Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Scared and Concerned
Mon, 06/19/2017 - 23:46Topic: Parents & Caregivers
My daughter turned 14 on May 20. A week later she collapsed on the kitchen floor while doing dishes. We ran in and found her convulsing on floor and called 911. She had never had a seizure before that day. Since she has had any where from 4 to 8 a day. She had an eeg last week which showed seizure activity. We have an appointment to start mess but I have no clue what to ask, what meds she may be put on, or anything. I am clueless. She has also deals with migraines(since she was 2), an anxiety disorder, learning disorder and inattentive adhd. What can I do to be prepared?
Comments
Thank you so very much
Submitted by Crrosier08 on Tue, 2017-06-20 - 18:34
Thank you so very much
wow, seems fast. there's a
Submitted by Amy Jo on Mon, 2017-06-26 - 01:20
wow, seems fast. there's a lot of information available on JME, have you started with this site? http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-epilepsy-syndromes/juvenile-myoclonic-epilepsyit is going to be an adjustment for everyone so hang in there. cut yourself some slack when possible.
ask what kinds of seizures
Submitted by Amy Jo on Tue, 2017-06-20 - 01:33
ask what kinds of seizures she is having (are they initially focal that generalize or if they are just generalized - sometimes they are not sure or can't tell). this matters for some med choices but education is a big part of adjusting (for you and your teen).ask if the adhd or other issues might be due to seizures (heightened anxiety was a prodrome for our child although the regular anxiety is well above normal anyway).initially our doc gave us her two top picks to chose from (don't know if that's common). ask about cognitive, emotional and other major side effects and black box warnings (most epilepsy meds have possibe bad effects but many people do just fine on them, do not freak out over that, just know what to look for). ask how possible side effects can impact existing conditions. ask how many patients drop the recommended med (for our hospital group one third drop keppra). ask how the med is started, what the target dose is, etc so your expectations are set reasonably. if she hasn't already, inquire if a neuropsych exam is possible. it might identify strengths and weaknesses that can be used to shore up her learning/coping and improve her quality of life over the long haul.