Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

VNS has changed my life

Thu, 07/03/2008 - 14:51

 

HI all,

 I have been on here with a story about my VNS about 3 or 4 months ago.   But now it gets even better.  I am at 2.25 amps.  IT is running on a cycle of 5 minutes OFF and 30 seconds ON.  That may soon change to 3 minutes off and 30 seconds ON to give my brain more stimulation. 

Anyway, on Jne 9th I turned in my sz log to him and it was a 2 month span between my appt and it had only 8 szs and 55 sz-free days on it.  That prompted him to lower my Neurontin 300 mgs so I am not maxed out on it any more ao instead of 3600 mgs I am now on 3300 mgs of it and he has set  up my Lamictal so he can reduce when I go in there on the 25th of this month.

SInce the 10 th of June I have only had 5 szs.  I have multiple types, and it has obliterated my GMs, Absences, Atonics, and simple Partials.  All I have to deal with are the Complex Partial szs.

 I have only had the VNS for just over 9 months, and am way ahead of where I should be at this time.

 He said there is a possibility that I could become sz-free by the end of the year.

What a Christmas present that would be.  After having szs since I was a little kid that were undiagnosed.  I have been diagnosed for 6 years.  Frontal Lobe Epilepsy in the left lobe.  The otehrs were all generalized.

Nancy

 

Comments

Re: VNS has changed my life

Submitted by rasctiseslkl on Thu, 2008-07-03 - 22:35

Theresa

I had the VNS on 4/14/08 and still have some trouble with it. Had to have the magnet turned down to lowest that it could be done. Everytime I try to talk my voice changes. It will either get real deep or it will go altogether. I know I have along way to go. I'm on no other meds. for my body rejects all meds. I'm given. That is why I have the VNS. I hope it works, for if it don't I will be without any kind of meds.

Theresa

I had the VNS on 4/14/08 and still have some trouble with it. Had to have the magnet turned down to lowest that it could be done. Everytime I try to talk my voice changes. It will either get real deep or it will go altogether. I know I have along way to go. I'm on no other meds. for my body rejects all meds. I'm given. That is why I have the VNS. I hope it works, for if it don't I will be without any kind of meds.

Re: VNS has changed my life

Submitted by banffgirl on Thu, 2008-07-03 - 23:07

RASCTI,

MY NEURO STARTED ME ON THE LOWEST SETTING POSIBLE  AND BROUGHT IT UP SLOWLY, I DID GO BACK IN AND HAVE IT TURNED DOWN ONCE WHEN HE RAISED IT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE. EVERY TIME IT WENT OFF AND I WAS TALKING OR TRIED TO TALK MY VOICE CRACKED OR DISAPPEARED. BUT NEXT TIME I WENT IN I WENT TO THAT LEVEL AND WAS OK AFTER A FEW DAYS. IT ALWAYS TAKES A FEW DAYS TO ADJUST, HAVING TO CLEAR YOUR THROAT, BEING HOARSE, OR YOUR VOICE CATCHES A BIT, BUT IT SHOULD CLEAR IN A FEW DAYS OR ITS BEEN TURNED UP A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE. ALSO A FRIEND OF MINE THATS HAD A VNS FOR 10 YEARS NOW, ALSO TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU FIRST GET IT, YOU DO HAVE A HABIT OF TENSING THE NECK MUSCLES WITHOUT REALIZING YOU ARE DOING IT AND THAT MAKES IT WORSE. I FOUND THAT LAYING DOWN AND DOING DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES HELPS WITH THAT. I HOPE THAT HELPS YOU.

I TYPE IN CAPS FOR THE VISUALY IMPAIRED 

GOD BLESS,

BANFFGIRL

LIFE IS FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE.

RASCTI,

MY NEURO STARTED ME ON THE LOWEST SETTING POSIBLE  AND BROUGHT IT UP SLOWLY, I DID GO BACK IN AND HAVE IT TURNED DOWN ONCE WHEN HE RAISED IT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE. EVERY TIME IT WENT OFF AND I WAS TALKING OR TRIED TO TALK MY VOICE CRACKED OR DISAPPEARED. BUT NEXT TIME I WENT IN I WENT TO THAT LEVEL AND WAS OK AFTER A FEW DAYS. IT ALWAYS TAKES A FEW DAYS TO ADJUST, HAVING TO CLEAR YOUR THROAT, BEING HOARSE, OR YOUR VOICE CATCHES A BIT, BUT IT SHOULD CLEAR IN A FEW DAYS OR ITS BEEN TURNED UP A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE. ALSO A FRIEND OF MINE THATS HAD A VNS FOR 10 YEARS NOW, ALSO TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU FIRST GET IT, YOU DO HAVE A HABIT OF TENSING THE NECK MUSCLES WITHOUT REALIZING YOU ARE DOING IT AND THAT MAKES IT WORSE. I FOUND THAT LAYING DOWN AND DOING DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES HELPS WITH THAT. I HOPE THAT HELPS YOU.

I TYPE IN CAPS FOR THE VISUALY IMPAIRED 

GOD BLESS,

BANFFGIRL

LIFE IS FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE.

Re: VNS has changed my life

Submitted by tan_the_fan on Thu, 2008-08-14 - 21:23
Can I ask how successful most people have found it? I talked to the epilepsy nurse at my hospital about the posibility of one if I dont qualify for surgery, and she said "to be honest, we find that they just dont seem to work very well in adult patients with uncontrolled seizures in general" Is this what you guys have found, or completely the oppsite as in Nancy's case?

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.