There's a lot of alternatives and choices still around,
I was born with it, and I've not had surgery yet. And
like Bernard (The Host) says, "The Well Hasn't Run Dry
Yet ...."
But I must imply, I've been yelled at, scolded at, bantered
at, yadda, yadda, yadda - by Neurologists & Doctors for
decades. You might consider "Making mountains out of
molehills" a good form of an illustration.
However when I look back - I realize now; they WERE right
for I didn't know or understand these things, so as times
rolled on, I became very precise and exceptionally careful
and "Being on the dot" would be the best way to put it.
It's very important to follow your Neurologist or Epiletologist's
instructions right down to the core; even if it means when he
or she says take this at this such and such time, they mean
for you to take it on such and such time - not when you feel
like taking it or otherwise it knocks everything off cycle and
it causes "humps" (gaps where the medication(s) begins to
wane off) or "peaks" (where medication(s) is at its highest level).
If you take it when you're not scheduled to take it, you run
the high risk of having gaps and extreme peaks; putting your
own self at a risk for seizure(s) or pushing your seizure threshold
up, the very thing the Doctor wants to avoid. The Doctor cannot
monitor you if you're taking the medication(s) not according to
their plan set up for you.
And plus - if the Doctor says "Do not do this, or that". He or She
means do not do this or that. Example, some people like to drink
alcohol, and alcohol has a known effect on AEDS
and in turn, if the Doctor says "NO" but you are doing it anyway,
and experiencing seizures; you're only frustrating the Doctor and
only causing complications of being non-compliant.
This is only an illustration and example, not directed at you or
anyone else for that matter - but to give you an idea of how
critical and important it is to have a close established ties and
rapport with your Neurologist or Epileptologist. You have to work
together as a team, or otherwise it just won't work.
All in all - the final point perspective is: It takes patience and time.
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I hope the above post I made will give you some clarifications
and ideas of everything in generalized short viewpoint; but not
as a whole ball park field. Another area to look besides the VNS
website below is also clicking on the Epilepsy Foundation Logo
below to find out more and clicking on the COPING WITH EPILEPSY
RESOURCE CENTER and learn more about alternatives that are
available as well!
Hope this all helps!