I'm new. Obviously. How do you live like this???

[danzarooni]

Sorry for rambling. Im normally pretty smart, i'm typing on my phone and stressed right now.

I'm 34, married, stay at home mom of 3 under 10. I started having seizures Aug 22 was hospitalized 3 days 2 nights. Ct and MRI were good, EEG showed seizure activity during hyperventilation stage. Put on Keppra 500, 2x a day. I see my new neuro on sept 6 tues. Haven't had a seizure in 4 days but did about an hour ago again.

I'm so stressed!!! I do have major depressive disorder already and meds for years but seriously how does one just deal with this??? My kids have seen me seize my husband is taking comPlete care of me while working from home. I'm overwhelmed. Keeping a mood/med/seizure log.

I'm supposed to try to keep calm but dang, I keep doing this!!! Pee my pants, bite my tongue, puke up blood, be confused. I feel half drunk right now. I'm so trying not to freak out!!! I want to go back to the hospital till they make me better. I don't want to wait and deal til Tuesday. This is hell. I try to coun my blessings but I'm just exhausted. I sleep 10 hours a night and 4-6 throughout the day.

I also have hyperthyroidism. I'm seriously screwed up.

Help me know how to deal!

Ftr I am on

Keppra 500mg 2x a day for seizures
Atenolol 50mg 1x a day for rapid heartrate
Methimazole 5 mg 1x a day for hyperthyroidism
CYmbalta 120 mg 1x a day for anxiety/ depression
Risperdal 1 mg 1x a day for depression
Cogentin .5 mg 1x a day for tremor and agitation from Risperdal
Klonopin .5 mg up to 4x a day (usually 0-2x) as needed for anxiety attacks
Albuterol inhaler as needed (5x a year?) for mild asthma

 

[knothing]

Sorry to hear about anyone going through so much. Just to be clear I am just a person with epilepsy not a doctor.
Keppra has a tendency create depression, anxiety and mood swings in some cases severe. I myself suffered many issues but eventually (6-12 months) and then added another drug that took months to adjust to the combination. I worked on maintaining my calm through meditation and music. For me that worked but I can't say it was easy.

I am not sure that keppra is the best choice given what you are saying. Looking at when you saw seizure activity in testing and what you dealing with prior it almost looks like what is going on is the other issues are triggering the seizures. What were you doing when you had the seizures? If anything I have learned that the path to working on this requires 2 elements: Knowledge and patience.
Reading through this website and all that others go through is a great site. Everyone is supportive and understands what it is you are going through in general. Welcome to the site and hopefully this is a good for you as it has been to others.

 

[C0urt]

the obvious answer being carefully.

 

[danzarooni]

The first seizure I was hyperventilating with a panic attack. Ever since I don't have panic attacks when I have seizures but I do feel sick to my stomach. Start sweating, get a nasty taste in my mouth and/or become exhausted. I am afraid of the Keppra causing me to fall deeper into depression or be more agitated but the dr at the hospital told me every single anti seizure medication could do that. I trusted him. Is that untrue? My depression is bad enough that I have been hospitalized for it before unfortunately. So I really can't have it be worse...

Thanks for replying

 

[Cint]

I am afraid of the Keppra causing me to fall deeper into depression or be more agitated but the dr at the hospital told me every single anti seizure medication could do that. I trusted him. Is that untrue?

Hi danzarooni and welcome,

Sorry to hear your predicament right now. Take one day at a time, slowly.
Now on to the situation,
Some anti-seizure meds are also used for Bi-polar patients as well, so what works well for some may do the opposite for someone else. And since you're on a lot of medication(s), there could be some drug interactions. I've had major depression before and was taking Risperdol, but the seizures increased as did the depression. He changed it to Zyprexa, which caused me to become diabetic on top of everything else. Now, I have to do insulin shots on top of my seizure meds, (one of them is Keppra) an anti-depressant, thyroid med, and several other meds. So be very careful when the doctor prescribes these drugs!!
My guess is that the Cymbalta and Risperdal could be lowering your seizure threshold, as both are well known to do so. So I will never take an anti-psychotic drug again as it nearly drove me to suicide and it did cause diabetes.

Make sure you tell the dr. about ALL medications and every seizure.

 

[danzarooni]

Thank you Clint!!!

My psych would like to get me off of Risperdal and we are planning on it in 2 weeks. First she upped my Cymbalta a couple of days ago - it was at 90. She wanted to do one thing at a time to see what was causing what. But I will bring up the Risperdal with my neuro on tuesday and see if I should stop earlier. I know the Risperdal does make me agitated which is why I am on the Cogentin (so I would probably stop it too.) The less meds the better, as long as I am ok.

I really appreciate your response, and similar situation.

 

[jyearta]

Welcome Danzarooni,

I am sorry to hear all that you are going through.

I can't really add to what has alread been said. The advise couldn't haven't been better.

I written to tell you that you are not alone. For me that was a big comfort when I have this forum.

