questions i should ask

[all_new_me89]

hey
i have my neurologists appointment on tuesday.
attended a conference a few weeks ago, they have opened a new epilepsy clinic in the town and i got a chance to talk to the epilepsy specialist who set the whole thing up. also found out that my current neurologist isnt an epilepsy specialist- he specialises in M.E instead. up til now i had never known this, and so i am going to request a transfer to the other doc. do you have any ideas what other questions i should ask while im there? i have this meds-free period coming up -eek ! but maybe you have some recommendations for stuff i should ask?
if you cant help dont worry but thanks for reading anyway
hope you are all well
xxx

[skillefer]

Honestly, I just go to a doctor that I feel comfortable with. Mine isn't necessarily an epilepsy specialist either. But, he listens when I talk to him about research..and because he knows I'm into research, he studies up too.

[RobinN]

I have found E specialists that don't know anything about the causes of seizures. They know the current drugs and surgical treatment, but they do not work to find out why the seizures are occuring. To me meds should not be the first and final answer. They are a quick fix for some. It has come to my attention that doctors, E specialists, do not take the time to consider any alternatives. That is extremely frustrating to me, Because the patient does not even have a clue that there are any to explore, until they have been placed on one or two medications. A title after their name means nothing unless they are willing to help you regain your health.

[BuckeyeFan]

A legitimate question would be about his experience with similar cases.

[RobinN]

I also think it is helpful to have an idea of how you want to approach it. This is not a one size fits all. Some doctors approach it that way.

Knowledge is power...

[all_new_me89]

i have a lot of thigs to consider in this appointment. i have a contraceptive implant which is hormone based, so any enzyme inducing anti-epileptic drugs will affect that. wheni first went on to keppra it was because of its compatibility with the implant, but with a little research i found that topamax will not be compatible, and i need to find out which anti-epileptic drugs WILL work with it. some names i have come across so far are clonazepam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, levitiracetam(keppra) tiagabine, pregabalin and vigabatrin. i dont know if these are specific to types of epilepsy or not and i dont know the market name- the only thing i know about them is that they wont affect my implant. does anyone have any ideas of which ones might be worth asking about?

[skillefer]

When I was still using birth control, I used the shot....Depo Provera. It was nice not having periods. At that time, I was on Depakote. The only down side, was that it took me about 5 years to get pregnant once I went off of the shot.