Hello. New Here.

[Krista2882]

Hi everyone.
My name is Krista and I've had Epilepsy for about 18 years. I started having simple-partials when I was about 11. I was diagnosed with Epilepsy when I was 14 or 15, but the pediatric neurologist I went to never discussed further treatment, so I just went on my way thinking they wouldn't get any worse (they were already pretty miserable, though. They're motor seizures on the right side of my body). Then a month before I turned 19 I had a Gran Mal seizure. I saw my doctor the next day to start meds and then I got a referral to a neurologist. My first med- Dilantin didn't work. Then I tried Tegretol which helped, but eventually Keppra was added to the mix, and then a few years later, after a video EEG (where I found out that the seizures come from my frontal lobe), Lamictal was added. My seizures are mostly under control now (I just get maybe a couple small ones about once a month. They're triggered by hormones). The last time I had a medication adjustment was about 2 years ago, so It took about 8 years to get my seizures under control! I'm so glad only one of them was a Gran Mal, though. The rest have always been different degrees of simple partial seizures.
Anyway, I joined here to get up-to-date info, and also to hopefully help others with my years of personal experience and research.

[CQ:)]

Hi Krista,

Welcome to CWE & it's good to read you seem to have your seizures under control .

Finding the right medication or treatment to help control our seizures is always hard.
I've tried 5 different meds over the last 9 years, at one time I was on 3 meds with 2 of them at the highest doseages & all it did was make me feel like a walking zombie lol. None of the meds I tried helped completely control my partial seizures so in 2009 my neurologist suggested to look into having surgery.

I had all the testing done for the surgery in 2010 & in March this year I had left temporal lobe surgery. So far everything has gone well & I am currently 9 months seizure free but aiming for that 12 month mark now .

I'm currently on Tegretol 400mg (twice day) & Keppra 1000mg (twice a day) but in March next year once I reach my 12 month anniversary the neurologists are going to gradually start to reduce one of my meds which will most likely be the Keppra.
The neurologist is to eventually get me on one med but on a lower doseage but it's always one step at a time.

[Nakamova]

Hi Krista2882, welcome to CWE!

It can take while to get meds figured out, can't it? I'm glad you're in a stable place right now. At some point, since your seizures are hormonal, you might want to ask your neurologist about the use of a progesterone cream in your treatment. There's more info about these kinds of seizures (called catamenial) at the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catamenial_epilepsy
Catamenial Epilespy
hormones catamenial epilepsy

Best,
Nakamova

[momof3boys]

Hi and welcome to CWE!

I take Keppra XR, but was also on Carbatrol for over 12 years prior to this year, when they put me down to only one medication after having my first video eeg. I was dx'd with epilepsy at 18 months old, and was put on alot of different medications, til they finally found a good combo... keppra and carbatrol that controlled my seizures very well. I was having complex partial seizures and grand mal seizures growing up. This year, after getting the video EEG, I had simple partial seizures. My dr thinks I could have easily outgrown the grand mals, but decided to keep me on the Keppra. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anything! Im glad you found us! There are alot of very smart and helpful people here!

[huskymom]

Hi Krista!

Welcome to our wonderful family! I know you will feel at home here and you will get support whenever you need it, or someone to laugh with or rant to. Enjoy your holidays

[Krista2882]

Thanks, everyone!

[Ruth]

Hi Krista,

Welcome to our forum, CWE. You will find many nooks and crannies here. You will find a wealth of information here. Thank you, we can use more support.

CWE was started by Bernard out of love for his wife Stacy. This love has permeated throughout the whole forum.

Again welcome!!