Go into all the other rooms-I have found life changing information that my Dr. never told me, they go to school but they have not lived it.
(that sounded bad, I can't come with right wording)

 

[huskymom]

Welcome :hello:

I felt so bad for you while reading your introduction. I take prozac with my medication cocktail, but it is more to calm me than for depression. Just being diagnosed is enough to depress you! Try to breath and find a calm space in your head. Think of your young children. You have a fantastic husband from what you said. All of these things that you are going through will cause stress. The hard part is trying to let some of that go. Remember, you didn't cause the seizures or the depression. It is not your fault. When you see your dr on Tuesday, just make sure you chat with him and tell him all of your feelings. I am sure that they will do what they can to help you from being so scared. If not, find a different dr! Please keep us up to date with your progress.

 

[Bluesbrkr]

Welcome Danzarooni,

I'm pretty new here myself. Only about 2 weeks. But I already feel very welcome, and it has been really comforting and kinda therapeutic to chat with other people and see what other people are going through. I've read through lots of email chains and it's been very helpful to me just to be able share, ask questions and even try to help others. I'm very thankful I found this forum and have been on it almost every day.

I would recommend sharing your feelings and experiences as often as possilbe to get the support from those going through similar things. It really does help to be able to talk with people who really know what you are going through and not just try to "understand". I also have depression issues, hyperthyroidism (treated for and now Hypo), and the same type of sleep problems. I'm on the edge of falling asleep all day at work, then pretty much am wiped out when I get home, which makes me feel terrible because my kids want to spend time with Dad....

Anyhow, this site has been a real help already, and I'm thankful I found it. Best of luck and keep your head up!

 

[danzarooni]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful replies!

 

[mel239]

Im a single mom who was hit with this after a stroke at work-Ive nearly lost my house,my job and I have no desire to even keep up with friends or family.Ive done the whole psych route and been severely in denial and depressed so i speak from experience when I say it will get better.you may not get a complete handle on your seizures,mine have changed but are still ever present but I no longer feel like my life is at the end.So time does heal all and just take it one day at a time.keep a journal-I wish I had in the beginning but I really didnt care for so long and thought myself too busy just coping but no I wish I had.Chin up--This is only a bump in the road although it may not seem like it now

 

[survivor]

Hello dear! Welcome! U are going through a lot! Its being difficult because its the beginning, once u get accustomed to the medicines, things will definitely improve. But getting accustomed to medicines comes second,first thing is to get accustomed to ourselves in such state! Take care dear! All will be fine! Start with a diary and keep noting all the episodes u have and the symptoms in detail. In some case hyperthyroidism also causes seizures, i think ur doctor will take care of all. We are all here for u, anytime u need, dont feel alone! We all have been through this so keep sharing and remember- "things average out".
Shagun

 

[RobinN]

A few things I had to learn when my daughter began having seizures and no doctor told me this....

Seizures are only a symptom
Everyone has a seizure threshold. Yours appeared to be high until recently.
My daughters threshold was high enough until she turned 14. Meds increased the seizure activity. Rebecca and I agreed that living like that was not acceptable.
So we started looking into alternatives. It has been making these changes that has improved my daughters situation.

I would be concerned with the number of meds that you are on.

 

[skeeter1271]

there are newer meds than risperdal and with less side effect. the cogentin is mainly toward off tics that could become permanent. I hav seen it in children.

I have epilepsy bythe way and hypothyrodi and depression. i take two seizure meds and prozac. and when i need it xanx for anxiety.

with all that said your situation is very diff. from mine as i started seizing in my adolescents. as an adult with such a huge medical change, chidren and a house to run it is probably causing you more worries.

you have to advocatfor yorself. make sure that your neuologist and psych are talking. if theyboth switch your meds at the same time they shold be consulting each other. I actuall just had my neurologist precribe my psych meds. Sorry if that offends you or anyone it is just easier to write.

my children are old enough now to know what would happen if i had a seizure and they are terrified because they have never seen it. I would hope that if you could let them talk to someone about what they have seen and feel. my cildren would have to talk with a counselor. i just wouldn't be able to do it myself.

good luck, thins do et better but getting the right combination of meds to control the seizures can take a while. for me it was 4 years. everyone is different and responds differently.

this is a great site and i am so happy to have found it and hope you will like it too. thanks for creating this site.

 

[gigi]

hello, and welcome. Sorry for the rough time you are having. When we are knee deep in a crisis, a panic response is the norm. Like the others, I am not a doctor, but I would be highly concerned with the amount of meds. you are on. Remember that traditional medicine is not always the best answer.

Anti-seizure meds do contribute to depression, but anti depressants are not necessarily the only treatment for depression, again this is not a one size fits all affliction. I have refused them, as I know I would encounter a hosts of other side affects, instead I have relied on exercise, and various forms of relaxation, as well as supplements and diet. Doctors will do their best to put you on pharmaceuticals. This site will help you educate yourself on how to be empowered. I have had E. for over 40 years. When the smoke clears and you start getting a handle on what your triggers are, and how you can be your own health advocate, then just the feeling of being more in control will help your mental outlook. It will get better.