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Controlling seizures without medication

Wed, 04/22/2009 - 13:27

I hope that this does not turn out to be a controversial subject. 

Let me just start by saying that I don't know what kind of seizure disorder I have.  I have had only 3 EEGs between the time I was 19 and now 35.

After the first EEG, my doctor told me I had epilepsy and put me on Tegretol.  I took the medication only for a year, and then moved over to Klonopin, which I have taken ever since.  When I was 22, I had another EEG, and the doctor told me I was fine. I was living overseas at the time of my 2nd EEG and I really can't vouch for the expertise of the doctor.

Despite what the doctor told me of my EEG, my seizures continued and had never stopped.

The seizures I was having were incredibly breif lasting only a second or two.  My eyes would roll back into my head, I would NOT fall to the ground.  I'd lose muscle control from the neck and above, and kind of twitch my head back and forth with very small jerks that were almost unnoticeable.

In any event, I was sick with the flu recently, and during my doctor's visit, I had one of these seizures, and he insisted I see a nuerologist again.

I had an EEG and MRI, and I've been told again that I have a seizure disorder.  I just started taking Lamictal.

I'm very keen to how my body responds to foods, stress, and specific situations.  

If I were able to simply avoid all the situations that trigger my seizures which in most cases are stress-induced,  I believe that I could live seizure-free without medication.

But that is not possible.  What IS possible - is for me to overcome the situations that trigger my seizures with a different mental outlook. Although I have not been able to successfully change my mental approach to the situations that cause my seizures all the time,  I have had success in many instances. 

To sum it up, I strongly believe that it would be possible to take control of my seizure disorder through a non-medicated approach. Perhaps my seizures are just different.  I don't even know at this point what kind of seizures I have.  All I know is that both of my EEGs in the US showed with certainty that I have a seizure disorder. I have left a message with my doctor today, to get more information on his diagnosis, and will post it here when I receive that information (see below).

I will continue taking my Lamictal.  What I want to know is if anybody agrees that it could be possible to correct a form of seizures with a non-medicated mental approach; any doctors or patients?

I am not a scientologist.  In fact, I'm not even sure what their approach to a seizure disorder is.  I am just stating what I think I have the power to do, and want to find out if anybody shares those ideas.

 

Update

I spoke with my doctor today.  The seizures that I have been having are simple and complex focal seizures.  

Comments

Re: Controlling seizures without medication

Submitted by gregs_seizures on Sun, 2009-05-10 - 12:20

 I agree with everything you said labush.  I have had the most success it seems by living a healthy stress-free life.

I started on Tegretol when I was 19.  But later moved to Klonopin.  Now that the seizures have picked up again, I am on Lamictal. I am 35 now.

I will continue to take whatever medication the doctor suggests.  But I think if it is possible to defeat the problem while off medication, it should also be possible to defeat the problem the same way while on medication.

 Probably the biggest mistake for me would be to give up on the ways I feel I have had the most success, and surrender to the possibility that the mediacation will handle it for me.  

I am only on the third week of Lamictal and until I am into week 5, I will not be taking the full dosage that the doctor has prescribed.  At this point, I am still having seizures.  I do hope that the medication will stop the seizures, but I don't want to be reliant on JUST the medication either.

I do believe there are other ways to handle this problem.  I am proof of that.  I have "felt" where I need to be in regards to my mental state, in order to stop the seizures.  The only problem is that it is difficult for me to be there all the time.  I have not mastered control of that mentatlity.

 It may sound a bit crazy, but obviously after reading some other posts here, I am not alone in that thinking.

 I agree with everything you said labush.  I have had the most success it seems by living a healthy stress-free life.

I started on Tegretol when I was 19.  But later moved to Klonopin.  Now that the seizures have picked up again, I am on Lamictal. I am 35 now.

I will continue to take whatever medication the doctor suggests.  But I think if it is possible to defeat the problem while off medication, it should also be possible to defeat the problem the same way while on medication.

 Probably the biggest mistake for me would be to give up on the ways I feel I have had the most success, and surrender to the possibility that the mediacation will handle it for me.  

I am only on the third week of Lamictal and until I am into week 5, I will not be taking the full dosage that the doctor has prescribed.  At this point, I am still having seizures.  I do hope that the medication will stop the seizures, but I don't want to be reliant on JUST the medication either.

I do believe there are other ways to handle this problem.  I am proof of that.  I have "felt" where I need to be in regards to my mental state, in order to stop the seizures.  The only problem is that it is difficult for me to be there all the time.  I have not mastered control of that mentatlity.

 It may sound a bit crazy, but obviously after reading some other posts here, I am not alone in that thinking.

Re: Controlling seizures without medication

Submitted by HHC on Sun, 2009-05-10 - 13:31

Lamictal is a good drug. It is usually used with another drug.  I'm taking Lamictal with Topamax and Depakote (For the time being) for my JME. The only thing I don't like about Lamictal is that you start to lose and or your hair starts thinning out! It started for me at age 20 and I'm 24!!

I'll like to find alternative treatments, diets, any route that can get me off these meds. I've been on all the meds for JME. Topamax is the most recent. Started it 2 1/2 months ago and I'm giving it a 50/50 chance of ditching it. I had a grand mal after the transition from Depakote. Thats the only reason I'm on it and it sucked getting back on it. When I got off of it, lost 15 lbs and when I got back on it, gained 10!! Got to love Depakotes side effects!! Thats one thing I can't stand and I know a lot of you guys and gals out there can't stand is some of those can't harsh side effects that effect everyday life. Topamax's side effects has been hitting me hard since I'm at college and it's been giving me problems with memory, my spelling, and my speech. At the house I get that itchy feeling in my feet but the one that scares me the most and I talk to my pharmacist about it was when I get this feeling, almost like freaking out, a hallucination, my head going a million miles a hour, sweating, and while thats going on my heart is racing. This only last a few minutes. It doesn't lead up to a seizure. The pharmacist never heard of this side effect!!!! She said if it last and doesn't go away, call the good old doc! I have more side effects I can talk about but no need for it as I had to see more doctors because of it!! Example: Urologist, not a good one to see for a 24 year old.

I know a good percentage of people are not a big fan of marijuana as a alternative treatment but I'm also considering that as an option since I live in California and for medical it is legal. MY EXPERIENCE with mj has never had any draw backs, no seizures created from smoking it. The years in high school I smoked, I had no seizures! I don't know if it help or not but who knows if it did! If Topamax doesn't cut it and that side effect doesn't go away, I may talk to my doc about it

Lamictal is a good drug. It is usually used with another drug.  I'm taking Lamictal with Topamax and Depakote (For the time being) for my JME. The only thing I don't like about Lamictal is that you start to lose and or your hair starts thinning out! It started for me at age 20 and I'm 24!!

I'll like to find alternative treatments, diets, any route that can get me off these meds. I've been on all the meds for JME. Topamax is the most recent. Started it 2 1/2 months ago and I'm giving it a 50/50 chance of ditching it. I had a grand mal after the transition from Depakote. Thats the only reason I'm on it and it sucked getting back on it. When I got off of it, lost 15 lbs and when I got back on it, gained 10!! Got to love Depakotes side effects!! Thats one thing I can't stand and I know a lot of you guys and gals out there can't stand is some of those can't harsh side effects that effect everyday life. Topamax's side effects has been hitting me hard since I'm at college and it's been giving me problems with memory, my spelling, and my speech. At the house I get that itchy feeling in my feet but the one that scares me the most and I talk to my pharmacist about it was when I get this feeling, almost like freaking out, a hallucination, my head going a million miles a hour, sweating, and while thats going on my heart is racing. This only last a few minutes. It doesn't lead up to a seizure. The pharmacist never heard of this side effect!!!! She said if it last and doesn't go away, call the good old doc! I have more side effects I can talk about but no need for it as I had to see more doctors because of it!! Example: Urologist, not a good one to see for a 24 year old.

I know a good percentage of people are not a big fan of marijuana as a alternative treatment but I'm also considering that as an option since I live in California and for medical it is legal. MY EXPERIENCE with mj has never had any draw backs, no seizures created from smoking it. The years in high school I smoked, I had no seizures! I don't know if it help or not but who knows if it did! If Topamax doesn't cut it and that side effect doesn't go away, I may talk to my doc about it

Re: Controlling seizures without medication

Submitted by tonialpha on Thu, 2009-09-03 - 18:28
MJ is like a sedative but it depends who gives it to you.  Working in a hospital setting and doing research, I have seen a lot of crazy things.  Medication for seizures have a sedating effect as alot of us know, some a lot and some not to much but it is nice to have a doctor or nurse or medical staff to depend on if there is a problem that occurs.  I personally would love to be off medication.  I am taking 3 medications and maybe my Epileptologist will start taking me off these medications but we all have to give ourselves credit on how well we take care of ourselves!

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