Questions about epilepsy and meds

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

Another thing to keep in mind.

My doctors had given up on my epilepsy by the time I turned 17 and they told my parents that. (By then I was on doctor #5).

Their prognosis for me was that:

1. I would never drive
2. I would never go to college (well, maybe community college for basketweaving)
3. I would never hold a job
4. I would never be able to live on my own

Understand I already wasn't allowed to be left alone anywhere. Basically they were telling my parents that they would always have to take care of me and one of my siblings would have to "inheirit" me. (I have 3 sibs, none of whom has epilepsy) Not much of a life. Although they didn't relay this information to me I had already figured out I couldn't give up. Here's the kicker. After they told my parents all of that, the meds decided to start working! So now I've been under control since October of 1992.

I've gone to college (and it wasn't community college basketweaving). I've lived on my own. I drive. I have a career I love. I recently (Nov. 1, 2008 ) married a wonderful man and we would like to have children (obviously we are looking into that).

In short, I've proved them wrong on everything. And these were all good doctors. It's just that most of the time we don't know what causes epilepsy. All the drugs are designed to treat the symptoms because they don't know the cause.

So basically, don't ever give up hope because sometimes it's all you've got. Besides you never know what's around the corner.

Glad to hear the meds are helping her mood swings! (Congrats on your engagement btw). Also, lavender essence can help with headaches and roesemary is good to help keep you awake. I keep a little bottle in my bag when I'm working late. If I get tired I pull it out and just take a sniff of the aroma and ZING! Vitamin D deficiency can also cause headaches/migraines. She should definately tell her neuro about them.

The can do an MRI/MRA to see if it is migraines.

Sara
 
oooh..be careful with the rosemary. It can trigger seizures in those with epilepsy, as well as contractions in those who are pregnant. :)

It's nice to beat doctor's expectations isn't it? :) When I was 3 I had paralysis down the right hand side of my body after my first seizure. Spent close to 3 months in the hopsital. The docs told my dad I would never walk...and there was a chance of brain damage..so to never expect me to be successful academically. My dad looked at them and told them, not my daughter. :) Today, I have a Master's degree as well as an honorary doctorate...I have a husband that adores me, a career I love, can drive, and yes...I can walk. In fact, my hubby and I love to go hiking and camping. I guess I showed them huh? :)
 
Back
Top Bottom