Hi! New here, so what's up?

[PixiDust]

Hey everyone,
So I've posted a few things, and basically I'm still getting used to this whole darastic change in my eatting habits... not to say I don't like cooking, I do, it's just keeping everything under 20 carbs is kinda difficult. BUT, it has been a month and I have only broken it once (cheese burger). Okay, I'll stop gripping...

Other than that....I'm in college, studying Archaeology and Anthropology and might minor in Sociology.... I have a lot of interests, needless to say. Love the outdoors, dance, the arts- the list goes on and on. Does anyone here live in the Midwest of the USA? Well, if you wanna chat, or have suggestion on how to overcome this plateau - coping not recipies- that would be great!

 

[C0urt]

it is hard to change you food habits, especially quickly.

good job on staying away from the fast food

 

[qtowngirl]

hi pixi
yeah staying away from the fast foods is good, like court says good on ya. for a completely different reason processed food SUCKS. kills us.
but this isn't hands down like a gastrointestinal disease. i looked at your profile and it's partials ey. this is not a food issue, this is epilepsy. in regards to control there are two things:
-what your triggers are
-what type of seizures/epilepsy you have

pls fill me in on why/where you were told to keep your carbs under 20?
women's daily allowance is 2,000g carbohydrates, so not sure what the relation is, on 20 you'd die. i suggest (tho i am asking you to fill us in more ) that you eat carbs period... but with the avoidance of fast/processed food b/c it destroys our cells and health in a number of ways... not b/c of our seizures, unless/until you're told that by a professional.

 

[Belinda5000]

hi PixiDust and welcome to the board.

I think it's great you have changed your food habits why 20carbs?

 

[Cint]

Hi PixiDust,

I also read your profile and see that you have the VNS and it isn't working for you. I have the VNS also and after trying different settings, we finally found that having it charge every 3 minutes for 7 seconds, it does help control my seizures. So maybe if the dr. will change the settings, that could help.

And for qtowngirl, read her profile again as it also says her dr. put her on the MAD diet. That is the Modified Atkins Diet which monitors the carbs one takes in. Kind of like a diabetic, except less carbs and one has to check ketones regularly.

Check out this website for more info:
http://www.atkinsforseizures.com/

 

[qtowngirl]

And for qtowngirl, read her profile again as it also says her dr. put her on the MAD diet. That is the Modified Atkins Diet which monitors the carbs one takes in. Kind of like a diabetic, except less carbs and one has to check ketones regularly.

sorry cint i didn't even notice that part lastnight. makes more sense (hence me saying 'unless you're told that by a professional').

such a vast difference between unhealthy carbs vs. necessary ones, such as fiber, and also the amount of carbs in healthy food such as fruit and vegetables (necessary to eat for a host of reasons). if it's knocking out the seizures i get it, just hope fiber intake etc. is also considered in the diet for its importance.

 

[N Sperlo]

Hi Pixi

You're giving studies a lot more attention than I did. The only thing I paid attention to is the girls.
We all have different ways to cope. With so many interests, you'll find some common coping mechanisms. Very nice to meet you.

And yes, I am in the Midwest. Right in the gateway.

 

[PixiDust]

hi pixi
yeah staying away from the fast foods is good, like court says good on ya. for a completely different reason processed food SUCKS. kills us.
but this isn't hands down like a gastrointestinal disease. i looked at your profile and it's partials ey. this is not a food issue, this is epilepsy. in regards to control there are two things:
-what your triggers are
-what type of seizures/epilepsy you have

pls fill me in on why/where you were told to keep your carbs under 20?
women's daily allowance is 2,000g carbohydrates, so not sure what the relation is, on 20 you'd die. i suggest (tho i am asking you to fill us in more ) that you eat carbs period... but with the avoidance of fast/processed food b/c it destroys our cells and health in a number of ways... not b/c of our seizures, unless/until you're told that by a professional.

Hi gtowngirl,
I got a new epileptologist and he said I should try this diet so I am taking his 'perscription' as close to it as I can. I have checked out many sources, from atkinsforseizures to modifiedmoms, and they help but yeah- I sometimes do feel anorexic (or is that bulimic?) not to mention how my friends reacted when I told me only 20 carbs - like you did- so I will defintly check this out again with my doctor.

As for filling you in with more about my epilespsy and this diet: I have had seizures since age 4, been on everything and now take only lamictal, clonazapam and vimpat. It might say that on my profile, I forget. Diet: I have an Aunt who and organic food specialist and has offered to help in always so I'm getting a lot of advice that the doctor doesn't give you. Anything I missed and you want to know?

