Stacy had some breakthrough seizures last Thursday and Friday. She had to be stabilized in the ER and was released on Saturday. I was working out of town at the time. Thank goodness we have loved ones close by to help out.
I think there were likely a combination of factors contributing to the breakthrough: she was ill (cold), not getting good sleep (kids ), stressed (I wasn’t home) and possibly eating too much sugar (damn Halloween candy).
At any rate, she is recovering nicely.
#1 by yarmouthport on December 6th, 2006
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About 2 months ago, my 4 year old computer died; hence my absence. Please give this to Stacy:
Primary Causes of seizures:
Not taking meds as prescribed;
Lack of sleep;
Alcohol
Stimulants (coffee, candy, etc., i.e., sugar
Stress
I’ve finally been seizure free for over 1 year: I’m taking 3 meds simultaneously:
Trileptal, Lamactial; Tranxene. These really have my CNT shut down, but no siezures. The problems with them is numerous, serious side-effects: blurred vision, dizziness, loss of balance; loss of hair, weight gain, slowed cerebral functioning, etc. These wear off during the day following ingestion, but I’m not able to drive throughout much of the day.
I took Dilantin for many years and had about one seizure per year. I then switched docs and he suggested Neurontin plus dilantin: no change. Switched again: Tegretol; continuing seizures; increased Tegretol: continuing seizures. Another doc: eventually started on the present regimen. I don’t skip them. The others, with the exception of alcohol (the combination is lethal), I follow the others for the most part.
ADJUSTING THE DRUG REGIMEN ORDERED BY THE DOC IS ABOUT THE WORST THING ONE CAN DO.
If you don’t believe me, ask the doc. (Everyone IS different, but for most people, diets alone don’t work and some drug(s) are also needed.
God Bless you.
#2 by Bernard on December 11th, 2006
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Thank you for the response yarmouthport. Stacy does need as much encouragement as she can get. I’ll make sure she reads it.
#3 by HELP4U on May 8th, 2007
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I just read your latest note: I can only extend my sorrow at Stacey’s recent seizues and repeat my previous admonitions. The primary causes of repetitve seizures are not taking meds as prescribed and lack of the sleep. With no attempt whatsoever to be rude: there is a saying in the legal profession: he who defends himself in court has a fool for a client. Neurologists study an extremely delicate organ. Unlike heart disease or cancer, epilepsy affects only a very small percentage of the population. Hence only a small amount of money is spent on research of the disease, drugs, alternative treatments, etc. If the docs wanted Stacey to reduce her intake of Dilantin and change her diet, they’d tell her that. Taking 100 mg’s of Dilantin instead of 300, will reduce the amount of meds in her bloodstream and thus her central nervous system.
If you don’t put fuel in your car, it will stop. If you don’t put meds into your brain it will misfire. Give her a hug for all of us who know what she is going thru and have concern for her. Dilantin may not turn out the drug of choice for her, but she’s got to do something that will work and reducing meds won’t do that. (I took Dilantin for many years and never even felt it; I now take a much stronger combination of 3 drugs, with many significant side effects. Believe me: she won’t that one at all, even though it appears to be foolproof. I NEVER MISS A DOSE (I don’t like the ER.) Good luck and best regards.