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spouses
Wed, 01/23/2008 - 19:50Are there any spouses out there with their love ones having grand mal seizures. My husband had a TBI four years ago, and had his first grand mal one year after. He has only had four so far, and is on Depakote. He had two grand mal s's last Saturday morning.
This seizures are very frightening for me to watch, so I now sleep in other room. I am afraid that one time, something bad will happen and I won't be there to help. But it is so stressful. I hate this. I guess since his accident, (he fell off a roof at ten feet) and the seizures began, does that considered epilepsy. His doctor keeps just uping his meds after his seizures. Does that sound right. Am thinking about finding a new doctor.
Comments
Re:
Submitted by Anie on Sat, 2008-02-02 - 06:35
Hi Sue B.
His seizures are complex partials. He has epilepsy since we was a child. He has a scar in his left temporal lobe which was cause when he was born.
You said he had 5seizures in past 4 years? This sounds good. it's like once a year.
My husband has 1 every 3 month in avarage. :(
Doctors do increase their dosage up to high limit if they don't show any side effects.
Once they get the side effects the next step is to change to other aed.
when my hubby was on phenytoin and keppra he was fit free for 6 month which gave us hope but then his phenytoin levels went high causing him dizziness and drowziness. We had to start again with a new drug and as i said at the moment he is having every 3 month which is a improvement.
I would suggest you to do as many research as you can about depakote. Google it!I'm sure you will find lots of information. That's what i always do. Many times i get my answers from the net and then talk to doctor what they say.I like to do my "homework" and keep a print-out (proof) of my research so when i go to the doctor i know what im talking about.
Pay attention to any side effects, mood change, anything that you notice is different. See if his seizures type has any improvement since his last dose. My hubby seizures are minor now.
I can understand that every little noise is scary. I'm like that too. If he is silence for long time i ask if he is ok. Sometimes he looks like he is lost or he is looking for something.That is a sign that he is having a fit. With time you get to know every movement.
If you need any more help please let me know.
You can email me anie_lx@hotmail.com Write on subject Sue B from epilepsy.com so i know it's you.
Anie :)
Smile :)
Hi Sue B.
His seizures are complex partials. He has epilepsy since we was a child. He has a scar in his left temporal lobe which was cause when he was born.
You said he had 5seizures in past 4 years? This sounds good. it's like once a year.
My husband has 1 every 3 month in avarage. :(
Doctors do increase their dosage up to high limit if they don't show any side effects.
Once they get the side effects the next step is to change to other aed.
when my hubby was on phenytoin and keppra he was fit free for 6 month which gave us hope but then his phenytoin levels went high causing him dizziness and drowziness. We had to start again with a new drug and as i said at the moment he is having every 3 month which is a improvement.
I would suggest you to do as many research as you can about depakote. Google it!I'm sure you will find lots of information. That's what i always do. Many times i get my answers from the net and then talk to doctor what they say.I like to do my "homework" and keep a print-out (proof) of my research so when i go to the doctor i know what im talking about.
Pay attention to any side effects, mood change, anything that you notice is different. See if his seizures type has any improvement since his last dose. My hubby seizures are minor now.
I can understand that every little noise is scary. I'm like that too. If he is silence for long time i ask if he is ok. Sometimes he looks like he is lost or he is looking for something.That is a sign that he is having a fit. With time you get to know every movement.
If you need any more help please let me know.
You can email me anie_lx@hotmail.com Write on subject Sue B from epilepsy.com so i know it's you.
Anie :)
Smile :)
Re: spouses
Submitted by bernardcwe on Mon, 2008-01-28 - 08:38
Hi Sue, yes, I am a spouse in the situation described. My wife has had epilepsy since she was young. When I met her, she was having grand mal (aka tonic clonic or TC) seizures once every two years. It wasn't so scary back then.
But, her seizure patterns have changed dramatically over the years. At the worst point in time, she was having TC seizures during the daytime (when she was up and about - entailing falling and injuring herself frequently) once a week. That was pretty rough and I was hypersensitive to every little noise in the house.
The key is to find a way to get the seizures under control. If the medication isn't working, perhaps you need to try a different one. In our case, my wife loathes all AEDs (more specifically their side effects and slow poisoning of the liver), so she has explored several non-drug alternatives (some good and some not so good). Check out my chart of alternative epilepsy treatments for info on good ones.
Hi Sue, yes, I am a spouse in the situation described. My wife has had epilepsy since she was young. When I met her, she was having grand mal (aka tonic clonic or TC) seizures once every two years. It wasn't so scary back then.
But, her seizure patterns have changed dramatically over the years. At the worst point in time, she was having TC seizures during the daytime (when she was up and about - entailing falling and injuring herself frequently) once a week. That was pretty rough and I was hypersensitive to every little noise in the house.
The key is to find a way to get the seizures under control. If the medication isn't working, perhaps you need to try a different one. In our case, my wife loathes all AEDs (more specifically their side effects and slow poisoning of the liver), so she has explored several non-drug alternatives (some good and some not so good). Check out my chart of alternative epilepsy treatments for info on good ones.
Re: Hi Sue.His seizures are
Submitted by Sue B. on Fri, 2008-01-25 - 20:05
Hi Anieon
thanks for your reply. I have tried to start a support group in my community. I put an ad in the local newspaper for almost a year now, and can you believe only one person, from a long distance away replied. I couldn't believe it.
What kind of seizures/fits does your hubby have? It is scarey. Do you know anything about Depakote. It seems like very time he has a seizure, the doc increases his dose. Is that right?? he is no taking 1000 mg in the am. and 1000 at night.
My hubby had a traumatic brain injury from a fall four years ago. he had his first one year after accident. Total only 5 s's in 4 years. Is that good? I don't really know a whole lot about this stuff. I have to do research online.
I just am so jumpy around him. every little groan or grunt he makes I think his is getting ready to have a seizure. It sucks. Thanks for listerning.
Hi Anieon
thanks for your reply. I have tried to start a support group in my community. I put an ad in the local newspaper for almost a year now, and can you believe only one person, from a long distance away replied. I couldn't believe it.
What kind of seizures/fits does your hubby have? It is scarey. Do you know anything about Depakote. It seems like very time he has a seizure, the doc increases his dose. Is that right?? he is no taking 1000 mg in the am. and 1000 at night.
My hubby had a traumatic brain injury from a fall four years ago. he had his first one year after accident. Total only 5 s's in 4 years. Is that good? I don't really know a whole lot about this stuff. I have to do research online.
I just am so jumpy around him. every little groan or grunt he makes I think his is getting ready to have a seizure. It sucks. Thanks for listerning.