Challenging meds situation

I'm 64 years old. I had my first tonic-clonic at 22, but my seizures have always been at long intervals--mostly many years apart. I've tried dilantin (so dizzy I couldn't stand) tegretol (worst headache of my life for ten days) depakote (jaundice) keppra (psychosis) and lamictal, which I tolerated but which didn't change the frequency of my seizures, and which was hellish to withdraw from. Eventually I found that my seizures were clustered around my menstrual cycle, and took progesterone, which decreased the frequency. Then I reached menopause and with one exception, my seizures were all the result of abrupt medication changes. I have carried Ativan to use in case of a seizure aura and that's worked well for me. I hadn't had one in 5.5 years until last Saturday. I had been recovering from having a stent placed in my heart, and it had been much harder on me than expected. I don't have any memory of an aura. I woke up with a bloody mouth, and amnesia. The life I created for myself is dependent on driving, so I need to find an effective AED that doesn't have horrible side effects. I'm especially worried about ones that impact mood and concentration. I'm a writer and my livelihood depends on my ability to think clearly and have emotional access to my art. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed. I know there are new medications since last I tried one, but that doesn't mean they're more benign. I'm going to have to push hard to get a referral out of my rural plan to an epileptologist, because this isn't a simple case. And I have a bunch of other conditions that now need to be taken into account. I know every body is different, but I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has an AED they tolerate really well.