 

[PixiDust]

Thanks everyone for this advice, it makes me feel A LOT better to know that it is not just me thinking this is crazy. I will definitly check with my doctor about it as I don't want to become anorexix- I am thin enough as it is! So, I will keep you updated on new developments! thanks again!

-Well behaved women rarely make history

 

[qtowngirl]

re: is it bulemic?
bulemic is eating and purging, whereas anorexia is simply eating next to nothing, and recording every single gram of fat and carbs one puts in their mouth.
20 grams of carbs a day is not realistic, unless necessary. i'd make an appt with your doc to learn more. this modified atkins diet is for intractable epilepsy, did he establish that's the case, and if so was it thoroughly explained?
only 20 carbs a day can make one sick, daily allowance for calories is 2000g a day for women, 2400 for men, but must be watched carefully. i really really hope the doc was thorough about what type of carbs are vital and provide fiber etc. ie: the 20 carbs a day suggested for epilepsy is great if it stops the seizures, but, if they're from ice cream or chips or anything other than fruit and vegetables it's concerning, our organs can only live like that for so long.
if the body gets low enough on nutrition a seizure is more likely than prior, so... has this new diet helped your seizures, is it making a difference of any kind, or did you just start and it's too early to tell?
and how's your stomach, digestive tract, and fatigue now?

note- a few nights ago i put 2000g of 'carbs' a day, it was late and i'd had some wine and didn't notice what i typed. 2000g calories

 

[PixiDust]

re: is it bulemic?
bulemic is eating and purging, whereas anorexia is simply eating next to nothing, and recording every single gram of fat and carbs one puts in their mouth.
20 grams of carbs a day is not reality, i can't even comprehend this. something is not being explained to you properly, i'd make an appt with your doc asap. only 20 carbs a day will make you sick sooner or later, we can't survive that way. daily allowance for carbs is 2000g a day for women, 2400 for men.
if your body gets low enough on nutrition a seizure is more likely than prior, very concerned for you. so... has this new diet helped your seizures, is it making a difference of any kind, or did you just start and it's too early to tell?
and how's your stomach, digestive tract, and fatigue now?

Hi!
Yeah, I have an appointment coming up with my doctor and I'll ask him all this. THanks for being here, I thought it was just me being crazy and saying 'what the _____ ?' So, needless to say I at healthy/regular today, trying to get myself back on track. As for my seizures: they have stopped, though I have a few now and then that are more than normal.....that is I usually have what I call 'head ticks', or quick neck spasms but have the seizure feeling. As for everything else? stomach is fine, digestive track off, and while I am more tired than normal I have a tight schedule and go to school fulltime so that is to be expected. Don't worry though, I'm getting thing back on track! I've seen someone go through anorexia before and it was NOT pretty!

 

[MAB]

sorry cint i didn't even notice that part lastnight. makes more sense (hence me saying 'unless you're told that by a professional').

i still am stumped on the '20 carbs' thing. as low as 300 is anorexic so just wondering?? 20 per day, 20 per meal, 20...? doesn't make sense.

That's just carbs, she can still he lots of protein and fats to get suficient calories.

 

[qtowngirl]

yep was too tired to notice, i meant 'as low as 300 is anorexic' re: calories, not carbs.

yes that is true re: fats and protein, but it's also true that healthy carbohydrates are a must for our organs (heart, kidneys, brain and muscles cannot function properly without an adequate intake of carbohydrates).
it's not that i don't understand the keto diet for seizures, it's that being in nutrition, anything that possibly brings about insufficient fiber concerns me. has to be thoroughly explained by doctors and watched rigidly by patients. i just hope pixie was given a lot of info on all that's involved.
also, pixie, did he say the amount will go up or did he insinuate 'to just do 20'? what's his overall plan for you?

 

[PixiDust]

well, I trust my doctor, he works with Mayo Luther Clinic and had good recomendations. He told me 'go out and get an Atkins cookbook' after explaining to me how ketones effect seizures and the right level will keep them from happening. That and sugar is a trigger for them so I have had to eliminate that from my life. BIG bummer. I went to this site: atkinsforseizures.com which gives you a lot if information about it. Maybe if you check it out then maybe things will make sense. Thanks for giving me a new perspective! This forum is great because I don't know a single person who has epilepsy so it is great to hear from others who understand it.