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I had a seizure 5 years ago 11/01 . . . took depakote for 2 ...
Sent to Health Experts September 09 06:25 PM

I had a seizure 5 years ago 11/01 . . . took depakote for 2 years as a condition of driving. The EEG was repeated after 2 years & no change in report and I was allowed to stop taking the Depakote. Fast forward to 7/2006, seizure, low glucose, back on Depakote, EEG shows a significant change. Neurologist said I don't need to know why or what the difference is, just take the meds. I think I need to have more info. Miserable on meds. I cry 3-4 times a day. Sure does change your QOL. Today is also my 2 yr anniv of my breast cancer dx. I feel like I have all the "symptoms" of the depressed folks I met during radiation. What next?

 

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 53

Already Tried:
Visit to PCP, neurologist and asking for different neurologist who will answer questions.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $25
Info Request
September 9 6:35 PM (10 minutes and 29 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark
Low glucose can cause seizures, what was done about this piece of information that you were given? Have you had any seizures since this time? Are you monitoring your glucose with any regularity?
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Judy -- Nurse -- 100% Positive Feedback on 870 Health Accepts
RN in ICU for 35 years
Reply
September 9 8:54 PM (2 hours and 18 minutes and 25 seconds later)
         
Reply to Judy's Post: Full set of bloodwork shows normal blood counts . . . compared to work done in last two years while taking tamoxifen and doing CA 27.29 testing --- on day of seizure, drank 4 bottles each water and Gatorade, walked 11 miles at the county fair training for AVON WALK (high 80s), ate good breakfast, good lunch and was getting ready to eat dinner but began to use every toilet in sight . . . I must have had 'to go' every 10 minutes for the last 45 min or so before the seizure . . . PCP discussed with me maybe electrolyte imbalance due to heat, but neuro just said take meds rest of your life and you don't need to know anything else because you might just be predisposed to seizures. I'd like more info and I plan on living another 50 years!No other 'monitoring' at this time. Immed following seizure gluc was 58, normally 90-110.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on September 9 2006 at 9:01 PM
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
September 9 9:15 PM (21 minutes and 47 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
The way seizure meds work in general is to lower the "threshold" for seizures. This means that if you are, as the neuro guy said, "prone to seizures," it will reduce the possiblity in all circumstances. So maybe he's right after all about taking something. You are certainly able to get a second opinion from another neurologist. They may change the med to a different one that may not have the same effect on your psyche. Depression is a known side effect of depakote and no matter how rare or frequent the side effect, it seems to be affecting you, and with so many other drugs out there that you should not have to suffer with this one!


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Judy -- Nurse -- 100% Positive Feedback on 870 Health Accepts
RN in ICU for 35 years
Reply
September 10 2:05 PM (16 hours and 49 minutes and 45 seconds later)
         
Reply to Judy's Post: So am I justified in wanting to know more about the EEG changes and it's ramifications and looking into the glucose thing or am I just whining and being a PITA? Talked to my mom and she has just begun taking some sort of meds for her Type 2 Diabetes . . . she just can't/won't take off the weight and doesn't really want to talk about it. I feel there should be more to this than an 'onsite' glucose test while I'm seizing, one set of blood work couple with my CA 27.29 test, an EEG and a MRI and a prescription for Dep. The Dep feels like a bandaid and then being told to go back out to play.

And driving? What about getting my license back?

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on September 10 2006 at 3:53 PM
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
September 10 6:35 PM (4 hours and 29 minutes and 55 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Some hospitals are now doing 24 hour seizure studies. the patient goes off the meds for a period of time, is admitted to the hospital for close observation, and has the monitoring electrodes on for 24 hours or more.
Perhaps you need to seek a second opinion with a group from a larger university type hospital/medical center. There are just so many new treatments and testing that you should not have to settle for something that you are not comfortable with or that makes you so unhappy.
As for the changes that they saw, you would have to ask those who saw them. As for driving, I think you need to be seizure free for at least 2 years, but it may vary state to state.


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Judy -- Nurse -- 100% Positive Feedback on 870 Health Accepts
RN in ICU for 35 years
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