While You're Waiting...

Maybe you have recently been diagnosed with seizures, or maybe you have been diagnosed for years - But all PWE's have something in common: We are all trying to find that magic pill to make our seizures go away. For some, you may never find that right combination of medications and others may respond great to the first medication they take. This blog is for those people, like myself, who are still struggling to find their own personal cure to Epilepsy.

The first thing you need to understand is that everyone is different. We may all be human, but all of our bodies work differently. There are several different causes of seizures, over 40 different types of seizures, and millions of people in the world. This most definitely means that there are millions of different types of seizures.

Finding the right treatment takes time, and it may take a lot of time - But it isn't impossible. Here are some tips to help you find the right treatment for yourself:

1. Be patient - You can't simply take an AED (medication for epilepsy) for a week or a month and expect miraculous results. Your brain chemistry is altered by AED's, and it takes time for your body to become fully used to the medication. My doctor usually has me try a pill out for a minimum of 4 months, and a maximum of 6.

2. Try combinations - If you are unsuccessful on one pill alone, your doctor may ask you if you would like to try a combination of pills. You can say no to this if you are uncomfortable with being on too many medications, but sometimes combinations work better than one pill alone. Certain medications can work together more powerfully and end up giving you better results. This works especially for those who have more than one type of seizure, such as Juvenile Absence seizures or Myoclonic seizures.

I am currently taking a combination of Trileptal and Felbatol, which controls my Grand mal/ Tonic-clonic seziures and most of my complex partial seizures. I still have many different smaller seizures up to 100 times daily. These include Complex-Partial seizures, Myoclonic Seizures, Sensory seizures, etc. However, this is the most success I have had with any combination of medications.

3. Surgery may be an option - There are several types of seizures available to PWE's, ranging from small scale implants to actual Lobe resections. Implants, such as the VNS, are offerred to those who have not responded well to more than 3 seizure medications. I have the VNS, but also take my combination of Trileptal and Felbatol. People with implants don't always stay on medication, but some use their implants as a part of the combination like myself.

If you would like to know some of the types of surgeries are available to you, please take a quick look at this link. I you think you may be interested in a surgical approach, ask your doctor for his opinion and suggestions.

4. Try a different doctor - Not everyone stays with the same doctor their whole lives. I have personally seen over 5 neurologists in my lifetime, and I am still not entirely sure I want to stick with the Epileptologist I am seeing now. This is a personal choice, and should be contemplated wisely.  If you feel that your doctor does not "care enough" about your wellbeing, or isn't helping you enough, you might want to look elsewhere for help.

Epileptologists are recommended over plain neurologists. They are specifically trained in the area of Epilepsy, and their studies and practice focuses solely on seizure disorders.

5. Stay healthy - Your overall body health is just as important as the health of your brain function. As a matter of fact, your body affects your brain function! Some people have found that weight loss or gain has affected their seizures greatly, so it is important to eat right and maintain the proper weight for your age and height. Keep a sufficient water intake to help your body process your medications, and avoid foods that may make your seizures worse. Avoid energy drinks, because in several cases they have induced seizures on people who do NOT even have Epilepsy. So imagine what they can do to you!

Vegilepsy and Seizures Triggered by Food + Recipe

6. Stay away from alcohol and drugs - Alcohol and drugs are #1 on the "DON'T" list for PWE's. These substances, even in small amounts, greatly affect your brain chemistry and in most cases counteract your epilepsy medications. So that "once in a while" bottle of booze may be the reason you are unsuccessful with your treatment.

Alcohol and Epilepsy

7. Ketogenic/ Atkins Diet - Both the Ketogenic and Atkins diets have shown great results in the treatment of Epilepsy for both children and adults. Both diets are very similar, being high in fats and low in cards. Combined with any other AED's, implants, surgeries, or even alone can greatly reduce the occurence of seizures if not get rid of them completely. To learn more, please check out the following links:

Atkins for Seizures

Ketogenic Diet - Epilepsy Treatment

8. Don't give up! - Even when you feel like your world is tumbling down, and you'll never find your cure, it is important to stay strong. Happy people are healthy people. You attitude affects everything you do, so it is important to have a good one. We are one step closer to our cure everyday!

Some people never completely get rid of their seizures, but if you can at least reduce them that is a pure blessing. It is important to realize how lucky you are if you have been able to reduce your seizures, even if it is only by a small amount. Some people have had such severe seizures so frequently that it has resulted in brain damage that will never go away. They can be paralyzed, unable to talk, unable to see, or may even have died.

So if you are reading this now, you are one of the lucky ones out there.

These are just a few of the treatment options and tips to help you get the most out of your Epilepsy treatment, and hopefully bring you closer to a cure for life. To learn more about Epilepsy, and ways to cure this disorder, please click any of the links below.

VNS - Vagus Nerve Stimulation - Epilepsy Treatment

Epilepsy.com

Living With Epilepsy - List of support sites for patients, teens, parents and caretakers