julie wishes
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Background: I'm an RN. I was in a car wreck 11 months ago. Suffered a concussion, a bulging disc in neck and one in low back. After extensive testing at a Neuropsycologist, I was diagnosed with post concussive syndrome. My brain MRI showed diffuse white spots in my brain.
Since the accident I suffered with many dizzy spells, uncoordinated feelings, and weak muscles. I couldn't figure out what the heck was wrong and was told that this is all part of post concussive syndrome. That didn't sit well with me. I felt something more was wrong. I finally got into see the Neurologist who ordered an EEG. One in office and one 24 hour ambulatory. The office EEG showed a generalized seizure that was actually quite impressive according to the MD. The ambulatory one was negative. At the follow up office visit she said I had to take medicine because these would only get worse over time. I was given no instructions what so ever. She was even trying to leave the office without telling me what drug she ordered. I stopped her and asked what I was taking and were there any side effects I should be aware of. She said it was Keppra and that it has the least side effects. I asked if I had epilepsy and she said no. To be honest, I was so shocked the test came back positive that my mind went blank and I just forgot to ask more questions.
I drove home thinking she was a terrible doctor. The standard of care for any patient is to assess, test, explain the results, explain your options, and inform you what to expect or what the prognosis is for your particular problem. Its a pretty straight forward process. I was so mad at myself for not asking the right questions. Then I realized she never even assessed me for seizures. She didn't ask me any questions about any signs or symptoms of them.
I was so full of questions and I found CWE. Thank goodness. I learned so much about what was going on with me and was so thankful for all of the posts. I learned that my seizures fall in the category of simples and maybe complex partials. I have never had a T/C.
Anyway, I started on the Keppra. All my dizzy spells and weird feelings stopped right away. I was so excited that I may have found an answer to all of my problems of the past 11 months. Then, unfortunately, I had an adverse reaction with another med I was taking and the Keppra. I stopped it for two days. I went back to her and she assurred me it was okay to continue with keppra. So, I started back on it. This time I had another bad reaction about five days in. I felt like I was having back to back seizures for at least 20 hours then they tappered off. I counted over 40. I also was experiencing some very weird thoughts, I became panicky, and felt extremely unstable mentally. I stopped the Keppra immediately and kept my already scheduled appt with my Neurologist which was just one day away.
I just got home from my appointment. I am absolutely flabergasted. I was told that "NO seizure med can make you pyscotic. NO seizure med can make you have more seizures. And, she doesn't think I am having siezures anyway."
I asked her to read my journal and let me know if she thought any of my experiences were seizres or not because at this point I have no clue. She said, "You only had a siezure on paper, and that doesn't mean anything unless you pair it with your complaints of dizziness. You should take Depakote now and I am making a referral to the Psychiatrist."
Again no instruction on the depakote or possible side effects. I tried to ask another question and she cut me off and said she "does know a thing or two as she has been around a very long time. In all that time she has never seen Keppra make someone psychotic." I said well then why do the instructions from the medication insert specifically list these things as severe side effects and to alert your MD right away if you have them. She went on to say that "water if you look it up, H2O, has four pages of side effects and one of them is death". She then dismissed me.
I feel two inches tall at the moment. I know for a fact that Keppra caused me to have weird side effects. They are all gone now that I stopped the drug and they were never there before I started taking the drug.
Seizures and epilepsy are already so frustrating and puzzling. Why do the MDs for this disease have to make it worse. I read a post ealier by a guy who wants to explore natural alternatives. I'm with him. These drugs suck.
Can anyone help me get my feet back on the ground, or make sense of this info???? How do I know if I'm having seizures?
Background: I'm an RN. I was in a car wreck 11 months ago. Suffered a concussion, a bulging disc in neck and one in low back. After extensive testing at a Neuropsycologist, I was diagnosed with post concussive syndrome. My brain MRI showed diffuse white spots in my brain.
Since the accident I suffered with many dizzy spells, uncoordinated feelings, and weak muscles. I couldn't figure out what the heck was wrong and was told that this is all part of post concussive syndrome. That didn't sit well with me. I felt something more was wrong. I finally got into see the Neurologist who ordered an EEG. One in office and one 24 hour ambulatory. The office EEG showed a generalized seizure that was actually quite impressive according to the MD. The ambulatory one was negative. At the follow up office visit she said I had to take medicine because these would only get worse over time. I was given no instructions what so ever. She was even trying to leave the office without telling me what drug she ordered. I stopped her and asked what I was taking and were there any side effects I should be aware of. She said it was Keppra and that it has the least side effects. I asked if I had epilepsy and she said no. To be honest, I was so shocked the test came back positive that my mind went blank and I just forgot to ask more questions.
I drove home thinking she was a terrible doctor. The standard of care for any patient is to assess, test, explain the results, explain your options, and inform you what to expect or what the prognosis is for your particular problem. Its a pretty straight forward process. I was so mad at myself for not asking the right questions. Then I realized she never even assessed me for seizures. She didn't ask me any questions about any signs or symptoms of them.
I was so full of questions and I found CWE. Thank goodness. I learned so much about what was going on with me and was so thankful for all of the posts. I learned that my seizures fall in the category of simples and maybe complex partials. I have never had a T/C.
Anyway, I started on the Keppra. All my dizzy spells and weird feelings stopped right away. I was so excited that I may have found an answer to all of my problems of the past 11 months. Then, unfortunately, I had an adverse reaction with another med I was taking and the Keppra. I stopped it for two days. I went back to her and she assurred me it was okay to continue with keppra. So, I started back on it. This time I had another bad reaction about five days in. I felt like I was having back to back seizures for at least 20 hours then they tappered off. I counted over 40. I also was experiencing some very weird thoughts, I became panicky, and felt extremely unstable mentally. I stopped the Keppra immediately and kept my already scheduled appt with my Neurologist which was just one day away.
I just got home from my appointment. I am absolutely flabergasted. I was told that "NO seizure med can make you pyscotic. NO seizure med can make you have more seizures. And, she doesn't think I am having siezures anyway."
I asked her to read my journal and let me know if she thought any of my experiences were seizres or not because at this point I have no clue. She said, "You only had a siezure on paper, and that doesn't mean anything unless you pair it with your complaints of dizziness. You should take Depakote now and I am making a referral to the Psychiatrist."
Again no instruction on the depakote or possible side effects. I tried to ask another question and she cut me off and said she "does know a thing or two as she has been around a very long time. In all that time she has never seen Keppra make someone psychotic." I said well then why do the instructions from the medication insert specifically list these things as severe side effects and to alert your MD right away if you have them. She went on to say that "water if you look it up, H2O, has four pages of side effects and one of them is death". She then dismissed me.
I feel two inches tall at the moment. I know for a fact that Keppra caused me to have weird side effects. They are all gone now that I stopped the drug and they were never there before I started taking the drug.
Seizures and epilepsy are already so frustrating and puzzling. Why do the MDs for this disease have to make it worse. I read a post ealier by a guy who wants to explore natural alternatives. I'm with him. These drugs suck.
Can anyone help me get my feet back on the ground, or make sense of this info???? How do I know if I'm having seizures?
