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How to deal with relationships, medicine side effects & just life.

Sat, 04/02/2011 - 22:39
Hi, I'm not sure if it is life that is overwhelming, or what, but I thought I'd ask. Right now, I'm on Topomax 200mg 2 x day, Keppra 750 3 x day, Clobazam 20mg 2 x day, as some time between now & the end of June I'll have right temporal surgery to hopefully reduce all this. Life at work is always busy and gets more and more demanding. Life outside of work can be busy and demanding. What I find is the closer I come to my surgery dates, the more mood swings that kick in because I don't know who I'm going to be as a person when everything is done. It's tough to handle relationships with people as I go through this process. My work has been pretty understanding, but we have a new shift change coming up where I could work 9-5, 10-6, 11-7, or as late as 1-9 & it is all a lottery gamble based on stats. With the med increases, I'm no longer one of the top agents and they don't get that totally so, that's tough. I'm the top one in terms of willing to work overtime, but that doesn't matter. Then there's family. There are days I just want to cry, and I get told "suck it up" you take things too personally. Also, we have family traditions where I just say maybe because I don't know what life will be in a few months. Kinda the same thing with plans with friends. Some people get it others don't. Right now, someone who was a friend of mine isn't talking to me because back in Feb I had to see my medical team, so I cancelled plans with her, then last weekend I was just really sick & couldn't do lunch we planned because I went into cluster seizures the night before. Last obstacle kinda is my boyfriend. While I love him and I know it isn't him, it is probably more me, I go through mood swings galore at times and take things the wrong way from him because life is just high stress & I always feel really touchy. I guess what I need to know, is how do I block out what is coming and live just a normal life. I'm tired of getting hurt and feeling like I'm hurting other people. Any ideas? GG

Comments

How to deal with relationships, medicine side effects

Submitted by tcameron on Sun, 2011-04-03 - 00:50

Godiva,

You're on Topamax.  Have you read all there is to know about it?  Some people have no side effects and have total seizure control.   I took it, and it was the worst nightmare of my life!  I started hallucinating; everything just kept getting more weird until I couldn't tell what day it was and I completley stopped communicating with the world.  I had a horrible rash.  My neurologist told me to keep taking it and it would go away.  It didn't go away.  I kept scratching until I bled.  In fact, after that I had eczema for several years.  My skin looked blotchy, but the worst part was the hallucinations.

The day I completely stopped communicating with the world, 2 friends came over seperatley and noticed I wasn't responding.  They took me to 2 different ERs, and I had 2 CT scans to see if I had a stroke that day.

Please, if you start to feel anything weird, get off this stuff.  It can be extremely bad for you.  As far as dealing with other people, we all have problems now and then.  If your boyfriend can't handle it, he doesn't deserve you as his girlfriend.  

At this stage, life is a game; play one day at a time.  Make sure to see more than one epileptologist before you have your surgery.  Good luck!  Take care of yourself.  I'll pray for you.

Therese

Godiva,

You're on Topamax.  Have you read all there is to know about it?  Some people have no side effects and have total seizure control.   I took it, and it was the worst nightmare of my life!  I started hallucinating; everything just kept getting more weird until I couldn't tell what day it was and I completley stopped communicating with the world.  I had a horrible rash.  My neurologist told me to keep taking it and it would go away.  It didn't go away.  I kept scratching until I bled.  In fact, after that I had eczema for several years.  My skin looked blotchy, but the worst part was the hallucinations.

The day I completely stopped communicating with the world, 2 friends came over seperatley and noticed I wasn't responding.  They took me to 2 different ERs, and I had 2 CT scans to see if I had a stroke that day.

Please, if you start to feel anything weird, get off this stuff.  It can be extremely bad for you.  As far as dealing with other people, we all have problems now and then.  If your boyfriend can't handle it, he doesn't deserve you as his girlfriend.  

At this stage, life is a game; play one day at a time.  Make sure to see more than one epileptologist before you have your surgery.  Good luck!  Take care of yourself.  I'll pray for you.

Therese

How to deal with relationships, medicine side effects etc

Submitted by GodivaGirl on Sun, 2011-04-17 - 00:01
Hi Therese, I've been on Topomax for a number of years, just increased pre-op. I'm used to that. I actually now have a pre-op/post op counselor in place that is helping with everything, and making everything make sense. I did do my research on meds - I've been on lots. While I appreciate the input, I'm actually doing neurosurgery with the hope to get off all my medications in a couple years. It's just a really overwhelming process. I've gone from a girl with mid-length blonde/red hair to being bald. Someone who could keep up at work, to med increase that have an impact at times where work just feel hard And a lot of "maybes" in life that people can't get. My counselor has helped lots. Thanks though :) GG

Re: How to deal with relationships, medicine side effects etc

Submitted by tcameron on Sun, 2011-04-17 - 00:30

Hi Godiva,

You had mid-length blond/red hair and are now almost bald?  Is the Topamax responsible for it?  I don't know side effects of a lot of the other AEDs, but I know that Depakote can make hair fall out.  However, I've never heard of it thinning to the point of almost becoming bald! 

I hope you get off all your medications in a couple years as well.  I'm glad your counselor has helped you with your problems.  I'm just another patient, so I don't know nearly as much as she does.

Relationships are difficult, especially with family members and significant others.  Most people (including paramedics) don't understand seizures and the correct seizure first aid.  I hope this becomes a part of your past so you'll be able to carry on from this.  I'll pray for you.  

Sincerely,

Therese

Hi Godiva,

You had mid-length blond/red hair and are now almost bald?  Is the Topamax responsible for it?  I don't know side effects of a lot of the other AEDs, but I know that Depakote can make hair fall out.  However, I've never heard of it thinning to the point of almost becoming bald! 

I hope you get off all your medications in a couple years as well.  I'm glad your counselor has helped you with your problems.  I'm just another patient, so I don't know nearly as much as she does.

Relationships are difficult, especially with family members and significant others.  Most people (including paramedics) don't understand seizures and the correct seizure first aid.  I hope this becomes a part of your past so you'll be able to carry on from this.  I'll pray for you.  

Sincerely,

Therese

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