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.
Has anyone had success with medication
Mon, 01/23/2006 - 18:18Topic: Parents & Caregivers
My son is 15 and just started Lamictal. (First med treatment/started seizures approx 1 month ago)
I have been reading a lot re: Lamictal and Epilepsy online and have not run across anyone stating they are on meds and in control of their seizures.
Are there any success stories?
Thanks, Kelley
Comments
Re: Re: Re: Has anyone had success with medication
Submitted by Roseanne on Wed, 2006-01-25 - 23:04
Hang in there with your son. My daughter will be 15 in March also and she was diagnosed with Epilepsy at 11 in 6th grade. We learned at the time that she has 2 types of epilepsy. Juvenile Myloconic and Photo Induced. Unfortunately she has been on 7 different types of medicine. Last week was the newest and it put her into a medication overdose. The doctor is now suggesting the VNS surgery. The thing I have learned all these years is that she is still a normal, active child (teenager) and no matter how bad it gets she still wants to be normal. We treat her just that way. She is a dancer and performs on stage even though the lights put her into seizures, but her teachers are looking at ways to adjust the colors of the lights and her posititioning to help her. It was so hard at the beginning and some days still are but it is a daily adjustment of life. I was once told God doesn't give us more than we can handle and he knows it takes a special parent to have such special children. Let him tell you each day how he feels and the things you can do to help him feel better.
Re: Re: Re: Has anyone had success with medication
Submitted by land1968 on Sun, 2006-02-19 - 12:15
I am exactly where you are. My son has just been diagnosed after having a week full of seizures for the first time. He is 14. He is not athletic or very social, but is a very good student (all A's in honors classes). I am so afraid of what the meds will do to him, whether he will be able to continue with his plans (he wants to go to a good university and do a difficult major). And mostly, I'm worried about what will happen if life can't continue as normal. His entire identity is tied up in being "smart." I know he is so much more, but does he?
I also am afraid to leave him alone and don't know how we will know if the medication is working. So far he has not had a real seizure (just some pre-seizure type "feelings") since starting Keppra on Friday.
I know this isn't any help but I certainly understand how awful you feel. I can't stop crying at night, can't eat and am feeling grief-stricken. Surely time and prayer (if you believe in that) will help eventually.
Feeling for you,
Leslie
Re: Re: Has anyone had success with medication
Submitted by KelleyV on Tue, 2006-01-24 - 20:12
I dont think during the past month I have stopped thinking about this for more than 10 minutes of non-sleeping time. My son was so active at school. He was dismissed at 1:45, but hung around with friends at a local ice cream shop until sport practice started at 3:30. I know pick him up at 1:45 because Im afraid he will have a seizure without adult supervision and I dont think its up to the other kids to take care of him in the middle of the restaurant. I dont want him on the bus for away games and I can not take him because I have to work. I now can only work until 1:30 because I have to pick him up from school. Every time the phone rings at work I get scared its the principal telling me my son is being taken to the hospital (They call an ambulance every time it happens..so far twice at school). Everytime I hear a thump I call out to ask if he's ok. I go into his room every 10 minutes making sure he is ok. I can no longer leave him at home to do a grocery shopping, run to the post office etc... I feel like Im treating him like he is 2 years old...but he's 15! Im driving him and myself crazy.