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Haffgus

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My 14 year-old daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy almost two weeks ago. As she also has type 1 diabetes, we initially attributed her seizures to undetected low blood sugar. However, up until the last few months she went seven years with diabetes without a seizure. Further EEG testing confirmed the epilepsy diagnosis.

Four years ago she suffered with what the mental health experts diagnosed as a single episode of major depression and generalized anxiety. She has been taking 15mg daily of fluoxetine since and has done very well on it. Before the epilepsy diagnosis, we were thinking of taking her off of the fluoxetine.

Her neurologist says that her diabetes and fluoxetine are not causes of her epilepsy. She is on 750mg of Keppra twice a day. We have not had any seizures while on Keppra, but she is so tired. She is also more thirsty and less hungry. Her lack of energy is what concerns me most as she has long days at school. I am hoping her body will adjust to it sooner than rather than later.
 
Hi and welcome,

What type of seizures does your daughter have?

Do you keep a diary, listing seizures, date and how long they lasted. Any type of triggers. Theses could be from lack of sleep, stress, infection, there are many more triggers. We all react diff. to the diff. trigger, just like we all react diff. to the meds.

I can not begin to tell you how this forum has helped me.

You are doing the right thing in that you are seeking help for your daughter, I'm she appreciates you.

Please feel free to look into all the forums and ask any and as many questions as you want.
 
Hello Haffgus,

My Son is 27 and has E, diagnosed at 23....

You are dealing with double whammy :( so sorry, your little lady is so young, 14 is tough time at school....I hope school is taking her conditions into consideration?

If I may suggest - explore/research magnesium.

well, I was just popping in to warmly welcome you on board.....u will learn more here than you might expect...I know I sure did.
 
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Hello and a warmest welcome to CWE. My 14 year old daughter was also diagnosed with Epilepsy - a specific type.. Juvenile myclonic epilepsy. I am glad to hear your daughter is having good control with keppra. This is such a difficult age for these kiddos. Do you have a 504 plan in place for school?

I am hopeful you will find support and friendship on this wonderful site!
 
Not an easy thing to be going through. My daughter has epilepsy, as do I, but she was about 23 when she had her first seizure and has no other medical problems, so it's not nearly as bad for me.

I would encourage you to research meds and be proactive, possibly even assertive, with your neurologist if you think the keppra, or whatever other med she takes, has too many negative side-effects. I have tried both keppra and zonegran and I will never take either of them again because they made me feel so awful. I'm on Lamictal and Tripletal now, but I have to be careful with the trileptal or I get really sleepy and nauseated and lose my appetite. I think many of us have to balance seizure control with quality of life. I am certainly not recommending to anyone ever to make med adjustments on your own, but be aware that there are lots of choices.
Best of luck to you and your family!

PS, also good luck with the diabetes. That's a nasty disease, as you know. I worked in a kidney dialysis center for a number of years so I have had a lot of experience with what diabetes can do, especially if it is not well controlled. Again, best of luck and know that people here will support you.
 
Her seizures are idiopathic generalized grand mal seizures. All occurring in the mid to late evening. Doctor said there isn't a trigger for them, other than that she is more prone to them when she is tired or sick. We get her blood tested next week and then see the doctor again two weeks after that.
 
Up until this year my daughter attended public school and we did have a 504 plan in place for both her diabetes and depression. For various reasons, she wanted to attend a private high school where she is at now. They have been very supportive. As there is also another student in her class that has recently had seizures, the school has had all of the classrooms discuss what to do if a student has a seizure in the classroom, who goes and gets the nurse, etc.
 
I don't understand her Neur. being tried and sick are triggers. Hormonal imbalance can be a trigger also. Being that she is High school, her hormones are probably all over the place. Try and is if her seizures are affected around that time of the month.
 
I think hormones are a big issue for women...I used to have bad migraines but now have seizures and always before and after the monthly. Started with grand mals and now TLE...stress and being low energy and tired are the triggers I guess. Having low sugars are not good either. I have to make sure I eat a balanced diet as I could go either way with blood sugar but don't have to take anything.
 
Sugar levels are triggers for some also. Some foods such as art. sweeteners, caffeine.
 
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