Hi PJ- Primidone was the second drug I took for my epilepsy nearly 20 years ago. I was on it for several years. Right from the start it made me sleepy and caused me to stumble around. I had to hang...
Hi Donna- I never had a significant change in my seizure pattern with only 2 weeks of a new drug. I wonder why the doctor wants to change her medication so soon. Did you try calling back? Until you...
Hi Uhura- My complex partials have always had a component of losing my train of thought. Before I had my video EEG, I was sure that all my seizures were epileptic. During my 4 day test, I had an...
Hi Donna, Welcome to HW. So sorry you are going through this with your daughter. I was on Keppra several years ago and didn't do as well as Tracy. I felt rather depressed on it and it made me sleepy,...
Jen- We all appreciate you so much. I will be thinking of you and your family in the coming days. HUGS, Glenda /community/emoticons/smile.gif ...
Hi Marty- It's nice to see someone from another board visiting the epilepsy forum. So sorry about your daughter. You said she was on Phenobarbitol, which is one of the older antiseizure drugs. It has...
Shattered- I feel that way sometimes too. I always thought of E as more than just a disease - it was like a parasite - literally sucking the life out of me. That's why I come to this forum. It's so...
Hi Shattered- Welcome to HW. I've been posting here for many months, other than the time I was healing from my brain surgery this summer, and I feel that the members here are really super supportive....
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...
Hi emmi- I can only speak for my experience on other antiseizure drugs. I was on Tegretol (same as Carbitrol) a short time, not long enough to affect my liver functions. I've been on a lot of the...
Hi PugY- I caught your post tonight... welcome to HW. Sorry that you are having all the troubles recently. It's enough to have all the physical misery and then on top of that to have to go through...
Hi hector- I was on Topamax for about 5-6 months and I too had the same side effects of weight loss, pins and needles with numbness of my extremities, with trouble sleeping and also a loss of balance...
Hi Raven- It's too bad you had a video EEG and nothing much showed. It wasn't until the 4th day of my video EEG that I had a seizure off my meds. Until I had the seizure, I was beginning to wonder...
Hi Raven- Welcome to HW. Sounds like you've already had quite a work-up with an EEG, blood tests, cat scan, and MRI. When you said the EEG was abnormal, what did the doctor tell you? Did the neuro...
Hi Amanda- So GLAD you came to vent. You need to get it out and share sometimes. I was nodding my head while I was reading your post as I agree with you about your feelings . I had epilepsy surgery...
Hi Tracy- Sorry you are having so many problems. Dizzyness with meds seems like a common problem from the posts that I read. But seeing that you were taking Keppra and Levaquin AND were sick with the...
Ryan- My short-term memory is definitely better than right after the surgery. Here is a good story (and somewhat funny)- After I woke up from the surgery, I was groggy for the rest of the day due to...
Hi Rynunez- It's been 5 months since my surgery. I would say that the first month I felt really exhausted and slept half the time. Things have gradually gotten better but I still tire easily and my...
Hi Everyone, It really amazes me now how many people were like me just months ago, trying to make the decision about the epilepsy surgery and thinking about what to do. Everyone's experience with...
Hi Parksboss- I can identify with what you mean when you say a "feeling" in your head. It's really hard for me to explain to people what goes on inside my head when I begin to feel the onset of a...
Hi Uhura- Gee, you've been on one more drug than I have!... I've heard about Lyrica and if I have any return of my seizures (I've been 5 months seizure-free), I'm definitely going to ask my doctor...
Hi Hector- Welcome to HW. If you read some of the posts you'll see that there are some regular people here and a lot of new ones too. Everyone here is really friendly and supportive. How are things...
Hi Everyone- After reading all the posts, I just have to say...I'm glad I'm not alone. I have had epilepsy for nearly 25 years and just had brain surgery 5 months ago. Back when I was 22, I didn't...
Hi csarina- Wow, sounds like you had quite an episode the other night. Half of your body felt like it was seized up - do you mean stiffened up or you were rhythmically jerking? Did it last very long?...
Hi Gill- Welcome to HW. I am taking Lamictal and Zonigran for complex partial seizures. I can tell you that either one or both of my medications are causing imbalance, numbness in my legs and feet,...
