She had her first meltdown tonight

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DadofTwins

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15 days after the first seizure and two weeks out of school, my daughter finally started screaming that she wants her life back. Starting keppra tomorrow. I feel helpless, because I don't know if and when the meds will work.

:(
 
A change of health status is a huge loss and blow to self esteem, look at Stages of Grief models used in bereavement etc. (Shock denial anger depression bargaining acceptance) I think she will just have to work through it, it must be awful to watch. My daughter is still in the silent phase of what seems like denial/shock when life goes on as normal like it never happened - still doing the partyting, late nights, already tired but going away the weekend anyhow etc... but can I tell her??

Praying the meds kick in quickly and effectively for you without too many mood swings. PS I read that there can be a hormonal connection for some women so if she's 15 days out you could now be on the crest of the wave that troughed when she had her seizure? Welcome to life's rollercoaster :(
 
A. She's a teenager.
B. She's had a serious health scare

Unfortunately, there's no detour or way to skip over either of those things, you gotta keep going through them. But it's good that she's expressing her frustration -- and normal. You do want to watch out the Keppra doesn't turn a normal teen into a monster emotionally. That's one of the main side effects to be alert for. Hope all goes well.
 
I really feel for you all. What a huge adjustment for your daughter and your family. It effects everyone.
I hope the Keppra does work for her. My epilepsy nurse said the full effectiveness is felt within 1 or 2 days but I found the side effects took longer to adjust to and for my body to adapt. The dizziness I felt lasted a couple of days but was very intense and the exhaustion from the meds at first was very noticeable. A month in I found things were a bit easier side effects wise.
Of course she wants her life back. And she will, just with a few adaptations. Change is hard...especially when it is unexpected and unwanted.
 
Thank you all!

The members of this site are compassionate and informed. Thank you all for your thoughts, insights and prayers. I can't tell you how much it means. :clap:
 
Question

LJ-Bain said:
I really feel for you all. What a huge adjustment for your daughter and your family. It effects everyone.
I hope the Keppra does work for her. My epilepsy nurse said the full effectiveness is felt within 1 or 2 days but I found the side effects took longer to adjust to and for my body to adapt. The dizziness I felt lasted a couple of days but was very intense and the exhaustion from the meds at first was very noticeable. A month in I found things were a bit easier side effects wise.
Of course she wants her life back. And she will, just with a few adaptations. Change is hard...especially when it is unexpected and unwanted.
Click to expand...

Would you please tell me your initial keppra dosage? She is at 250mg twice a day for week one and if ok, 500 mg, twice a day in week two followed by a blood test to check levels. She's a 16 year old , 130 pound athlete with low body fat and a resting heart rate that went as low as 44 while awake in the hospital. She kept setting off the alarm on the heart monitor until they lowered the threshold to 42.

Thanks!
Tom
 
((((Dad)))) I am so sorry. I think her feelings are valid. :(
I know for me, even tho I hate driving, I would like to drive myself to Texas. But at the same time, I am really scared. EVEN being seizure free and on meds, It scares me and makes me angry :(
 
Thanks

Rachel,

Driving is a HUGE deal for all teens and something that she was looking forward to since she could walk. I'm sure it will be a while before the state will let her drive, but hopefully her twin will help out and transport her to activities when she gets her license.

Thanks!
Tom
 
I never wanted to drive. Even as a teen. I wonder if it was some weird, sub-conscious thing. I only did, when my parents moved. I could have taken the bus, but I had a lot of extra activities... I got my permit on my 16th birthday (at that time you could get it at 14), and my license three months later, to the day.
I had no one to drive me, and I lived 5.5 miles from town. Most kids didn't live that "far" out of town. So I had to. Bleh. To this day, if I don't have to, I won't drive. I know, I know, I am a weirdo LOL.
 
No

Your are not a weirdo!
You just seem comfortable in your own skin and that is GREAT!
 
Funny thing, in Arizona, your license is good until you are 55 (I think) and then you have to go renew it, where most states it is 5 years. I don't know why, but it makes me laugh.
 
Oh your poor girl not being able to learn to drive too! That's like taking away a small piece of her sense of freedom and independance. I forget who said it here but I took it to heart to cheer me up...being driven around makes you feel like a princess.
But she probably won't feel that way right now when all her friends are learning.

