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teen compliance
Sun, 10/04/2009 - 21:08Comments
Re: teen compliance
Submitted by Childrens Hospital Boston on Tue, 2009-10-27 - 13:43
Re: teen compliance
Submitted by jojocarter on Sat, 2009-10-17 - 23:27
I can totally understand your frustration. My son (18) was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 14 also. He went 1 1'2 years being seizure free and right before he was to get his license, he had a GMS. They increased his seizure medicine from 200 mg day of Lamictal to 400 mg day. For another 1 1/2 he was fine. He got his license and had no side effects until recently. Since June he has been experience symptoms of simple partial seizures. He is taking 600 mg day of XR Lamictal. Like your son, he has to be very careful. My entire time is spent trying to make sure he is compliant. The XR allows him to take all three pills in the morning. What becomes so difficult as they age is them wanting to fit in and not be different. My son plays very high level soccer and is on two competitive league teams. All through high school he played soccer for the school and never had a problem, but for the last month he has been having episodes where he walks off the soccer field or just sits down on the field. He has no memory of this occuring. We have an appointment to see a Neuro at U.C.L.A. on Monday. Hopefully, we will get answers. The teen years are very difficult and like you it's wearing me down. Most of his friends went off to college and the others are starting to drink==something he can probably never do. I'm also at my wits end. We also live on the coast of Southern California and all of his friends surf. I have asked him numerous times to find someone in this forum to talk to. He also say's no. Please know that you are not alone. We parents need all the support we can get.
I can totally understand your frustration. My son (18) was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 14 also. He went 1 1'2 years being seizure free and right before he was to get his license, he had a GMS. They increased his seizure medicine from 200 mg day of Lamictal to 400 mg day. For another 1 1/2 he was fine. He got his license and had no side effects until recently. Since June he has been experience symptoms of simple partial seizures. He is taking 600 mg day of XR Lamictal. Like your son, he has to be very careful. My entire time is spent trying to make sure he is compliant. The XR allows him to take all three pills in the morning. What becomes so difficult as they age is them wanting to fit in and not be different. My son plays very high level soccer and is on two competitive league teams. All through high school he played soccer for the school and never had a problem, but for the last month he has been having episodes where he walks off the soccer field or just sits down on the field. He has no memory of this occuring. We have an appointment to see a Neuro at U.C.L.A. on Monday. Hopefully, we will get answers. The teen years are very difficult and like you it's wearing me down. Most of his friends went off to college and the others are starting to drink==something he can probably never do. I'm also at my wits end. We also live on the coast of Southern California and all of his friends surf. I have asked him numerous times to find someone in this forum to talk to. He also say's no. Please know that you are not alone. We parents need all the support we can get.
Re: teen compliance
Submitted by momofa2014wildcat on Sat, 2009-10-17 - 21:25
I don't have the magic answer. When my daughter was diagnosed right before her 18th birthday her doctor was very firm with her about her meds. It sounds like you have many challenges. If you have to, have him take his meds in front of you, then check under his tongue & his cheeks to make sure he swallows. I bet it won't be long before he realizes that being seizure free is worth taking his meds.
Hang in there!!
I don't have the magic answer. When my daughter was diagnosed right before her 18th birthday her doctor was very firm with her about her meds. It sounds like you have many challenges. If you have to, have him take his meds in front of you, then check under his tongue & his cheeks to make sure he swallows. I bet it won't be long before he realizes that being seizure free is worth taking his meds.
Hang in there!!