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New with LOTS of Stress!
Tue, 08/29/2006 - 10:55Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
Hello all! I am new to this website. I have had seizures since I was 12 and I am now 25. My nuero. thought I had one type of E and after being 5 yrs seizure free tried weaning me off meds. I had been on Depakote ER 500mg BID since they started. By the time I was completely off the weaning process i had a seizure! (Ughh) They put me on Dilantin because they said it was a better med to be on if I planned on getting pregnant. I am taking 200mg BID and had another seizure 3 days ago. Very odd to me! My seizures have always been first thing in the morning after I wake up, this one was in the middle of the night! I had been sleeping 45 min and got up to use the bathroom. By the time I got back in bed in started. I don't know why....I wish I did!
I am also in the process of planning my wedding, preparing for Breast Aug. surgery in 2 wks, and my job can be pretty stressful as well. All this on top of everyday worries!
I just needed to vent, if anyone out there can relate please drop me a line!
thanks!
Comments
Re: Re: Re: New with LOTS of Stress!
Submitted by mommy2kyra on Thu, 2006-08-31 - 13:54
Hi Kristen,
I can definitely relate to the stress of it all...it's a lot to be going through at once! My only goals in life have always been to be a decent person all around- be there for friends and family. All of the other stuff isn't a biggie to me.
A wedding can be a big thing in life to plan, don't hesitate to get help with things you're willing to let others be in charge of. For instance, if others will be travelling to your wedding, let someone else worry about where they'll stay and such. Write a list of areas, decide what you want done, and go from there.
Pregnancy is a challenge for most women. Add the E, and you throw in a monkey wrench. It could go easy as pie, without a problem. Or, you could have a major increase in seizures and difficulty getting them under control (both have happened to me; thankfully, easy first! lol). Or, maybe you'll fall somewhere in the middle. I highly recommend that everyone knows about your seizure disorder when you do get pregnant, so that you get proper care and planning.
Your concern about being properly medicated is valid. Is your main seizure type partial? What type of doctor are you seeing? Neurologist or family doctor? I would think that he/she doesn't have a whole lot of seizure disorder experience, and highly recommend seeing an epileptologist to get excellent care. My epi once told me that I know my body waaay better than anyone else and that I have every right to decide what meds to take and when. I've *never* had a doctor tell me anything like that before! My first neuro acted as though I was a complete moron and he had to make all of the decisions. I had to DEMAND to be taken off my dilantin (as it was causing complete numbness in my extremities, and the dilantin may cause that in some people). The neuro was very hesitant saying that the numbness only happens when a person is on it for 30 years, blah, blah. I demanded to stop, and the feeling came back after a few weeks. Imagine that! My point is, some doctors have to be pushed very hard by you. If you have a doctor like that, get the heck out of there!
I hope that I've answered your questions. As you can see, I can relate :) I hope that you are feeling better very soon!
Heather :)
Re: Re: Re: Re: New with LOTS of Stress!
Submitted by KLMQH on Sun, 2006-09-03 - 08:06
Being a good person to friends and family is number one on my list as well.
With all the stress of the wedding and things right now, after I had a seizure last week I was even thinking of calling the big wedding off and just doing something very small with less stress. Then I realized that I was just scared of the stress and letting the E get the better of me. Not Cool! This wedding is a once in a life time thing for me and we should do it like we want to. I do agree though that I have to take peoples help when they offer. It's not that i'm a control freak at all, I just hate to burden people with things. I do need to do it though, they're offering to help because they want to help.
The pregnancy thing is a whole other set of worries that fortunately I don't have to deal with right now. just in the back of my head!! :) I do however let everyone know about my E, meaning any doctors etc. God forbid you don't tell them and something were to go wrong. I do know they all must be informed and if something were to happen they would be prepared.
I am seeing a neurologist. The only reasons we did switch my meds were because I had gotten very ill and the combo of my illness and the depakote was starting to affect my liver. Also, beacause he says Dilantin is better to be on than Dep. for pregnancy. You said that you were pregnant twice? What were you on during? Did it have any affects?
Hopefully we will get my levels under control, I had my bloodwork done and now just waiting for the results to come back from the long holiday weekend.(Timing!) I hope that the numbness thing doesn't affect me, thats horrible that it happened to you!
It is very nice hearing from poeple on here that can relate! i know i'm not the only one with stress and E, so it's nice to talk!
Thank you so very much,
Kristin
Re: Re: Re: Re: New with LOTS of Stress!
Submitted by KLMQH on Sun, 2006-09-03 - 07:50
Thank you so much for the kind words. I will definitely try the hot baths and soothing music thing. Thanks Again, Kristin