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Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 14:14HI - our daughter was diagnosed over the summer with Absence Seizures. Her pediatric neurologist has recommended starting her on Ethosuximide. She has assured us that the side effects are primarily "upset stomach" and that can remedied by taking the medication with food.
We are new to all of this and quite overwhelmed. Currently, these seizures are not interferring with her school work, behavior, or social activities. Since it is most likely that she will "out-grow" them we are reluctant to start medication.
Is there anyone "out there" who has never medicated OR started the medication and then stopped it b/c of the side effects?
We don't want to make the wrong decision. Thank you for any insight.
Re: Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?
Submitted by Taviuss on Sun, 2012-12-23 - 22:42
I am not dealing with this for my children, but rather for me. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007, after having an absence seizure of my own. After surgery, I still have them periodically. I was put on Keppra for a while, but it really didn't seem to help me a lot. After that, I just decided that I would cope with it myself. I no longer drive, due to the seizures. I generally know when they are coming, the aura lets me know soon enough to set myself down... My health is generally good. I do have some information, from an adult's perspective, on what a seizure is like. For those who have interest in what an actual seizure is like, feel free to view my own blog, www.whoistavius.com/seizures.htm. This one describes a seizure I had a couple of days ago. Also, I may later put some more data on the blog - feel free to look through and see what interests you there. My own seizures generally result in a temporary memory loss. Even if they are only a few seconds, it is still a lot of times an hour before everything comes back to my memory. It is because of these seizures that I am on disability, as it is impossible to say when I would have them. In some jobs it would be a big danger, so I choose to not do anything outside the home, workwise. I am at the moment working to build a home based online business, as I do still have skills - I don't like having to be dependent on another for my income.