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Absence Siezures and Behavioral Problems
Tue, 09/19/2006 - 15:38Topic: Parents & Caregivers
My son(now 10)was diagnosed with absence siezures in Dec.2005. He is now taking Depakote. His teacher is telling me that he is much slower than all the other kids in his class and he is still drifting off. When I address his doc. with this, he says that his seizures are controlled and he has most likely always been this way. Now the teacher is suggesting that I put him on another medicine to control his behavior. I just don't believe in making my kid a zombe with these meds and isn't there a way that I can control both. Please help me with this I am just lost......
Comments
Re: Re: Absence Siezures and Behavioral Problems
Submitted by solis on Tue, 2006-09-19 - 18:19
Hi Janice,
With all due respect, if one has epilepsy one is BEST served by an 'epileptologist' = a neurologist (as you mentioned) but, this is one that has specilaized in and who focuses on the over 40 types of Epilepsy.
Regular neurologists specialize in the entire brain and spinal cord; so, as epilepsy is just one of many problems of the brain, they aren't as knowledgeable about the many variations of E ,as an epileptologist.
~sol
Re: Re: Re: Absence Siezures and Behavioral Problems
Submitted by slhmurphy on Tue, 2006-09-19 - 21:38
Here, here!
I agree w/ Sol. Also, if they (the school) is so concerned about his behavior, have they done any testing on him? Definately see the epileptologist and ask about this issue...It is a complex one, and medicine has its place, but you want to know what you are treating before you treat it!
Good Luck,
Sam
Re: Absence Siezures and Behavioral Problems
Submitted by jj84gal on Tue, 2006-09-19 - 16:45
Hi, I also had absence siezures as a child so I know what your son is going through, and you are perfectly right not to accept the sutiation. When my seziures started up again later on in my life (I was sez. free for almost ten years) I was put on meds that made me into a zombie, then I want to a new neroligist who was willing to listen to me and we changed my meds and my life became ten times better. I would suggest going to a nerologist instead of your GP, and talking about trying different meds. I was on Zorontian at his age and had no problems with it. Best of luck, Janice