Hi Uhura- How was your appointment? Hope you were able to get some answers. At the very least, it's always a good idea to reconnect with your doctor to make sure he knows what's going on with you and...
Hi Amy- You've been through a lot with your son and no doubt will have many challenges ahead. You've done a GREAT job supporting your son and being there for him. I Don't blame you for feeling the...
Hi emmi- I've been on both Tegretol and Keppra. I had a drug rash with the Tegretol and had to go off it, and the Keppra was one I had several years ago. My seizures were not controlled on Keppra, so...
Hi Paojami- My very first EEG I had a seizure, but then my EEG's afterwards were always normal. It wasn't until I decided to start my presurgical evaluation that I had a video EEG and had a seizure...
Hi Mollymom- I'm glad I'm not the only one that admits to missing pills frequently. I miss a dose probably once a week, maybe twice sometimes. I remember when I was young, I used to laugh at my...
Hi Tracy- How are you? Hope you are feeling better. Make sure you are getting lots of rest and fluids. When I read that you had pneumonia, I had a flashback to this past summer when I had pneumonia 1...
Hi Paojami- Welcome to HW. What type of seizures do you have? Do you know where the seizures originate? I have had epilepsy for almost 25 years and can identify with your feelings of hopelessness....
sparkelz- Welcome to HW. I think that relaxation techniques/exercises definitely help with anxiety and help to improve coping with epilepsy. I've had countless auras with and without a seizure, and...
Hi Jill- Congratulations on the pregnancy! You have twins? Twins are great (I'm a twin too!). When I found out I was pregnant with my first baby, I was on mysoline and my doctor took me off that in a...
Hi Mollymom- Welcome to HW. As I was reading your post, I was thinking- boy, I know what you mean. I've had seizures for 25 years despite all the meds. After various combinations of 8 medications...
Thanks MandiAnn!! I've always loved reading your posts. I'll definitely be back as much as I can. Kylee- I got several opinions from doctors I trusted before I went ahead with the surgery. Most of...
DeAnn Hi, sorry for everything you're going through. Sounds like you got a thorough workup while you were in the hospital. You didn't say whether or not you had one of the passing out episodes while...
Hi Kylee, I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner, I've just been busy and things are just settling down now. I had brain surgery just 4 months ago. I am happy to report that I have had no seizures since...
Hi Tracy- We are all so proud of you going on to school! You've really come a long way, Baby!!! And you deserve everything that is coming to you because you've worked for it. Have a great birthday...
Hi Tracy- As everyone has been saying- I too have been thinking of you and am glad you made it through the funeral ok. It had to be a tough day. There will other days to come, but you are strong and...
Hi Cathy- about my headaches- I had them before the surgery, and I continue to have them after the surgery, but they are probably due to two different things. I have headaches like I used to have...
Hi Tracy! I'm so sorry about your Grandma. She sounds like someone really special in your life. She would be so proud of everything you've accomplished and WILL accomplish. Hope you have some time...
Hi Cathy and Ron, Welcome to HW! I haven't been on the boards much due to my recent surgery. As Jen said, I had surgery recently in Boston for a left temporal lobe resection. I understand your...
pourdage- you have a complex situation and definitely need some answers. The fact that you are driving and having an episode that compromises your consciousness is very scary. You shouldn't be...
GingerAnn- Thank you for your posting... I will be flying to Boston in 5 days with my family in order to have a left temporal lobectomy for my epilepsy. My surgery is 12 days away and I am counting...
Angeleyes- The bitterness runs deep when everything which seemed normal before is turned upside down, which is what happened when I lost my job due to my epilepsy. I think the thing that ran through...
Hi Tamlovesherboys- I have brain surgery scheduled in about 2 weeks. When I read your post, I thought- wow, I know what you mean- the part about not wanting to lose part of me in the process. I think...
Hmmm, another word for blackouts is syncope. I'm guessing that's the word the doctor wrote for the reason for the tests? So it sounds like the neuro is going to check out your situation with an mri...
Wow, I always thought I was just a nitwit or something. But, I've always had problems with word-finding. People always seem to get frustrated with me because it takes a long time for me to say things...
Hi Life is precious, no matter how long. So sorry about your friend's son. Sounds like this will be trying times for her. The coming days won't be easy, but she has a good friend in you to care so...