Good Morning!

[marika853]

My name is Marika and I am new here. I have read several posts and have realized that I am not alone in my situation. Briefly, I am 60, have 3 sons, 40, 38, 33. Three beautiful grandkids. CK 7, Kam 4, and Will 2. My husband and I were happily married for 38 years. He passed away in 2008 of colorectal cancer. We had lived about 60 miles away from the children when he passed and had a beautiful home that I had to keep up for 3 years before I could sell it. I moved closer to my children in 2011. I now take care of Will all day and also my son's disabled sister-in-law part of the day.
I had my first episode in 2006 and was put on 2000 mgs of Keppra. "I" think that it was all precipitated by my stress level. Going through menopause, working at a school, going to school at night, worrying about my grandchild's birth. My 1st grandson died of congenital heart failure when he was 10 days old.
Had major seizures, of course after my husband passed. I have not had any since 2008 and have reduced my dosage to 1000 mg a day. I want to get off of it totally but obviously am very fearful. I do not want to lose my drivers license. I live in Fl. If you don't have a car you die!
Hoping to learn and understand my condition better. I love how everyone here jumps in to try and help.

 

[arnie]

Hello and welcome. It sounds like you have a really full plate, but it's nice that you have so much family around. I'm glad your seizures are as well controlled as they seem to be. As for lowering your med dosage, did you do that on your own or does your neurologist know about it? From personal experience I can tell you it's a really bad idea to reduce or stop your meds on your own, because you are risking having another seizure, and you don't want that! Also, why do you want to get off the meds? If there are unpleasant side-effects you can talk to your doc about trying something else. I have been on 5 different meds in the 32 years since I was diagnosed with epilepsy, and keppra was one that I had to get off of after less than a month because of the horrible side-effects. I've been on Lamictal for maybe 15 years now. It sounds like they never really found a cause for your seizures, but in my experience a seizure disorder is not typically brought on by stress, and it sounds like you had some over a period of a couple of years. In any case, talk to your neurologist about your concerns and work closely with him or her on the medication issue.
Enjoy your grandchildren! (My wife is spending a few days with our grandkids right now. They are 9, 7 and 5).
Let us know how things go.

 

[N Sperlo]

Hi Marika,

Stress seems to be a pretty common issue for all of us. Sometimes is the bottling of the little stuff or the major stuff.

I've been on 3 medicines in the past 12 years or so. I stopped taking my Keppra for two years and then had my first clonic tonic seizure. Sometimes it may just be worth putting up with side effects rather than face the possibilities. Not to be pessimistic, but that was what happened.

Welcome. You'll find all the info and support you need here.

 

[marika853]

The reason I want to get off them totally is because I really think that they were bought on by the combination of all the stress I was dealing with as well as the hormones. Since I am not dealing with "major" stressors and have been seizure free, I feel like I could do without it. I am also considering the ketogenic (don't know if I spelled that right) diet, as well as limiting my alcohol consumption. I don't drink a lot. One beer a day, perhaps more when I'm at a social gathering, but I've heard that that also can affect you.
Don't know. Just thinking out loud. I lowered my dosage of Keppra myself, without consulting my dr. I hate to sound condescending, but I know my body better than anyone else. If it wouldn't have worked I would've gone back on the higher dosage. But for2 years I've been doing well.
Thank you all for your input. Will stay tuned.