Suicide Risk From 11 Epilepsy Drugs

[RobinN]

It has impacted my family as well.

[Belinda5000]

I'll still never believe my epilepsy effected my family.
SO my mother and siblings saw me go down in seizures and bust my chin open and head open I was the one hurt.
my mother has seen me go status so many times but if u care u get the person to the E/R she didn't.

Belinda

[tinasmom]

Belinda -
I'm sorry that your family seems so uncaring regarding your Epilepsy. Some people have a hard time accepting the fact that there is something wrong with their child. Denial is one way they choose to deal with it. Over the last 2 years, I have been working very hard to raise awareness about E and it shocks me to know that people know so little about a disorder that has been around for a long, long time. Education is so important to make people understand that this disorder is more common than they know and you can't tell by looking at someone if they have E.

[BuckeyeFan]

Epilepsy has sure impacted my family.

My wife had to take on so much more responsibility when the kids were growing up. Even if she didn't care about me (she does care alot), it still impacted her life.

Times when I could not drive
Times when I was down for a day or two rebooting my brain
Taking the kids along to the grocery because I was not well enough to take care of them
Making sure that issues around the house are taken care of because of my focus issues
Not having as much money because I am popping pills all the time
This list could go on forever

Not to mention needing to save my life twice.

She was only 19 when this burden fell on her.

[Belinda5000]

Laura,
when ever I've tried teach my mother about epilepsy she doesn'tlisten or will say you had that test. Once when she said that about a PET scan said I had it when I was small.
that would of been the the 60's early 70's my DH said it didn't come out till the 90's or something like that . she was speechless.

Belinda

[tinasmom]

Belinda -

I just want to let you know that I care about how E affects your life. So many times while reading postings here, I really want to reach through my screen and just hug people and let them know that they are not alone. I am sending you a great big virtual hug.

[salright2baredneck]

tinasmom...The world needs more people like you and the other wonderful people on this forum.

[tinasmom]

salright-

Thank you, but I am just doing what God directs me to do. This forum is the second one that I joined after my daughter died from Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy. I first joined RAISE because they focus on Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy and I got to meet a couple of the women that started the forum when we went to Washington D.C. for the first annual walk for Epilepsy put on by the Epilepsy Foundation.

I think of this forum as just one big family because we all have something in common, Epilepsy. I do have a dream that someday, we can have a Coping With Epilepsy get together for those who want to meet others from here in person. I was trying to get one organized, but I guess that the timing just wasn't right. I know that eventually, when the time is right, it will happen.

[Belinda5000]

Tina,
Thank you and it's much appreciated.
your a sweetie.

Belinda

[mamaruns]

Has anyone had any issues while taking Dilantin? I was put on it about a month ago and it seems like since being on it I've been feeling very unstable, either I'm getting very angry over little things or I feel just the opposite. I do have bipolar disorder but it hasn't been this bad for a long time so I don't know if it's just coincidence or it the medication is triggering it. I looked through a few threads but seems like Dilantin doesn't normally have this effect on people.

My doc wants me to go off the generic and try the name brand to see if that doesn't help. When I was on another medication (forgot which one) he would only allow name brand as well....are the differences between generic and name brand really that significant?