Seizures on Awakening

Hi Jo, Well, JME has been a relatively recent diagnosis for me - one I was not willing to accept until recently. My first seizure was a little over a year ago, after that I had 3 abnormal EEG's but was still unwilling to accept the neurologist's diagnosis, so I opted out of medication hoping it was a one time thing. Needless to say, I had another seizure two weeks ago, and a third one two days ago. It appears they are beginning to happen more frequently as my neurologist warned me would happen if I didn't start the medication. The last one I had was frightening because there were no triggers except for a slight lack of sleep, and I was in the shower so I am pretty banged up - thank god my boyfriend was there to here me fall. I'm scared now because I'm afraid they might start happening all the time and I don't know what to expect. I started my Lamictal today and am nervous about the side effects but know that I am making the right choice. I would be happy to keep in touch with you via email, its so nice to know someone going through the same thing as me, and you are even on the same medication and dosage as me too, which is really nice. My email is bouche22@msu.edu and I look forward to hearing from you. And in answer to your other question, I am from the United States - Michigan to be exact, which is in the midwest area. Talk to you soon, Emily

I am 54 the last "real grand mal seizure' I had was about 8 years ago. I did have one about a month ago but that one does not count because I lowered my dose of depecote to see if I needed it cause I was doing so well.,ok? I was 16 when it started and had grand mals from 16 till mid 40s. They were frequent in my teens and 20s common in my 30s tapering off to 1 or two a year in my early 40s till I was having none. I dont know . I hate to say this but I really really think I had a no good brain doctor. He was having me take tegrotol. I was stupid and just assumed he knew best till I finally was reading a book on meds one day by chance in the pharmacy as I was waiting for meds. It said tegratol interferes with depecote. That got me interested so I read more on epilepsy and the types and was amazed to discover I had JME. My doc didnt tell me anything. I was further dumbfounded when I read tegratol can make JME WORSE!!! . I stopped taking it.I was also on dilantin I weaned myself off that when another doc told me to...no problem at all. I was on dilantin for years and not needing it. I remebmer distinctly the no good doc had an intern with him one time.The intern inturupted and said "Maybe hes having seizures because hes on too many meds" He was repremanded by the no good doc for saying that but looking back I think the intern knew something. I was a trusting nincompoop. I was lazy and stupid and did not want to know about it or never thought to learn about it. Looking back I cant beleive how the only thing I read about epilepsy was the stupid little handbook that quack gave me. I was not curious about it and did not want to know about it I guess and I really just dont know why. So,Jo-Jo I just dont know.Was I truly in the small % of JME people who could not be controlled ? or was it becuase of my doctor?both?? I never drank at all.I rarely used illegal drugs,except pot. I did go through a few years of using that ephidrine . It made me awake and I loved it. I never had any problems at all when I was high on that. Then I saw I WAS having problems a few days AFTER.So I never take that anymore. I know I had a few grand mals on account of that. Anyway now its controlled. It only took 30 years! I know youll do better..... Drinking is for other people. Good luck Jo-Jo