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Loss of confidence
Mon, 10/16/2006 - 21:33I am no longer enthusiastic with my Neurologist. Even though I think he respects me, all he wants to do is increase the dosage of my meds. I have tried to convey I do not want to continue with increased dosages. I am at the point of refusing to do this. The side effects I have with Keppra alone (I take Lamictal also) are enough to make me unable to do much of anything much less look for a job because I would not be physically able to maintain the job.
I know about VNS. Even though no one has told me that I "do not qualify," I would do just about anything to qualify.
At this point I am just fed up. Anyone who wants to argue, tell me they have it worse, or tell me to "get a life," please do not respond.
Comments
"At this point I am just fed
Submitted by solis on Tue, 2006-10-17 - 15:16
"At this point I am just fed up. Anyone who wants to argue, tell me they have it worse, or tell me to "get a life," please do not respond"
I roared when I read that...
Let me get you some pages..
Oh ..and if your E is confined to one side of your brain, surgery could be an option also. Sadly, many types of E don't fall into that group.
VNS: http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/vns.html (read and see of you do qualify)
Surgery: http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/surgery.html (ditto)
Another suggestion would be to search out an epileptologist (= a neurologist that's specialized in and who focuses on epilepsy).
Hope that info helps,
~sol
Re: "At this point I am just fed
Submitted by wflisa on Wed, 2006-10-18 - 21:32
Hi Sol,
Yea, I needed the humor as well! On a slightly serious note, one of the reasons I did that is that I have held one too many jobs in customer service. Invariably there was always someone who called up just to argue, not that they wanted anything or help with anything, just called to argue with someone. Those were the only people I wanted to slam the phone on. And in the not distant enough past, I did have someone (responding to another posting I had) literally tell me to "get a life."
I have found an epileptologist in town, and made an appointment for Mid-November and I have told the nurse for my current MD that I am very not happy with his "style."
I will check out the sites you have suggested. Thanks.
Oh, one other thing: I am a composer and a writer. Unless it would be to save my life, no one is going to perform surgery on my brain!
Re: Loss of confidence
Submitted by suebear on Tue, 2006-10-17 - 03:26
Hi Wflisa, I can understand how frustrating things do get when it seems the dr's just want to keep increasing medication and there are no outcomes. I'm not familiar with Keppra so I cannot speak about that. However I do take Lamictal and have been on it for some time with no side effects. Have you spoken to your doctor about your concerns and explained why you're concerned with this. Sometimes patients have to literally make them listen to all of the concerns so they are aware of what is being felt. If I might make a suggestion, before you go to see the neuro the next time to make a list of all the questions and concerns you have and take them in with you. I just got a better day planner than I had so that will be going with me as well. Something that has always worked for me is my husband goes with me and sits in the visits. He hears things that I don't always pick up on from the neurologist while we talk about so much. While we're driving home, we talk about the visit and if there were things that I missed he'll let me know. You mentioned the Vagus Nerve Stimulator now my question is, has the neurologist talked to you about this or was this you doing the research on your own? I'm trying to remember what I had heard the last time I discussed that with my neurologist. We were talking about the procedure briefly but I decided against it because I didn't feel it was a needed issue at the time. From what I'm aware of there are many factors that need to be considered before the VNS can be put into place. This would be something else to discuss with the neurologist the next time you see him. If after your next visit you still have the same feelings then perhaps you need to consider finding another neurologist. That's the best thing that I can suggest. I wish you the best of luck!