Hi, I don't think I ever introduced myself, just started posting. Finding the group welcoming, inclusive and useful. In a longer version of my profile, I'm:
Seizure Background: simple and complex partial epilepsy, 3 brain surgeries to remove cavernous malformations in temporal lobes and hippocampus. One got down very close to the brain stem. Some memory damage. Just when I feel totally "normal" multiples seizures hit in the same day and I get pretty disoriented. Eye strain which may be related.
Treatments:
Lamictal - alternating between 150 and 200 mg daily
Depakote - 750 mg. daily.
If I get any higher on the Lamictal I experience strong leg tension. Any higher on the Depakote I start trembling and pressing the mouse key when I don't to. Tried a variety of others with various side effects.
Self care: I'm currently moving toward a low glycemic diet and studying Epilepsy: a New Approach. Some success, I think, in doing mathematics in my head to raise my brainwaves (sort of a low budget neurofeedback - trying different things and seeing what works). Bought a bottle of German chamomile (of which I really disliked the smell) to attempt to interrupt a smell aura, but haven't opened it yet.
Interests: playing guitar, acoustic bass and frame drum, participating in local tree inventory, hiking, ethnobotany, practicing Buddhism. Spend too much time on the web commenting on Yahoo news stories that I could better use.
Seizure Background: simple and complex partial epilepsy, 3 brain surgeries to remove cavernous malformations in temporal lobes and hippocampus. One got down very close to the brain stem. Some memory damage. Just when I feel totally "normal" multiples seizures hit in the same day and I get pretty disoriented. Eye strain which may be related.
Treatments:
Lamictal - alternating between 150 and 200 mg daily
Depakote - 750 mg. daily.
If I get any higher on the Lamictal I experience strong leg tension. Any higher on the Depakote I start trembling and pressing the mouse key when I don't to. Tried a variety of others with various side effects.
Self care: I'm currently moving toward a low glycemic diet and studying Epilepsy: a New Approach. Some success, I think, in doing mathematics in my head to raise my brainwaves (sort of a low budget neurofeedback - trying different things and seeing what works). Bought a bottle of German chamomile (of which I really disliked the smell) to attempt to interrupt a smell aura, but haven't opened it yet.
Interests: playing guitar, acoustic bass and frame drum, participating in local tree inventory, hiking, ethnobotany, practicing Buddhism. Spend too much time on the web commenting on Yahoo news stories that I could better use.