Dr's pushing me to see psych

[Arc2012]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has seen a psychiatrist since you've been diagnosed with epilepsy. My doctor is really pushing me since I had a little breakdown. But the only time I feel like a basket case is when my keppra is too high or I get close to my period. I took it upon myself to started lowering the dose on my keppra by half a pill which made me feel MUCH better. Reluctantly the doctor agreed that I should continue lowering it while increasing lamictal but he still insist I see a psych. I honestly do not believe I have depression and that is the cause of my emotional outburst. Yes i have some stress, but I've always had that. Who doesn't? Have any of you seen one just for E and has it helped anything?

[epileric]

Did you explain to your doctor about the keppra and how you feel it might be responsible for your behaviour?

If your doctor keeps insisting then I would suggest you insist that you will only see a neurologist-psychologist who is familiar with neurology & most likely the side-effects of anti-epileptic drugs.

[Arc2012]

Hi epileric, I've explained a hundred times to him that I thought I was on too much Keppra and that is why I was feeling so crazy. He only considered lowering it because I'd already started. He was going to set me up with a neuropsychiatrist the first time he suggested it but after my "outburst" he told me to go to my primary doctor to find one! And, at my request he authorized me to be off work for a few weeks while my meds were being adjusted but then on the forms he said he authorized for me to be off due to my moods and i hadn't had any seizures! I'd had numerous absent seizures between visits to him! Obviously it was denied and I will be going back to work...drawing blood none the less! Thinks it's time to find neurologist number 5 or just find a psych???

[Arc2012]

Sorry didn't mean to unload on you. This is all just to frustrating! I'm sure you understand

[epileric]

No Problem Arc, I didn't feel unloaded on. I've also been on Keppra so I'm pretty familiar with the kepprage.

Personally I would say keep your neurologist & see what you think of them when your dosage of keppra is lowered & hopefully your emotions more stable.

[valeriedl]

My neurologist had encreased my keppra about a year ago. After that I started to get really angry, more than usual. My neruo suggested I see a psych because he thought it was due to something else and was having mental problems. No one in the family could understand why he wanted me to see a psych because they didn't think that what was going on I didn't need someone to talk to about.

I made the appointment anyway but ended up getting really sick when my appointment was and had to cancel it. I told them I'd reschedule when I was feeling better.

My husband and I talked about it and we decided that I stop talking the extra keppra because we knew that had to be what was going on with me. After a month or so I was back to my normal self again so I know that's what was causing it.

My neurologist asked why I didn't go to the psych and we told him about me stopping the extra keppra. He hasn't said anything about going to a psych since.

[Nakamova]

Thinks it's time to find neurologist number 5 or just find a psych???

My inclination would be to find a neurologist who listens better and is honest with you. There are enough frustrations in epilepsy without having a neurologist making things worse...

[Arc2012]

My neurologist had encreased my keppra about a year ago. After that I started to get really angry, more than usual. My neruo suggested I see a psych because he thought it was due to something else and was having mental problems. No one in the family could understand why he wanted me to see a psych because they didn't think that what was going on I didn't need someone to talk to about.

I made the appointment anyway but ended up getting really sick when my appointment was and had to cancel it. I told them I'd reschedule when I was feeling better.

My husband and I talked about it and we decided that I stop talking the extra keppra because we knew that had to be what was going on with me. After a month or so I was back to my normal self again so I know that's what was causing it.

My neurologist asked why I didn't go to the psych and we told him about me stopping the extra keppra. He hasn't said anything about going to a psych since.

I told my neurologist that after I back off the keppra and get some other things checked out, if I am still having problems I would see anyone he wanted me too. I've been doing pretty good so far so maybe he'll realize not everyone is the same.

[Arc2012]

My inclination would be to find a neurologist who listens better and is honest with you. There are enough frustrations in epilepsy without having a neurologist making things worse...

I know, I think the doctors bring on a great deal of the stress that comes with E...at least that's been my case. I'm just worried about starting all over again with a new dr. but on the other hand, how long do I go having him hound me about this and adjusting my meds myself to prove a point?

[nicholas:)]

Hi! all doctors have a remit and therefore they will refer you to another specialist when needs be. My neurologist has referred me to my psychiatrist - no big deal, at least someone will be seeing me. Don't be afraid by this. You may need antidepressants which the psychiatrist is best suited to prescribe. Take the appointment and be open minded.

[LJ-Bain]

I think that there is a sense of shame in being sent to a pscychiatrist when there really isn't. They are just a different type of Dr. They can help too.
They can help us see things differently and listen.
Even if it is just the meds they'll be able to see past that and listen to YOU and what else is going on in your life.
Everyone has your best interests in mind and "your mind".

