Dear Rachael:
I would probably agree with the neurologist taking you off the dilantin, but I would have repeated the EEG just to make sure, but that is a personal choice by me. I think that if you are feeling stressed out and alittle depressed, I might favor the medications for a short time. The ibuprofen for pain is okay and it might help matters. If you are breast feeding, I would contact your family physician about these medications and breast feeding (in your case pumping).
CCF Neuro MD
Dear Doctor,
Thank You so very much for shedding some light on this for me. I do feel better having an understanding of what happened. Yes I was on Dilantin for a seizure and for some reason I had another one in December ( on Christmas Eve no doubt! ) in 1998. My neurologist was not alarmed and said again it was residual from the pregnancy. Also at the time I was under lots of stress learning new techniques and home health care for my little one. I was never put back on any Dilantin afterwards. He felt it was just a reoccurance and would not happen again.
I asked him where in my head I had the bleed and he pointed to the back portion of my head and said occipital/parietal region. My BP has remained kind of normal. Sometimes it is 110/90 though with a fast pulse. I admit I have been under stress lately and perhaps it has something to do with the nightime grinding of my teeth.
I saw a psychiatrist for post partum depression and anxiety. He gave me Xanex 0.25 and Zoloft 50 mg but I have not taken any. I was afraid to up until now. Do you think those meds are allright and is Ibuprofin allright for pain?
Again, I thank you.
Dear Rachel:
Sorry to hear about your difficulties. First, the small hemorrhage, the most likely thing is that you had a small hemorrhage infarct (where? I doubt if it really is in the white matter, most are in the basal ganglion, cerebellum, thalamus, or pons) and the source was your high blood pressure. Now that you blood pressure is down to normal, this shouldn't be a problem as far as reoccurance. The hemorrhage will resolve and things should get better. Did you have a seizure and that is why they are giving you dilantin? The feeling of panic and being out of sorts is normal after delievery. Some women get very depressed, and this is called post-partum depression. I am not sure why your having daily headaches and teeth grinding at night. This may be a sign of being anxious, but I can't tell over the internet. Elavil might help with the daily headaches. What you need to know is that your baby needs a healthy mother. You need to take care of your self and actually a visit to your family physician will help matters.
First, I would find out where you had your stroke. If it is in a spot that could induce pain, such as the thalamus, then you need to see a neurologist. You need to see your family physician and help get your anxiety under control. There may be other problems that need to be addressed and he/she can help co-ordinate these.
Again, your baby need his/her mother in good health.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD