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Posted 12/5/2005 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
My 19 year old son was just diagnosed with Grand mal (tonic-clonic) epilepsy.

It runs in our family pretty heavy. My mom has Grand Mal, sister and neice had petitmal

seizures.

He is my youngest and only one to come up with it. My question is: Is 19 kind of old to be starting with this? Nureologist(?) says no but I guess I just need to hear it from someone else. He has had 3 seizures in 17 days one on Keppra 1000 mg. a day working up to 2000 mg. Is this a good med. for controlling?

I have done alot of research but am still scared to death for him.

Is there anywhere to go for help with medical bills or meds? We dont have any insurance either. Wonderful huh?

I think I mainly need to just hear from other people about it.

Thanks for listening.

Edith_h2525 confused sad

Posted 12/5/2005 7:17 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Edith,

To answer your question, it is very common for these gran-mal seizures to start at 19 yrs old.  I myself had my first (and only) gran-mal when I was 21. There are several people on this forum that started in their late teens or early 20's.

I can't help you with your "Keppra" question as I am on something else. If it turns out that he has to take meds for the rest of his life, so what ~ as long as his seizures are controlled, he can still lead a perfectly normal and fulfilling life.

I can't help you with your insurance question either as I am from Canada and we all have free health care up here but there are several ppl on this forum that have been in the same situation, hopefully they will read this and post and make some suggestions.

Randy

Posted 12/8/2005 4:06 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Edith-

Sorry about your son.  It's tough to be a young man and suddenly be faced with this. My epilepsy started when I was 22.  I am 46 now and back then there weren't the variety of meds that there are now.   I was on Keppra several years back and had to discontinue due to side effects, but some people do very well on it.   You have to work closely with his neurologist to get the right drug(s) as it might take more than one try to get something that works.   Most everyone on this forum will agree with that!

As far as medical coverage, that one's a tough one.  Another option other than regular health insurance is medicaid/state disability.  You can always check out your local Soc Security office to see if he qualifies.

Hang in there.  Let us know how things are going.      HUGS,  Glenda :-)

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