worried mom

A few thingsIt’s really common to hear of cases that start around puberty, come out of the blue, very smart child. Your situation sounds very normal, there are many parents who’ve dealt with similar, you aren’t alone in this.It’s unlikely the video games are a trigger because they generally catch such problems with an EEG, and your son would have seizures playing the same game.While epilepsy medication is started and stopped carefully, it isn’t addictive in the sense you imply. It’s likely that your son could get by with a moderately low therapeutic dose. It’s also very possible that untreated he’ll eventually start having more seizures.Partial seizures can be really hard to catch on EEGs. Having a clear EEG is not unusual for someone with such epilepsy. We only caught spikes on the second sleep deprived EEG. Once someone has two seizures such as your son, it’s actually quite likely they’ll have another. Difficulty accepting a diagnosis is common for parents but your son’s health needs to come first. Trileptal is an epilepsy medication with a very good side effect profile - that’s means it’s nicer than a lot of other choices, rarely has cognitive impacts. My child did great on that drug but she switched to just one drug that treats both types of seizures because she also had generalized seizures. The most common issue my child had was being extra tired for a few days after a dose increase.Some people have issues with a drug, the only way to know is to give it a try for a reasonable period- a few days is too short, talk to your doctor’s office if there are some issues but know that other drugs can be more problematic and side effects can lessen with time so it’s going to take patience. Common seizure triggers are poor sleep, illness, stress, etc.. This site has a lot of info about diagnosis, treatment, triggers and more.  Epilepsy isn’t a straightforward diagnosis and treatment is very individualized by necessity. Info can help you deal with your fears. 

Hello Hazel:I can understand you feeling lost. After all, you are probably factoring in so many different things, all of which are probably on the downside; what you feel can go wrong. That is natural under certain circumstances. Fear is natural. Not to mention the fact that he is your son, and, as my sister always told me; "You [me] don't know what it's like to be a parent [mother in particular]). So yes, I won't question how you feel.That said, and I see Amy Jo has pointed out quite a few things to ponder by citing her child. I hope that helps you take a wider look at the picture versus just being overwhelmed by fear. The way you feel at this time is pretty normal. I have Epilepsy, which I have managed well, but I have found myself in your position once of really pondering so many things in another area. And I can tell you, when the creative side of the brain goes to work, it can really go to work and leave us only seeing downsides, or negative things.So I get where you are coming from in terms of feeling overwhelmed. That said, a few things about your son. Try not to guess too much about how you feel his diagnosis will affect him. Be concerned, but try not to guess too much. That's something I learnt from my neurosurgeon prior to my surgery. Easy on the guessing game.There were times where we expected certain things to go smooth but then some setbacks popped up. That said, we made sure we figured out what the next best step would be. This is the situation with Epilepsy or anything else in life. It's about starting with what we know and push to get to know more. From there we can slowly explore options while remaining in close contact with the neurologist. I know you are feeling lost. That is not odd Hazel. After all, all many may know of individuals with Epilepsy is what they see on television or what they may have heard from individuals who aren't that familiar with the diagnosis. But neurology has advanced. It just comes down to finding a hospital with a great team in that area. They usually refer to that department as the "Comprehensive Epilepsy Center." Or, in some cases, a "Comprehensive Epilepsy and Sleep Center." Find out if your hospital has such a department. Also, and this is the tough side because it is catchy, your son pretty much needs some reassurance that his diagnosis is not overwhelming his mom. If he feels that way then that can really affect him. I'm not saying you can't feel down, but try to balance that with your son. After all, you mentioned his grades etc. If he feels overwhelmed by how this is affecting his parents and siblings, well, that can make it even more challenging for him. I guess what I am trying to say is it's okay to feel the way you feel at this time because this is so new. That said, you probably would also want to know that your son isn't overwhelmed because everyone is also overwhelmed. Medicine is that way Hazel. It's about first being frustrated but then realizing that a specialist is now important, and that some things we really would not have preferred now comes down to finding ways to manage it. Your son needs to know his mom will still be able to function even though she is probably having a difficult time. And Amy Jo's post gives you and idea of what is most important at this time and how another parent has managed the step-by-step adjustment.  Your son is still your son. He is no less than he has always been. He will be frustrated here and there but what's most important is that he doesn't feel he is any less. That is what is most important. We have come too far in medicine and technology and knowledge for individuals to have to feel any less based on a medical diagnosis. He's the same smart dude. It's just that he now has to slowly adjust just as you also will need to adjust. You aren't any less of a mother or a parent. You just need a time out to reset. And that starts with his neurologist and getting to know more here.Best Regards

Been there. http://seizuremamaandrose.org