Community Forum Archive
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Epilepsy changed
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 01:56Hi all. I am relatively new to this site but have been reading the forum for some time and all the information I have found has been so useful, reading about personal experiences etc. I am 47 years old, English but live in sunny Spain on the island of Mallorca which I love. I am a sales manager for TUI Travel Group again which I love, and married to an extra special Spanish man here. I was diagnosed with JME when I was 18 but it has never been 100% under control. I think my lifesrtyle has something to do with this as my job is very social, involves lots of meals and lunches out and therefore have probably drank more than I should. I also have a lot of stress in my job. I have managed to get away with just 1 grand mal seizure a year which is one too many but I feel lucky compared to some people here that are suffering much more than me. However this year I have seen a change in my epilepsy and had 3 grand mals in 9 weeks. I am not doing anything different to what I have done the last 10 years so dont understand this sudden change. If it is stress or alcohol why didnt this affect me before like this? I was taking 2500mg Keppra and 400mg Lamictal but my dr has now changed me to 2000mg Keppra, 300mg Lamictal and 500mg Depakote ER. After 2 days of starting the Depakote I had another grand mal. I may have drank one to many wines the night before but no more than I have over the last 10 years. i just dont understand why things are affecting me differently now. I know I shouldnt drink but I enjoy a glass of wine or 2 with friends and at work meals and this has never really had an impact. I can drink for 3weeks and nothing then suddenly it hits. If it was alcohol why doesnt it affect me every time? Any help, experiemces or advice would me much appreciated as right now dont understand why things have suddenly changed. Thank you all for any help you can give a very confused person. Joey M
I had JME also meds
Submitted by snowflake4star on Sun, 2016-07-03 - 04:57
I had JME also meds controlled it till 9 months ago. Seizures can get worse over time. Sometimes you get them drinking sometimes you don't. Their is no set. Pattern. GIRL why are you drinking? You are taking a lot of meds and alcohol is a seizure trigger. With eilpesy you have to make adjustments to your life. Do yoga or meditate and educate yourself. You can drink juice or something in a wine glass. If people wonder say your making lifestyle changes. My eilpesy went from JME to simple and complex seizures and radical atonic seizures. Get some excerise too.