to talk about all findings and plans. If your seizures can be helped by surgery, you'll have all the necessary tests done and have an appointment with a neurosurgeon specializing in epilepsy surgery.
