out of hospital & depressed.

[Eyes_herself]

I just got out of the hospital today and am on new medication. I'm on a higher dosage of Tegretol XR and my new med is Lamictal.

I felt better until I got home. I became anxious, unsure, and nervous. I read that Lamictal actually is an antidepressant so I am at a loss.

Anyone else have anything similar after they leave video EEG or long stints in the hospital? How do you deal with it? Also I'm covered in leftover sticky stuff from the tape and my hair is riddled with glue/paper stuff. What works for that??

[xenome]

Did they prescribe you the lamictal for depression or for epilepsy? Did you tell them you were depressed while you were in the hospital?

The Vagus Nerve Stimulator I have implanted in my chest is also supposed to help people with depression. It makes me wonder if there is a connection between epilepsy and depression.

I got out of the hospital last night and I still have sticky stuff from the tape on my skin which I hate, but my head is shaved to the skin, so Im afraid I cant help you with your hair.

I hope you feel better.

[brain]

OK, TEA TREE CONDITIONER!!!

I know that stuff is expensive,
but it works - just dabbing it
in all the problematic areas,
and wrapping your hair in a towel
and leaving it there for at least
an hour - and then first with a
wide comb - combing it out, then
to a fine comb - combing the rest,
then proceed to shower and shampoo
and condition and shower as usual.
Pretty much everything will come out
except for a couple of stubborn ones
that which I simply put a dab of
Tea Tree Conditioner on it and
leave it there, and it usually falls
off within a day or two.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT:

Slather your hair in cheap
conditioner and massage your
hair and then if you have an
old towel, wrap your head and
leave it there for at least 30
minutes and massage it again
and you'll feel the glue and
stuff coming off.

If you have a very wide tooth
comb. It's helpful if you can
use it and comb some of it off
over those grocery store plastic
bags or the towel you used.

Then go in the shower in warm
water and rinse it in GENTLE
water (not hard) and trying to
comb it out (yes it will feel very
oily). Then shampoo and rinse
and shower as normal and
even though some of the residue
is still in your hair .. it's okay.

This is what I do next.

Johnson's Baby Lotion. I massage
this in the spots where the stuff
did not come out, and another old
towel, I wrap my head again (yes
your hair will be wet). For another
30 minutes, with a finer comb,
gently try to comb it out - you may
have to use your fingers sometimes.
I have had to use the scissors a couple
of times because it just wasn't worth
all the trouble after I pulled as much
hair strands as possible to separate
and while it was only a small amount
of hair, it wasn't noticeable.

Then I put conditioner back in the
hair again and massage it and leave
it on for another 15 minutes ...
DO NOT USE THE SHOWER!!!
Johnson's Baby Oil will make the
tub very slippery! Go to your kitchen
and use your sprayer or faucet or
even a water jug filled with warm
water and rinse your hair over the
kitchen sink FIRST, and then go
back in the bathroom and see if
you can get the remainder of the
residue off ... by then most every-
thing is pretty much off. The
other stubborn ones will eventually
will fall off. Don't try to force it out.

Shower again, and shampoo and
condition your hair and blow dry,
and often times the other remainders
will come off, but the stubborn ones
ignore, they will usually eventually
fall off within a day or two.

-------------------------------

For residue on your face, if you
have fingernail polish remover,
use a cottonball and dab it in
the nail polish remover, squeeze
out the excess, and then dab out
the areas and ears and arms, DO
NOT RUB and keep away from eyes!
After this, wipe face with a clean
towel and use Baby oil or Oil of
Olay and wash your face. It will
keep your face from those Red
Splotches. (Oil of Olay works wonders
and so does Avon's Anti-Aging cream
even if you have oily skin)

Avoid scratching the area if it itches.
Use ice pack wrapped in a towel
for relief, especially on face.

It's a good idea not to wear make-
up for a few days if you do wear
make-up.

================


I have also seen some postings in
the past of some people who had
posted of peanut butter, put on
real stubborn areas that just won't
come out, dabbing it on - letting it
stay there (they didn't state how long)
and then wash your hair and it slides
right out. I've never used peanut
butter - I'm allergic to peanuts and
its family so I don't know if it works
or not.



HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON!

[Bernard]

I hope the days get a bit brighter for you.

[BuckeyeFan]

.... OFTEN! Keep your chin up. Just continue to tell yourself that these feelings are from the medication and are not the real you. Try to surround yourself in the things you like. Last, keep your strong faith!

[Georgiagirl88]

Hey there,

Hope you're feeling better!! I am rather new to Lamictal also. I think my neurologist said it is in the "newer" category of meds for siezures and works very well for alot of people. They put pregnant women on it....so it is one of the more well-tolerated ones I guess. You go on it very slowly. I am sure they went through all that with you. It also can help with depression/bipolar. Alot of meds are used for multiple things. I am on it for my seizures, but anxiety can go along with seizures...so hey..it may help both! I get depressed/anxiety.. from feeling bad after my seizures. Try to remember that it won't last forever and you'll feel better!!

Hugs!!!
Michelle

[patacake]

You know what I used to get that gunky glue out? nail polish remover get it all over in your hair where the glue is and leave it there for at least an hour and then rinse it out . It just took all the glue with it.

My scalp and face was just raw. Took a week for my head to come back to life.