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return of seizures
Thu, 11/04/2004 - 09:42Topic: Medication Issues
I an a 48 y/o female that was diagnosed with JME at age 10. I've been off meds/seizure free for over 25 yrs. My med back then was phenobarbital. Last month I had a grand mal seizure (not sure if they are still called that or not). Dr prescribed Lamictal...developed rash...now he wants me to try Depakote. The weight gain/hair loss is really an issue for me b/c I'm not having any of the jerking motions I had for all those yrs ....only this recent seizure. I am new to this board so I was needing some help finding info on Depakote. Thanks for any info you can give me... wvtrainer ps this is GREAT to have access to this kind of support...all those yrs growing up with JME and not even knowing the name of it or having access to all of y'all....it's cool
Comments
RE: RE: return of seizures
Submitted by Willsmom on Wed, 2004-11-03 - 09:16
I think that you can take control of the situation. There is some sort of trigger that has brought this conditon to the surface again. An excellent resource is a book called treating epilepsy naturally. It may give you some idea of where to look for your triggers. It may be lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, food.....It also may be a change in hormone levels as you age. Investigate bio identical progesterone treatments, and estrogen level boosting foods and supplements. (Wisdom of Menopause is an excellent resource for this stuff)Take a yoga class.I bet you can take back your life.
RE: RE: RE: return of seizures
Submitted by Kendra on Thu, 2004-11-04 - 09:42
Thank you. I ride my horse every day and have recently gotten into pilates for equestrians. I think the level of stress in my life with my husband deployed on top of everything else may be at the root of the seizure I had but who knows. I'm trying to get more sleep but don't drink or do much else that might be a trigger. I'm going to getthe books you suggested. Again, thank you.
RE: return of seizures
Submitted by Kendra on Tue, 2004-11-02 - 09:28
I read your message just now and can't believe how similar it sounds to my own situation. When I was 8 yrs. old I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and on phenobarbital too for four years. Once seizure free for more than a year they took me off it and I haven't had a seizure or been on any meds in 28 years. Now 38, I had a grand mal seizure two weeks ago and feel like my life has been turned upside down. I can't drive for six weeks while the medication I'm on kicks in and I adjust and my doctor really doesn't want me to drive at all after that. I have three young children, a full time, very demanding job and a husband in the miltary who is currently commanding a ship and gone frequently. I feel like I have no control over my life and that in the span of what took just 2.5 minutes to occur, I've gone from being one of the most independent, self sufficient people I know to someone everyone is worried about and who now has to depend on others to shuttle them around and even go to the grocery store! I realize eventually I will come to terms with this and when I look at friends with Cancer I feel very small for complaining about my situation but this is definitely one of the most difficult, frustrating things I've ever experienced. Any words of advice on how you're dealing with it would be most appreciated.