trigger big increase seizures sister

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Hello everyone,

First of all: I'm a student from Holland, so my English isn't that well..

My sister had epilepsy for 7 years, but she died two weeks ago, she was 23 years old. She had one seizure every year with medication (carbamazepine), but this year she had 10 (!!!) seizures.. Before her fifth seizure, the neurologist gave her Keppra, but it didn't worked that good.. After her fifth seizure she had a couple of long seizures (tonic-clonic). Another neurologist (specialised institution for epilepsy) gave her lamotrigine in November this year, so she was allowed to reduce the Keppra and to increase the lamotrigine. The Keppra made her a zombie, she was tired, angry, depressed, lack of concentration, forgetful.

Her last seizure on december the 4th was a big one. She fell on the edge of the Bed, with her chin.. so she didn't get enough oxygen and died, before her friend found her.. They were calling eachother, so her friend knew she had a seizure, but he was too late.. They did CPR for more than an hour, but it didn't worked out.

My biggest question is: what is the trigger for the big increase in seizures this year...? She was 'stable' with carbamazepine with one seizure a year, and this year, in less than 10 months she had 10 seizures.

Thanks all!
Kind Regards,
Celeste

Comments

Sorry to hear about your

Submitted by just_joe on Sat, 2014-12-20 - 17:33

Sorry to hear about your sister. I have has seizures for 50+ years. I will be posting from what I have known and went thru. A [ersons body changes as the person grows. With growth the medications need to be adjusted either raising or lowering the dosages. I aad my dosages changed 3 times in less then 1 year because I was growing from a kid to a teen. Weight changed from 58 lbs to 135 lbs. Height from 4'6" to 5'8". so the medication levels need to keep at levels the doctors think they should be. Hormonial changes can also affect medication levels.I have had my medications changed many times and I have used both of the medications she was on.Triggers???? Well you are on the sitye that can give you some information on triggers. But understand that each persons is different from the next. The same with seizures and types of epilepsy. You posted "She was 'stable' with carbamazepine with one seizure a year, and this year, in less than 10 months she had 10 seizures." That sounds great. I went 3 years without any seizures but I had one. I have gone thru months without a seizure and the following month I might have 2-5. In the last year I generally have a seizure every 8-14 days . I may still get 2-3 seizures in a month but all together the normal ammount in a month is 3-5. "she was tired, angry, depressed, lack of concentration, forgetful." Almost all medications to control seizures can do this to some people. When I used carbamazepine it was a very good medication, It controlled some seizures but I wanted better control. As for Keppra? Well it is the best medications I have used for seizure control.It not only reduced the number of seizures it also reduced the time in those seizures and the time it takes to get back to normal. The seizures I was having using carbamazepine were 2-5 minutes long and the time to get back to normal was 5-45 minutes. With Keppra (or generic) the seizures are seconds in length and the time to get back to normal is also seconds. I could have one while standing in a group of people and they wouldn't know I had one. Go to th help section and read triggers. Stress is one of the biggies. But then I have been stressed and not had a seizure. One of my triggers id getting too hot too fast. Which to some people wouldn't think about. I found out after having gone 3 years without a seizure and had one. My neurologist wanted me to tell him what I was doing for about a week before the seizure. It seems that working in a restaurant is not good because they do get really hot behind grills, ovens and flat top stoves. edless to say commercial steamers. I am sorry for your loss and do hope you get the information you need and are looking for. Joe