[Nakamova]

Even if it is just the meds they'll be able to see past that and listen to YOU and what else is going on in your life.
Everyone has your best interests in mind and "your mind".

I wish this were always true, but some docs only see what they want to see, even with the best of intentions.

[pita300]

arc2012,

I am seeing a neurologist psych, As a matter of fact I have an appointment tomorrow. I really did'nt realize how depressed I was until after I started an anti depressant. I've been seeing her for about a month now. With the increase in my tegretol and now adding Lamictal the epileptoligist thought it was a good idea and got me in quickly. I've been seeing the same group of Neurolgist since I was 19. They now have an epileptoligist on staff and I have been seeig him since my regular doctor could not see me right away. He really understands my issues when it comes to my E and really easy to talk to. If your serious about switching send me a PM and I can get you his name and number. Dont sweat the neurologist Psych. I would recomend it for any one with E

[LJ-Bain]

Nakamova....I do know that to be true too. I was pushed into a conversion disorder diagnosis because of one psychiatrist but I do believe there are some good ones out there. Especially if an epilepsy diagnosis is already locked in.
But maybe a social worker or therapist is more in order? Someone with the ability to listen and without the ability to prescribe medication?
I think though perhaps I am naive in assuming the best in people. Safety mechanism! LOL!

[kirsty1327]

First we get epilepsy and have to take these crappy drugs and if they don't make us angry and depressed having countless seizures surely will and then they want us to see a psychiatrist who wants us to take more drugs to stop the depression!!!!!!! I know a lot of people need help for depression but neuros need to listen when we tell them it's the keppra and LJ Bain social worker and therapist would definatly help a lot of people.

[Cint]

Nakamova....I do know that to be true too. I was pushed into a conversion disorder diagnosis because of one psychiatrist but I do believe there are some good ones out there. Especially if an epilepsy diagnosis is already locked in.
But maybe a social worker or therapist is more in order? Someone with the ability to listen and without the ability to prescribe medication?

IMO, a neuropsychiatrist who is very knowledgable of epilepsy and the depressive episodes that do go with it in some patients (especially temporal lobe epilepsy), is the best type of doctor to see when it comes to these issues. Social workers aren't the best type of people prepared to listen when it comes to epilepsy issues. Been there, done that.

[LJ-Bain]

Good to know Cint. You have certainly more experience with these things than I do. I'm sorry. Don't mean to step on toes! It is interesting to hear everyones unique perspective.

Arc2012: Good for you for standing up for yourself! I hope that Keppra is truly what is to blame and that you don't have to start anew again with another neurologist. Keep us up to date!

[Arc2012]

Hello everyone! Thanks for all your input. Sorry I haven't responded sooner, I've been out of town and things have been crrrrraaaazy Well, I quit being stubborn and made an appointment with the neurologist pysch. I see one next month. But, I have to say that I feel a million times better off so much Keppra. Someone else mentioned that they didn't know they had depression until they saw one (sorry, don't remember who that was). That is my concern with this type of doctor or any doctor for that matter. Some of them have a way of putting things into your head then prescribe meds that may not be necessary. I believe that everyone has suffered some kind of depression at one time or another but not everyone needs anti-depressants. Of course they'll make you feel better but sometimes people just need to be taught coping mechanisms. I feel that I have those mechanisms to cope with E and the big emotional outbursts are due to meds. I just need someone else to believe that and quit trying to push more meds on me. We'll see how this appt goes and see if I'm right at all :-)

[Ella]

I saw a neuropyschiatrist this week for the first time and I'm glad I did. He was much more informative and seemed to know more about epilepsy than any neurologist I ever saw. I would recommend it!

[momof3boys]

Last year after having a video EEG, and having alot of simple partial seizures, some of them didnt register on the EEG, my dr had arranged for me to see a psych dr. I didnt agree with him, but wanted to prove him wrong by saying what he thought was non epileptic seizures, were really epileptic seizures. After seeing this dr, the psych dr said I do not have non epileptic seizures like my neurologist thought I had. I also later found out that my dr tried to switch me over to Lamictal and never said he wanted me to be on it due to anxiety. Which I never have had in my lifetime. I found out two weeks after starting it, when I was having a severe reaction to the medication, and went to my primary care dr, who then told me to contact my neurologist ASAP. It was then when I told my neurologist, that he then admited that the reason he wanted me on Lamictal was because I didnt have seizures, but I had anxiety! OK buddy! Why he would hide this from me, I have no clue. It really made me mad though. Ive been on Keppra XR since and Ive been doing great.