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My 18 yr old is having tonic clonic seizures n injuries

Fri, 09/12/2014 - 07:12

Hi our son was diagnosed with epilepsy soon after he was born n has been on medication since.  He had nocturnal seizures lasting 2-3 mins, however in The last 3 years his pattern has changed n he is having day time tonic clonic  seizures, no warnings, falls down n hurts himself.  He has been on zonegran, keppra n vimpat.  We are experiencing anxiety and find it hard to let him out of our sight.  He has a few more months to complete a vcal program n loves school.  He is a wonderful child, how do we give him d courage he needs.  He is terrified after the recent seizure n fall he had. Any advice/suggestions? 

Comments

WelcomeA person can have more

Submitted by just_joe on Thu, 2014-09-25 - 13:32
WelcomeA person can have more then one kind of seizure. Just because his seizures were nocturnal does not mean he will not have tonic clonic seizures. You posted meds he has taken without posting his dosages or the last time those dosages were raised or lowered. WHen I was a teen I had to have my dosages changed many times because of changes in ones body. In 1 year those dosages werew changed 4-5 times because I grew about 8"s in height and 40 lbs. So if he has gained weight his dosages may need to be raised or lowered.  Your son can do anything he wants just like his friends. He does need to think about what might happen if he does have a seizure. With me it meant swimming was out unless there was someone with me and that too was questionable. I rode tobbagons and climed mountains. I played sprots but parents would not let me play on the teams (afraid I would get huirt since my brother broke his collar bone in practice).  I didn't know about the triggers until after I was in my 20's. Which means I slept little and did get stressed now and then but I also learned how to control that. Your son may have been having seizures without you knowing he is having them. Absence seizures last seconds and are like day dreams. I had been written up for day dreaming in class when in reality those day dreams were petite mal seizures. Partial seizures for some people are also seconds long if they are simple partial. Focal seizures can also be like a simple partial. Do check with his neurologist about this issue and see if his dosages need to be changed As far as medications I am currently on keppra and vimpat. I was on keppra alone and it reduced the number of seizures I was having. It also shortened the time in those seizures along with the time to focus (get back to normal). We added vimpat a little over a year ago and the number of seizures has been reduced again so I do know that those 2 medication combined have been the best medications I have ever used in the 50+ years I have been living and dealing with epilepsy. I do hope this helps and your son gets the assistance he needs.Please come back and let us know how things are going Joe

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