Just starting out here, intro;

[nightowl47]

Would like to introduce myself to everyone...
My name is Terri, I am 47, married & have two adult children. I started having seizures when I was 17, but docs never could figure out why so I have been on Depakote since then. Over the years they have progressively gotten worse. I have had several car accidents (without hurting anyone thankfully but myself), however the last one in 2006 caused me to lose my license indefinitely. I finally decided to file for disability, which is hard to get unless you have certain types of epilepsy and a fantastic doctor and I had both!
The type of epilepsy I have is, Grand-mal, tonic-clonic, partial, my seizure activity is constantly ongoing from the left to right side of the brain and back. I have no auras before a seizure which is a bummer! I also experience nocturnal, & staring episodes. The meds I take are Depakote ER 2000 mg daily, Zonegran 400 mg daily, and now on Cymbalta 30 mg daily for depression. If your wondering whether or not I received my disability, well I sure did!!
I try to stay busy writing, doing art, working with my plants, and my sweet husband got me a miniature Yorkie which we saved from a puppy mill, her name is Daisy. I also have been on the seizure dog program waiting list and they finally called me recently so I'm excited about that now! Well that's all for now, please ask me any questions & I'll try to answer them. Thanks

 

[Janus]

Welcome, Nightowl. I found this site just a few months back and it has been GREAT. I hope you stick around and find what you need here. Your story sounds like a hard one and you very much belong here. I make art and write too. Congrats on the Yorkie! That is a great companion to have around.

 

[SlimBlue]

Hi nightowl, welcome

You're going to *love* this forum, it blows people away when they find it- whether they're recently diagnosed or long-term E warriors - the wonderfull support, and sage advice on here still brings a tear to my eye now and then after a year on here..

I used to have a yorkie-cross, they're so much fun

 

[nightowl47]

Yes my little Daisy, the Yorkie, has been such a blessing to me. I feel that for six years in her puppy mill experience was just awful. When we found her, a lady had saved a bunch of different small breeds, and we had gotten there at the right time. She just walked straight up to us so we knew she was the one. Compared to what she was then and now are two different dogs. She is a great companion. I also think she senses when something is wrong with me at times as she will sit on me and won't leave my side. It's interesting to say the least.

 

[nightowl47]

Wanted to add a few more things: I have also experienced those Nocturnal seizures and I know that I have had them during the night, although I have no idea what I do other than bite the right side of my tongue and the next day I am extremely exhausted that all I do is sleep.
Back in May of 2011, I had previously been on Depakote ER 3000 mg daily and Vimpat 500 mg daily (which caused me to gain 80 lbs), my Neuro decided that I may be a candidate for the VNS and sent me up to Birmingham University Hospital of Alabama for the 72 hour video monitoring. From the moment I was hooked up to the leads until the end their machines went crazy all over the page. I was having constant seizure activity, however, I never had a Grand-mal while I was there which is what they hoped to see. The results: not a candidate, change meds to Depakote ER 2000 mg daily and Zonegran 400 mg daily (which caused me to lose that 80 lbs!), no driving, no swimming alone, seizure service dog due to no auras, house proof our home so I don't hurt myself, overall just be careful. The only thing they could do is keep the seizures to a minimum with meds. Well, I am just so excited I found this site as I love to research things, and if I can help others in my path I will be glad to do so. So if I can help anyone out there please feel free to ask. Thanks again, Terri

 

[SlimBlue]

I also think she senses when something is wrong with me at times as she will sit on me and won't leave my side.

Cuskie would sit on me too when I was lying on the sofa watching tv lol and lo-and-behold, I nearly always had one later that day. Could be just random, but I really think dogs do know, else why would there be seizure dogs..

I never had a Grand-mal while I was there which is what they hoped to see.

Sod's Law lol It's a common joke that most of us never have one when we go for an EEG, in fact it's one of the best ways to control seizures!!!

I am just so excited I found this site as I love to research things, and if I can help others in my path I will be glad to do so.

That's exactly how we all feel about this place, it's awesome here

 

[Nakamova]

Hi nightowl47, just wanted to add my welcome!

CWE is a great place to give and get advice and support. I hope you feel free to explore the different forums here, and to post as the mood strikes...

Best,
Nakamova

 

[nightowl47]

Thanks so much for the welcome! I will be sure to do that as I am certainly thrilled with the site already! There's so much I have been learning by reading others experiences already!

 

[Cint]

Hi Nightowl,

Glad you found us here at CWE. Happy to hear you have found a dog that is able to help with your seizures. I, too suffer from CP and TC seizures, but I have the auras before the seizure, so I now have the VNS. I also had a left temporal lobectomy that made seizures worse, so the VNS was a godsend for me.

 

[rich956]

Welcome to the best forum around