Sorry to hear about your sister. I have has seizures for 50+ years. I will be posting from what I have known and went thru. A [ersons body changes as the person grows. With growth the medications need to be adjusted either raising or lowering the dosages. I aad my dosages changed 3 times in less then 1 year because I was growing from a kid to a teen. Weight changed from 58 lbs to 135 lbs. Height from 4'6" to 5'8". so the medication levels need to keep at levels the doctors think they should be. Hormonial changes can also affect medication levels.I have had my medications changed many times and I have used both of the medications she was on.Triggers???? Well you are on the sitye that can give you some information on triggers. But understand that each persons is different from the next. The same with seizures and types of epilepsy. You posted "She was 'stable' with carbamazepine with one seizure a year, and this year, in less than 10 months she had 10 seizures." That sounds great. I went 3 years without any seizures but I had one. I have gone thru months without a seizure and the following month I might have 2-5. In the last year I generally have a seizure every 8-14 days . I may still get 2-3 seizures in a month but all together the normal ammount in a month is 3-5. "she was tired, angry, depressed, lack of concentration, forgetful."  Almost all medications to control seizures can do this to some people. When I used carbamazepine it was a very good medication, It controlled some seizures but I wanted better control. As for Keppra? Well it is the best medications I have used for seizure control.It not only reduced the number of seizures it also reduced the time in those seizures and the time it takes to get back to normal. The seizures I was having using carbamazepine were  2-5 minutes long and the time to get back to normal was 5-45 minutes. With Keppra (or generic) the seizures are seconds in length and the time to get back to normal is also seconds. I could have one while standing in a group of people and they wouldn't know I had one. Go to th help section and read triggers. Stress is one of the biggies. But then I have been stressed and not had a seizure. One of my triggers id getting too hot too fast. Which to some people wouldn't think about. I found out after having gone 3 years without a seizure and had one. My neurologist wanted me to tell him what I was doing for about a week before the seizure. It seems that working in a restaurant is not good because they do get really hot behind grills, ovens and flat top stoves. edless to say commercial steamers. I am sorry for your loss and do hope you get the information you need and are looking for. Joe

Sorry to hear about your sister. I have has seizures for 50+ years. I will be posting from what I have known and went thru. A [ersons body changes as the person grows. With growth the medications need to be adjusted either raising or lowering the dosages. I aad my dosages changed 3 times in less then 1 year because I was growing from a kid to a teen. Weight changed from 58 lbs to 135 lbs. Height from 4'6" to 5'8". so the medication levels need to keep at levels the doctors think they should be. Hormonial changes can also affect medication levels.I have had my medications changed many times and I have used both of the medications she was on.Triggers???? Well you are on the sitye that can give you some information on triggers. But understand that each persons is different from the next. The same with seizures and types of epilepsy. You posted "She was 'stable' with carbamazepine with one seizure a year, and this year, in less than 10 months she had 10 seizures." That sounds great. I went 3 years without any seizures but I had one. I have gone thru months without a seizure and the following month I might have 2-5. In the last year I generally have a seizure every 8-14 days . I may still get 2-3 seizures in a month but all together the normal ammount in a month is 3-5. "she was tired, angry, depressed, lack of concentration, forgetful." Almost all medications to control seizures can do this to some people. When I used carbamazepine it was a very good medication, It controlled some seizures but I wanted better control. As for Keppra? Well it is the best medications I have used for seizure control.It not only reduced the number of seizures it also reduced the time in those seizures and the time it takes to get back to normal. The seizures I was having using carbamazepine were 2-5 minutes long and the time to get back to normal was 5-45 minutes. With Keppra (or generic) the seizures are seconds in length and the time to get back to normal is also seconds. I could have one while standing in a group of people and they wouldn't know I had one. Go to th help section and read triggers. Stress is one of the biggies. But then I have been stressed and not had a seizure. One of my triggers id getting too hot too fast. Which to some people wouldn't think about. I found out after having gone 3 years without a seizure and had one. My neurologist wanted me to tell him what I was doing for about a week before the seizure. It seems that working in a restaurant is not good because they do get really hot behind grills, ovens and flat top stoves. edless to say commercial steamers. I am sorry for your loss and do hope you get the information you need and are looking for. Joe

trigger big increase seizures sister

Comments

Sorry to hear about your

Submitted by just_joe on Sat, 2014-12-20 - 17:33

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