Welllll, the
problem is, that everyone reacts differently to meds.
For example, a number of us here do very well on Keppra, and have absolutely NO problems on it.
Others, however, side effects, like the "Kepprage" (mood swings) which can usually be dealt with by taking vitamin B6. Ask your neuro about that.
On the other hand, there are others, like me, who have REALLY WEIRD reactions to it, and become the Energizer Bunny on Speed OR see things in triplicate while they are rotating. Yup, it happened.
Talk to her neuro, see what they think. Some meds are contraindicated based on medical histories/or even race. It's not to be discriminatory, but it's how the chemistry of how certain races have been found to process certain meds....
Nutritional changes are a good start......and an E journal is a great thing, too. It will definitely help your doctor track things down, and hopefully find the triggers so that you can eliminate them.
Here's what I suggest to put into an E journal:
1. Sleep. List how much & when.
2. Eating. List how much, when & what. It's possible to have seizures caused by allergies to food.
3. TV/computer/video games. Yup, they can affect you if you're photosensitive, so list when, what, and HOW LONG.
4. Menses (for women). Start tracking your cycles. CATAMENIAL epilepsy does exist, sometimes it's tied to ovulation, sometimes its right at the TOM.
5. Stress List when it occurred, and what happened.
6. Exercise List what you did, when, and any reactions.
7. Seizures/auras. If you have either, DOCUMENT THEM. Auras--note what they're like--do you smell or taste something that others don't? Hear something? Seizures--how long, when, where, what happened. If you don't KNOW what happened, get eyewitness accounts when possible and DOCUMENT THEM.
8. Smoking and alcohol. Ditch them--both are neurotoxins for our brains.
9. Meds (of ANY kind). List the dosages, and when taken.
*******************
Responses to the above list 
1. You MUST get 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep as a MINIMUM, no ifs, ands or buts about it.
2. Eating--one of the other supermods here, Skillefer, (we call her Skilly) promotes eating 6 small meals a day, using a dessert plate, filling it with a carb and a protein. Good idea, I think. However, some people, like me are allergic to certain foods. You might want to look into various diets. Ketogenic, Modified Atkins, Low Glycemix Index, Gluten Free Casein Free (see
www.dogtorj.com).
Even though I was on the GARD diet for years, it took the doctors a while to figure out that I was actually a celiac patient, so now my diet is even more strict. But it DOES help my seizure control...I can't imagine where I'd be if I didn't practice it.
3. Look into a glare screen or blue tinted polarized GLASSES (available by prescription from eye doctor). These can help cut down on seizures that are caused by photosensitive epilepsy.
4. GUYS--you may not have a cycle, but you DO have hormones. DO get your doc to do a full hormone screen, check thyroid, etc, just to make sure.
5. Use things like yoga, music, walking, whatever it is that you do to bust out your stress. Keep a separate journal to write in so that you can write out your feelings in--and keep it for your eyes only. Write it out by hand, two or three pages at a time. It helps A LOT. DO IT EVERY DAY.
6. REFLEX E, as well as some other types of E, can be caused by exercise, so DO track what you do. Keep in mind that you SHOULD NOT swim, bike, hike or bungee jump by yourself. Same goes for mountain climbing.
7, 8 & 9. 'Nuff said.
OK, the journal IS a pain in the arse. No doubt about that one. BUT it DOES help the doctors track things down.
Oh, and by the way, welcome to CWE. Feel free to kick up your feet, and check things out. Hopefully someone will bring around something decent to drink, as I'm messing everything up today.
There's lots of nooks and crannies to check out here, the Library and Kitchen are chock full of information, and the Padded Room is great for venting when you need to, so feel free.
Mr B, our host, has built us an AWESOME home here...
Take care, and I hope I didn't overwhelm you TOO much! :bigmouth::bigsmile:
Meetz
:rock:
