Things are going good, but still lingering concerns.

[darcness]

Well my wife is still going strong on her control. Nothing seizure related for over 5 months now. 1 more month and she can drive again. I'm pretty excited about that, as is she.

Also, she is doing much better mentally. I think the toll that E puts on our mental health, both those with E and those who love/care for them is vastly under reported. It's really unfortunate that many people affected by E don't have anywhere to turn for mental support and or well being. I'm thankful that I'm there for my wife, but at times it can be a very daunting thing to deal. Both for me and her. I wouldn't have it any other way though.

My wife is doing well, but I still have some concerns. Mainly around the time of her menstrual cycle. Many times it doesn't bother her too much, but sometimes it can really get the best of her. This month was one of those times. A week before her period she was depressed, sleeping 12+ hours a day, and just acting really down and out. Since then, she's started her period, and the sleeping and depression have lifted, but she still isn't acting quite herself. She's been really clingy and sentimental. While this isn't a bad thing, it still causes me a bit of concern. She is normally a pretty compassionate person, but this is almost a bit over the top. She has been happy and smiling, but still appears to be really fatigued at times. Bags under her eyes, sometimes nodding off, etc.

I know I tend to worry about things a little much and that's something I need to work on myself. It's just kind of disturbing me a little. She was so happy and full of life right up until her menstrual cycle started, and then she seems to have gone down hill again. I'm hoping it's temporary and once her hormones get back to normal she will be ok again.

I'm just curious if anyone has gone through anything similar? Can her cycle actually affect how the medication is processed? Perhaps causing a change which in turns brings out some of the side effects in a more pronounced manner? Or could it all just be hormones?

I have to believe there is some correlation between her cycle. Like I said, she was perfectly fine, doing great, and then changed pretty quickly right around the "time".

Am I just worrying about nothing?

 

[Nakamova]

Some meds (like Lamictal) do interact with the body's hormones, and fluctuate depending on the time of the month. Which medication is your wife on? Have you tried modifying other things (diet, exercise, etc.) that might help with her depression and energy level?

Best,
Nakamova

 

[darcness]

She's on Depakote.

Basically what I'm seeing is that she is acting like she was when she first started taking it. The side effects that is. No where near as bad as that, but similar to a lesser extent. I'm really thinking it's a combination of the medication and her cycle. I would imagine all the hormones could cause her to have a small relapse of side effects if it's affecting how the medication is being processed.

Am I way off base with that?

 

[Molly97]

Catamenial seizures(those brought on by a woman's cycle)are fairly common, IMHO. RobinN here has been able to work through diet with her daughter Rebecca's seizures that appear to have been brought on by a combination of hypoglycemia and her monthly cycle. You can read about it over in the Library. RobinN has been keeping up with what has worked and what hasn't since she came to this site.

 

[darcness]

That makes me wonder too. I know bloog sugar levels can affect your energy too. I wonder if the sleeping and for lack of a better term "tired look" could come from this. I'll look into it.

Thanks Molly!

 

[Nakamova]

A dip in Depakote levels can cause a mood change, so it may be that the monthly fluctuation in hormones is interfering with Depakote metabolism and causing a kind of PMS. Depakote has also been linked to higher levels of estrogen and androgen in the body. It's also been linked with PCOS (although it's not clear whether it plays a direct causal role), which includes anxiety and moodiness among its symptoms.

 

[darcness]

That makes sense. I'll look into all this stuff and see what I can come up with.

I think at times I just need to relax and bit and see how things go. I get some wound up on results and lose my patience. Thanks for all the kind comments. I'm feeling quite a bit better tonight.

 

[RobinN]

I think at times I just need to relax and bit and see how things go. I get some wound up on results and lose my patience.

I think you know yourself very well, and are seeing a proactive way to help yourself move past the difficult times.

I am seeing healing in Rebecca, but I also see that it is not something that can be rushed. Patience is the key, and the willingness to get up one more time after you fall.

 

[Bernard]

Well my wife is still going strong on her control. Nothing seizure related for over 5 months now. 1 more month and she can drive again. I'm pretty excited about that, as is she.

:woot:

... My wife is doing well, but I still have some concerns. Mainly around the time of her menstrual cycle. ...

I'm just curious if anyone has gone through anything similar? Can her cycle actually affect how the medication is processed? Perhaps causing a change which in turns brings out some of the side effects in a more pronounced manner? Or could it all just be hormones? ...

Yes. Yes. I don't think so. Yes.

Strong hormonal fluctuations can cause the emotional extremes you are describing. Hormonal problems can be exacerbated by a number of factors including diet. That's one of the problems my wife had when she tried the GARD diet. It really threw her mentrual cycle out of whack.

As I understand it, during the menstrual cycle, blood syrum levels for AEDs can drop, not increase. So it's not likely that she would experience an increase in AED side effects.

There's lots of info posted in these catamenial epilepsy threads.