Sleep/Depression

I have had epilepsy all my 55 years.  Gran Mal until 13 years old then complex partials ever since.  Presently take Keppra 500 mg 1 a.m., 1 p.m.; phenobarbital 97.2 1 p.m.  I have documented short-term memory loss plus bouts of depression.(no meds for depression)  Lately I have been experiencing extreme sleeplessness.  Who/where do I start for these?  Are they all related?  My GP?  Neuro? Psych?  A sleep clinic?

Thanks-

3tomaras

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Memory loss and excessive sleepiness are only some of the symptoms of depression, as you might be aware of.

Would you like to share some more thoughts on why you feel you might be depressed ? Do you feel sad ? How about interests and hobbies ?

Regards

[3tomaras]

I am thinking having had seizures for so long with the many meds through out my life...main cause for depression/memory loss. Last 6 months, sleep 2-3 hours max.  Have been changed to Keppra from Tegretol 2 months ago, memory is extremely limited (due to meds also).  Is my life being slowly being extinguished as I breathe?  I am afraid.  

I enjoy the outdoors, animals, working with my hands,plants,gardening,walking,warm weather. I am retired so nothing to do in cold weather except sit (read/tv/radio).  Don't like to shop---can never remember what I'm to buy when I get there, even with a note pad.   Thank you
3tomaras

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Apart from shopping, do you enjoy other hobbies now ?

Seizures and its treatment, per se, are not responsible to depression. But long term illness does lead to a reactive depression. In any case, you will have to take care of that. Any more medicines may not be very helpful, unless you have a sever degree of depression. You may take help of a counseling psychologist.

What is more important is that you should not give up. Giving up doesn't help.

Regards

[3tomaras]

Thank you for helping me to partially unravel the tangled ball of yarn.  These complications are apparently knotted together and I must figure out how to continue pulling them apart.

tomaras

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The tangled ball will unravel slowly. As a rule about the tangled yarn and knots, the more we try to pull by force, the more tangled it gets !!

Follow what the heart says. Sometimes logic does not work. If it is not indigenous depression, you could think of discussing any other possible causes for secondary or reactive depression, such as hypothyroidism.

Regards