To answer your question...my Keppra started out at 500mg twice daily but I am really not a 16yr old slim athlete although I have a lowish resting heart rate at 60bpm. They upped it to 750mg twice daily 2 weeks later and then up to 1000mg twice daily a month later but now they're holding it at that dose because they're not sure it's working for me perfectly but I have to see the specialist in person before changing things up.
Each uppage made the side effects more noticeable but not nearly as much as the very first time I started it.
They never scheduled me in for checking my levels though. I was going to have that done with dilantin but that was before I had a rashy skin reaction with it.

I really hope she reacts well with the Keppra and that you don't have to do too much drug hopping.
I have my fingers crossed that it works for her!
For me it lessened the degree of them but didn't rid me of them. I developed some new simple partials and more auras with Keppra.
For my sister though it has worked like a charm. Go figure! She's not my twin just in case you're thinking that! She's four years older than me. We're just genetically lucky.

Good luck!
 
My daughter's first seizure was at the age of 14. She still is not driving, because I asked her to wait, and be one year seizure free. Now it is a matter of finding the the time to give her driving lessons. She is 20.
 
LJ-Bain said:
Oh your poor girl not being able to learn to drive too! That's like taking away a small piece of her sense of freedom and independance. I forget who said it here but I took it to heart to cheer me up...being driven around makes you feel like a princess.
But she probably won't feel that way right now when all her friends are learning.

To answer your question...my Keppra started out at 500mg twice daily but I am really not a 16yr old slim athlete although I have a lowish resting heart rate at 60bpm. They upped it to 750mg twice daily 2 weeks later and then up to 1000mg twice daily a month later but now they're holding it at that dose because they're not sure it's working for me perfectly but I have to see the specialist in person before changing things up.
Each uppage made the side effects more noticeable but not nearly as much as the very first time I started it.
They never scheduled me in for checking my levels though. I was going to have that done with dilantin but that was before I had a rashy skin reaction with it.

I really hope she reacts well with the Keppra and that you don't have to do too much drug hopping.
I have my fingers crossed that it works for her!
For me it lessened the degree of them but didn't rid me of them. I developed some new simple partials and more auras with Keppra.
For my sister though it has worked like a charm. Go figure! She's not my twin just in case you're thinking that! She's four years older than me. We're just genetically lucky.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thank you. I am hoping that it works like a charm, but the operative word is HOPING! She seems OK, complaining of the headache that she has had since the first seizure 16 days ago. I'm getting some B2 and Mg pills and hope that lessens the pain in her head. School Monday, I hope. She is 3 weeks behind with 3 weeks to go. I'm going to be doing quite a bit of tutoring.....
 
Dad-she is lucky to have you! Keep us posted. I am hopeful the weekend goes well and she can return to school on Monday.
 
RachelinAZ said:
I never wanted to drive. Even as a teen. I wonder if it was some weird, sub-conscious thing. I only did, when my parents moved. I could have taken the bus, but I had a lot of extra activities... I got my permit on my 16th birthday (at that time you could get it at 14), and my license three months later, to the day.
I had no one to drive me, and I lived 5.5 miles from town. Most kids didn't live that "far" out of town. So I had to. Bleh. To this day, if I don't have to, I won't drive. I know, I know, I am a weirdo LOL.
Click to expand...

LOL I wouldn't drive either if I didn't have to! I really don't like driving (says the person who drove across the country twice. lol). But I have to get to and from work, and I have certain places I have to be on certain evenings during the week. If there was someone who lived near me who was going to those same places, I'd totally ride with them and convince them to drive every time. haha.
But sadly, there's always somewhere I have to be with no one else to drive me. So I'm really glad I can still drive.
 
I didn't learn to drive until I was 17. If her seizures are under control, I say learn how to drive. The worst that can happen is the state takes it away until you are seizure free again. Ohio currently has possession of my DL. Hoping to get it back in four months.
 
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I started Keppra all most a month ago. It's a slow acting release pill and it can take up to two week to a month to start working. Just to worn you that she might/ will become very moody and seem irritated. I was like that for awhile, but it has gotten better. Maybe start a diary and list any changes in her seizures sine taking the Keppra. Good luck :) speaking of Keppra I m trying to get my refill now.
 
Thank you for the Diary idea.
She is moody because of the headache that she has had since the May 1 seizure.
It is a great suggestion to document what is happening.
 
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