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Question from a newbie =)

Tue, 05/02/2006 - 19:58
Hi to all! I'll get right to it, this will probably be kind of long, so bear with me...my husband is 34 years old, and had a seizure at the age of 16. He's had a total of 3 seizures, with years separating them. He has been on Dilantin until recently, but never really took it as prescribed (I think he was prescribed 450mg per day??) When I say he never took it as prescribed, he would take one pill here, one pill there. When it came time for the blood tests, he would "dose up" so they showed the right level. His neurologist always says his EEGs look normal (WITHOUT him taking Dilantin, unbeknownst to the doctor of course) All of his seizures have come after great times of stress or sleep deprivation. He said he does have "auras" prior to seizures, so he knows when they're coming and can get into a safe place/position. One of my questions is...3 seizures in an 18 year period...how does that qualify as epilepsy? The reason I'm here...while i'm sure i'm going to get alot of negative responses to this...he's a truck driver. He knows the dangers, we all do, but it's his living. He's also a smoker, about 2 packs a day, maybe less. The changes in "lifestyle" right now are...(1) he's been drinking crystal light on the go in his water and (2) he's trying to quit smoking, but eating toosie pops and jolly ranchers like crazy. Today, he was very nauseated, light-headed, and felt "seizury" in his words, so he took two Dilantin. when I picked him up and brought him home, he took two more Dilantin, then went to bed (of course, there's no regular sleep schedule). He seems to be feeling a little better now, but he's scared. He always gets scared when he gets these feelings, because he knows the risk he's taking by being a truck driver (killing others, killing himself, etc). I'm wondering if anyone else is in this position, had these feelings, and if an "overdose" of sugar and/or phenylalanine can cause a seizure, or "seizury" feeling? I know I've left many things out, so if you need more info, feel free to ask. It's hard for us to be honest with a doctor in fear of him losing his CDL, as that's our bread and butter. Without it, we'll lose everything. But I personally don't feel he has epilepsy...I think (and I'm not a doctor) that it's more sleep deprivation, stress, and anxiety related. How can we approach a doctor without the fear of losing the CDL? I really want him to be straight with a doctor so we can find out just what is going on. Thanks for any input. Amy

Comments

Re: Question from a newbie =)

Submitted by Ramblinman on Tue, 2006-05-02 - 20:43
Too many loved ones, including yours, are on the road to risk someone with ep driving, specially if it's a big rig. I know it's not the answer you want to hear but it's the one you already know... He needs to find another living.

Re: Question from a newbie =)

Submitted by seizuregirl on Tue, 2006-05-02 - 21:00
Hi Amy. It seems to me like your husband is "playing" with his life by doing what he's doing. You can just imagine how many times when I did stuff like that in the past. Skipping my pills here or there for my own selfish reasons, of course. My doctors always knew if I skipped a pill or not 'coz the doctor that I had could tell if I was lying or not. Then, there was the time when I overdosed and that wasn't fun. I wouldn't want your husband to experience what I did by doing that. The paramedics had to pound on my chest to revive me. By the way, I wound up in the hospital twice 'coz of "overdosing" myself. When it comes to seizures...sleep deprivation and stress are one of many reasons to why a seizure will erupt. And I can relate to your husband about the anxiety esp. when it deals with the auras. I don't know any seizure patient anywhere who doesn't feel anxiety when an aura or a seizure hits them. I've tried to find a technique in calming myself when it hits me, but there isn't any such known technique to be found. Anyway, I know I'm not being of great help in finding your answers and I apologize for that. But all I can say is that your husband should be more responsible with his health because it's not a game to be played. You should tell him to think about you if anything should happen. Seizuregirl "Life is what you make of it"

Re: Question from a newbie =)

Submitted by JudiS on Tue, 2006-05-02 - 22:43
Hi Amy A couple of things are no brainers here: 1. He should take his meds to help control the risk of Sz'ing no matter his occupation. The roller coaster of dosing at random can complicate his disorder. 2. I too have specific auras when I am about to Sz. I am confident that I would have enough time to pull over, stop and put my car into park should I feel there was a chance of sz'ing. As a greater precaution, I stay OFF most freeways and avoid any stretch of highway that does not have a shoulder to emergency stop. I highly doubt that the aura warnings are always going to be long enough for your husband to stop a big rig and get to a place where all are safe from a possible episode. (I have only had one sz in 30+ years, but never know when the next one could occur) I am not aware of what the requirements are for over the road drivers with ep are? Is there period of suspension should a sz occur? Has he had his blood sugar tested lately? He might be at risk for diabetes if he is craving so much sugar. All of these things should be taken into consideration. A man of 34 is still VERY young and should be able to transition into another career. Perhaps that would make your life less stessful too. All Best to you both, Judi

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