No more Depakote! Party time!!

Diane~~I am sorry to hear about your son.&nbsp; What type of seizures is he having?&nbsp; Krystyne has complex (and we believe simple also) partial seizures.&nbsp; For us, it has actually been a very long road to this diagnosis.&nbsp; It started when she was about 6, and she was having trouble sitting down to finish a meal.&nbsp; She told us contstantly that her "tummy felt weird" or that it hurt.&nbsp; We assmumed it was linked to eating, so we began giving her Tums and Rolaids.&nbsp; She would chew mint gum and take mints to school to settle her stomach.&nbsp; After that didn't seem to work, I took her to our family doctor.&nbsp; He prescribed Tagamet for her and told us to check back in a month.&nbsp; A month later, we were back in the office--things were the same.&nbsp; This time he ordered some ultrasounds to check her gallbladder, liver, etc.&nbsp; While they were there, they also checked her kidneys for the disease that I have.&nbsp; (So far--she's clear on that one!! YIPPEE!!)&nbsp; Everything was normal and functioning, so the doctor tried her on Prevacid.&nbsp; A few months later, still no progress.&nbsp; She was getting frustrated, and so were we.&nbsp; She became stubborn and began to tell us that she was feeling better.&nbsp; She was tired of the blood workups, the poking and prodding....tired of it all.&nbsp; So we took a break from everything for about 9 months or so and just let her be a kid.Fast forward to right before her 8th birthday--about a year ago.&nbsp; (She'll be 9 on the 20th)&nbsp; Her symptoms were more frequent and irritating her more.&nbsp; She was sent to Children's in Seattle for a consult with a gastroenterologist.&nbsp; On the first visit he went over the history of problems and did a short examination.&nbsp; He put the gloves on, and we're talking digestive tract, so use your imagination on where that finger of his went.&nbsp; Krystyne was PI**ED!!&nbsp; But, the doctor found blood in that stool sample, so he ordered MORE tests!&nbsp; She and I took a few more trips to Seattle over the next couple of months.&nbsp; She had a few 1/2 day blood work-ups, an upper GI--the works.&nbsp; During this time, she had also started softball.&nbsp; We caught her "daydreaming" frequently, but didn't think anything of it.&nbsp; We chalked it up to the stress of her tests and she was just tired.&nbsp; This continued, and then we had her final tests.&nbsp; A colonoscopy and endoscopy!&nbsp; On an 8 year old!!&nbsp; She had that done, and we came home.&nbsp; Got home just in time for her to sit on the bench with her team--and watch her sister play.&nbsp; We noticed more daydreaming, but she had just experienced a VERY invasive procedure, so we thought nothing of it.&nbsp; Everything came back okay again, so we were back to square one.&nbsp; The doctor had us exclude some things from her diet and continue to bring him stool samples.&nbsp; The blood was gone (YEAH!!), and the symptoms were better when there was no dairy.&nbsp; Not gone, but better.&nbsp; He determined that she was lactoce intolerant and she takes Lactaid.&nbsp; No big deal, right?&nbsp; Everything else was just some growing pains....This fall, we were still going through the normal stuff.&nbsp; She took her Lactaid, and she never complained about her stomach.&nbsp; My brother-in-law pointed out her "spacing out" episodes, and asked if we had put her on a new medication (no).&nbsp; She just seemed "different" to him, and her eyes were a bit "freaky" to him.&nbsp; We began to keep an eye on her--but during this time she had also been put onto an iron supplement for slight anemia, so we figured it was just that.&nbsp; Then we noticed it was happening more frequently.&nbsp; She would be in the middle of something, and just stop.&nbsp; In a few seconds, she just picked up where she left off.&nbsp; She began to have "episodes" at basketball practice, and her team mates got scared and a bit worried.&nbsp; The last straw that sent us to the doctor was when during a passing drill she just stopped and held onto the ball.&nbsp; The girls were yelling her name, and she just stood there.&nbsp; All of a sudden, she dropped the ball and began to spin around in circles.&nbsp; Just as suddenly she stopped, looked at her hands, and asked where the ball was.&nbsp; I called the doctor the next day, and he wanted to see her IMMEDIATELY after I described what had been going on.Our family doctor put her onto Depakote, and we were sent back to Children's.&nbsp; First, an EEG was scheduled.&nbsp; After that was done, we scheduled an appointment with a neurologist.&nbsp; We met him on Dec. 20 and talked to him for quite a while.&nbsp; He went over the EEG results with us, and suggested switching her to Lamictal.&nbsp; He went over the other drugs available, but suggested that this one would be the better one for her to remain as active as she is.&nbsp; He also wanted an MRI done since the type of seizures she has are sometimes caused by tumors or malformations in the brain.&nbsp; We were able to get in for an MRI on Dec. 23....but had to wait for the results until after Christmas.&nbsp; It was a long wait, but everything came back clear.In my family, I am the strong one.&nbsp; I got online and I read---and I read some more.&nbsp; I got as much information as I could.&nbsp; I answered the questions that the family had.&nbsp; I explained everything to my husband and my 2 daughters.&nbsp; I told them we had to keep living.&nbsp; I really believe that is key in any disease.&nbsp; As long as you are physically able to, keep going on "business as usual".&nbsp; Education is a wonderful thing.&nbsp; The more you learn, the more you can teach others.&nbsp; Epilepsy has a stigma that I had to break my own husband from.&nbsp; When I called him and told him the neuro's diagnosis and mentioned the word "epilepsy", he freaked!!&nbsp; He told me that she wasn't having "Epileptic seizures".&nbsp; That's when I got to explain to him that there are many forms of epilepsy, and yes, his daughter had it.&nbsp; We have educated everyone who spends time with her about this.&nbsp; Everyone is supportive.&nbsp; I know it's hard....and I did cry.&nbsp; Twice.&nbsp; The first time was when I went into the pharmacy (small town, here) and while explaining to the pharmacist what was going on, the ladies working there began to cry and hug me.&nbsp; The 2nd time was when we got the "all clear" on the MRI.&nbsp; You see--I was more frightened of her having brain surgery!!&nbsp; Something that medication can help?&nbsp; I can deal with that a little better.&nbsp; There are days that it's tough, but I just push forward.&nbsp; I guess I'm that sick-o optimist that everyone wants to hit.&nbsp; I FIND reasons to celebrate.&nbsp; Thus, the "Pink Party".&nbsp; I'm here if you want to talk--or vent.&nbsp; It's tough, but I read some of the stories here, and realize that my daughter really doesn't have it all that bad.&nbsp; She's got a HUGE support system of family and friends, and her medication works for her. &nbsp;Feel free to email me anytime.&nbsp; <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>VeronicaOH--and BTW--all of the stomach problems?&nbsp; GONE!&nbsp; That's why I believe she also has/had simple partials.&nbsp; I just got back from our family doctor for myself (nasty cough going around. ICK!), and talked to him about my theory.&nbsp; He agrees, and told me that looking for epilepsy is about #20 on the list of things to rule out when dealing with abdominal pain.....