seizure question

my daughter has been having petite mal seizures for about 10 years now. We had to switch doctors due to insurance issues (don't get me started on that subject). We like the doctor we are with now but I'm not sure he's listening to us.

My daughter HATES taking any meds. I have to force her to do it all the time. She's 16 now and knows what can happen when she stops. She hides the pills or complains about upset stomach or many other problems. I can not stand over her all the time to make sure she takes them since I have a full time job and another daughter with medical problems.

She never had a grand mal seizure until she started taking depakote. When she skipped pills, she had a seizure. This passed February, she was suddenly diagnosed with polymyositis and she's taking more meds plus getting IVIG monthly. They recently lowered her meds for the polymyositis and I found out she lowered her meds for seizures too (not by doctor recomendation). She just had an EEG today to check how her seizures are going. I'm not a medical person but I watched her the whole time, knowing she probably hasn't had depakote in a few days (I found a pill hidden again). I did not see any seizure activity in her face and also watching the monitor I didn't notice any there either. After the EEG, I asked her when she last took depakote. She said last Saturday (that was almost a week ago).

I've been told these seizures are something she can out grow which would be super great for her. I am very concerned about her not taking the depakote but I'm also glad that she hasn't had any seizures while not taking it. I do have a call into our neuologist but I guess I'm looking for a second opinion. Since she has been taking the depakote, she has not gained weight but she has become very moody (could also be the teenage thing). I am getting after her to get back on the depakote even if she stops taking her poly meds since that has almost gone away. I understand she wants a "normal" life but I don't want to put her in danger for that to happen.

[jacmurphy]

Hi.
I have a 14 year old son who also moans about taking pills for his Epilepsy. But thankfully he hasn't stopped taking them.
I'm no expert..but I do know skipping pills or stopping them too quickly can cause seizures.
The moods could very well be a teenage thing. My son can be rather moody at times too.

My son had an EEG recently and even though he's on a really high dose of seizure meds it was very obvious that there was still a lot of seizure activity going on. (This was on the computer screen.. didn't see any facial changes) So.. without building up your hopes I would be a little pleased that there was no obvious activity during EEG.  

I think your daughter is going to have to learn that sometimes we need a little help to have a 'normal' life. But I know this is hard for a teenager to understand. So much easier when they are younger and listen to us.
Hopefully things will get better and our kids won't need to take these pills forever.

[theasian]

hey guys

i thought i'd butt in and just give the view of a "teenager" (actually i'm 21 but i think that's close enough right?)

i'm on my 4th different mix of epilepsy meds at the moment, so i think i have a decent idea of what it's like. i'm tired all the time, i'm definately moodier than i was before, i've gained weight and my eyesight has gotten pretty bad. these, according to my neuro, are all side effects of what i'm taking at the moment (depakote and lamictal) as a young adult/teenager you just want to have fun and experience life while you still can without all these hassles. i'm sure you'd understand, everyone goes through that phase. but now if you're weighed down by all these side effects it makes things pretty hard. i'm not saying that it's an excuse to not take your meds, i take mne religiously because i don't like the consequences that follow if i don't. as a teenager you're still trying to find yourself and fit in with everyone and you know that teenagers can be really mean to each other, as soon as they find out that you're "different" you suddenly can't be part of the "cool" group.

anyways, it is true that kids can grow out of epilepsy when they are older so i'll be hoping that is the case for your kids

take care