I have tonic-clonic seizures since 16 which were mostly controlled by meds for several years. Switched meds in 2006 after some breakthrough seizures, from carbatrol to keppra to lamictal, which finally worked (though it brought with it increased insomnia and lovely migraines). Now I'm starting to have breakthroughs again on the lamictal. Looking to the future I'm taking a serious look at what comes next. We ramped up dosage on lamictal recently, and I just had a seizure with the increased dose last week. I've been on multiple meds before, though I don't tolerate it well (tends to make me stupid, and that's not really an option as a grad student). A recent combo trial of lamictal and topamax (trying to help migraines) made for the most hellish month I've had in a long time. (Note, low-dose amitryptiline has helped with the chronic headaches, which is good news.) So, all of that said... I have an appointment coming on the 30th and I need to go in ready to address what to do now.
Having gone through six meds now, I'm looking seriously at alternative/complementary treatments. I would love it if surgery could take away my problem, but I don't think it's a viable option now. I don't have time or money to go through the intense testing and the monitoring involved. On top of that, I don't know if I'm a candidate, with generalized seizures and difficulty finding a focus point(s).
I used to be strictly T-C seizures, and only in my sleep, but in recent years I've shifted to more partial seizures that happen any time of day. I'm considering bring up the possibility of a VNS, but I'm not entirely sure about it. It does seem to make some sense, especially if I'm moving toward having more partials.
The only other realistic option seems to be trying other meds. I don't know if this is my best approach or not, as I've spent far too much time in recent years switching meds around. I'm slightly apprehensive about the prospect of trying more and more meds. It seems to me like a patch job, just hoping to hold out a little longer. I've been through six meds/combos by now and there's not much end in sight.
So I'd like to go into my next appointment with some thoughts and options. I don't know if the VNS is a viable option, or if I should just stick with more meds, but I'd be up for anybody's thoughts. Epilepsy patients commonly seem to almost know more about epilepsy than our doctors, so I'm throwing this out there for an (un)professional opinion.
Thanks to all!
Having gone through six meds now, I'm looking seriously at alternative/complementary treatments. I would love it if surgery could take away my problem, but I don't think it's a viable option now. I don't have time or money to go through the intense testing and the monitoring involved. On top of that, I don't know if I'm a candidate, with generalized seizures and difficulty finding a focus point(s).
I used to be strictly T-C seizures, and only in my sleep, but in recent years I've shifted to more partial seizures that happen any time of day. I'm considering bring up the possibility of a VNS, but I'm not entirely sure about it. It does seem to make some sense, especially if I'm moving toward having more partials.
The only other realistic option seems to be trying other meds. I don't know if this is my best approach or not, as I've spent far too much time in recent years switching meds around. I'm slightly apprehensive about the prospect of trying more and more meds. It seems to me like a patch job, just hoping to hold out a little longer. I've been through six meds/combos by now and there's not much end in sight.
So I'd like to go into my next appointment with some thoughts and options. I don't know if the VNS is a viable option, or if I should just stick with more meds, but I'd be up for anybody's thoughts. Epilepsy patients commonly seem to almost know more about epilepsy than our doctors, so I'm throwing this out there for an (un)professional opinion.
Thanks to all!