once a year he has a seizure even while taken meds

RE: once a year he has a seizure even while taken meds

Submitted by USMALE on Tue, 2004-06-15 - 11:28

Jenstrom, In a way, I'm surprised at the second part of your question, yet, in a way I'm not. There could be so many different reasons for this, that you guys really should address it to a qualified physician. It could simply be nothing more than the fact that there are no guarantees to coincidence to some outside influence so obvious that you both just haven't noticed it. Having a Law Enforcement background and having epilepsy, I guess you could say that I'm a little obsessed with looking for the connections. When you say "annual seizure" does this mean always the same time of year? If so, is your husband doing something different around this time that might interfere with the effectiveness of the medication? Does it coincide with a special occasion where he may consume more alcohol than usual (presuming that he does at all). Look for all of the possibilities. I'm sure that if there was another medication involved you guys would have made the connection by now, but it still bears mentioning. It's unfortunate, but a lot of physicians don't take the time to check to see if something they are prescribing will hinder what a patient is already taking, which is why I always check both the PDR and the internet before I get a prescription filled from a doc other than my neurologist. I learned the hard way. I also check before using any OTC meds. Over 30 years, Ive become pretty good at it. If I'm not sure, I ask the pharmacist to double check it for me. that is, after all, one of his specialties from what I understand. From your letter, I get the impression that you have some suspicions. If you do, you and your husband should bounce them off his neurologist. The more information HE has, the better equipped he is to work with you guys to set up a "plan of attack". He's not a mind reader and isn't with you 24/7 (who could afford that bill?). Nothing you notice is too stupid to bring up. If you're not sure, mention it anyway, but be clear that you're not 100% sure. If you see later that you were right, say so. If you see you were wrong, say so. You don't say how long he's been having the "annual" if it's just two years, relax a little bit (remember the possibilities of no guarantees and coincidence?) But if you haven't yet, ask his neuro anyway. If there's one thing I've learned in my life, trying to control seizures, at least in my case and in the case of every person I know personally, has been trial and error. If this doesn't work, we'll try something else. We all hope that eventually something will work. We have to communicate with our docs though. That's one of the most important keys to effective treatment. There are things that the patient isn't able to tell their doctor. That's where a family member's observations and memories are key. How much don't we remember from before and after a seizure? During....? How much of this might help to determine which medication might be most effective? Basically, I guess what I'm trying to say (in my long winded way, I hope you're still awake), is that there are so many factors that can be considered and that it can be one or a combination of them. Take it up with a neuro. As Far as the first part of your question, Diet? The only one I ever heard of was the Ketogenic diet. I never did much research into it. There is a link on the Epilepsy DotCom home page under treatment to info about this. exactly what info I'm not sure, Whether it's even applicable I really don't know. Again something to address to a doc I guess. Not much help am I?I hope this was at least a little bit of help to you. I know that dealing with a family member's seizures is hard. I hope that I speak for all of us when I say that if there was a way that we could make it easier on you, we would do it in a heartbeat.You guys take care of each other and Good Luck.