Epileptic since early childhood, beginning to get severe.

[Contralto]

Well, hello.
I'd thought of joining a forum for epilepsy in the past, but never came around to doing it.

I've had seizures since I was 4 years old, but was only diagnosed at the age of 8. I'm now 18.

I've taken Tegretol, but the mood swings and anger issues finally brought that to an end. After being off of medicine for a few years now, things are starting to get more and more intense.

My fiance and I are planning to visit a neurologist soon, and it's been years since I've discussed anything.
Have any new treatments come about that anyone knows about? Send a message my way.

 

[RobinN]

Hi Contralto - Welcome, glad that you joined us
My daughter had her first seizure at the age of 14.
Tegretol was her first med, then we tried three more. They all had terrible side effects, and most caused more seizures. So for now she is med free.

I have found that nutritional changes, supplementing with vitamins and minerals for brain health and neurofeedback have all made a huge difference in her seizure activity.

 

[drarvindr]

What kind of seizures do you get( tonic-clonic, absence, atonic, myoclonic....)? the range of drugs for epilepsy hasn't exactly increased by leaps and bounds , but there are certain newer drugs. The diagnostic methods have improved though.As Robin says , diet changes and neurofeedback have been useful for people who do not tolerate AEDs. Hope you get better soon.

 

[Bernard]

Hi Contralto, welcome to the forum. :hello:

I've listed all the (non-drug) treatments that I'm aware of in the chart linked in my signature.

Recommend reading: http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/proactive-prescription-epilepsy-1254/