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Seizures and cognitive functioning

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 14:10

Hi.  I recently had a 32 year old friend move in with me after she lost her apartment after losing her job as a nurse.  She has a history of seizure disorder (not sure of the specific kind).  Since she moved in I have noticed that she has frequent (petit mal?) seizures.  Sometimes one after another followed by a period where she is slurs her words, her eyes roll back in her head and she appears to have a hard time focusing, and is often incoherent and/or what she says doesn't make sense.  She has periods where she sleeps for long periods (sometimes days).  I know she also has some depression issues and anxiety for which she's being treated.

 

I'm worried about her.  She says she has a follow up appointment with her doctor next week.  She often misses appointments so I'm worried she won't even make it.  Is there something more I should be doing?  Should I be concerned about the frequency of her seizures and/or the cognitive impairment?  She hasn't been lucid lately so I don't tend to get a clear answer from her when I ask these questions.

Comments

I had to write something for

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2015-01-09 - 17:41
I had to write something for this one since i am a nurse (not active anymore) but myself dealt with the seizures she is suffering from now. There was no medicine i have not tried for the past 14 years BUT i have finally for the past 6 months have my seizures under control.  Tell her to get to her doctor immediately (even before next week if possible).  Then ask her to talk to her doctor about the following meds.  Vimpat (i take 200mg twice a day) and Aptiom (i take 800mg once a day).  I have no idea what to say about those two meds except to say they have changed my life.  I have another med too that was added Trokendi xr (200mg at hs) and tell her to ask md about that too (related to topamax).  Tell her to ask md to start over because she does not want her nursing career to end and she wants her independence back.  Alot is at stake. I know. Tell her to think in new directions.  I'm trusting GOD my partial and complex partial seizures are over for good and if HE works it throw meds, i trust HIM.  Tell her to get on this now.  grace and peace.  

If it were me I would suggest

Submitted by just_joe on Sat, 2015-01-10 - 10:08
If it were me I would suggest going to the doctor with her so he can get feedback from a person that has seen her seizures.If she has been on the same medication for awhile her dosages may need changing or a change to a newer medication. Arlette posted some that it looks like she has been taking. One of the go to medications is keppra which I take. It not only reduced the number of seizures but it also reduced the time in those seizures. If you have seen her in a seizur and know what happens during those seizures then suggest that you go and give the doctor information about what happens. With your information and after hearing her it gives the doctor more information to work with.I hope this helps and she gets the assistance she needs

She may need to be seen in ER

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 2015-01-10 - 10:22
She may need to be seen in ER. Some oral meds do not stop seizures. When she is evaluated by the Dr in ER, he may admit her for inpatient evaluation. 

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