continued dilantin until very ill?

[marymackay]

After 11 years on dilantin after the one fit, as drs said be on it infinatum, I had a second stroke- no speech. I had to get my medical records from our local hospital, and they show that at that time the dilantin level was only 2, was on 230mg a day.

9 years later, I was finishing my PhD, and felt as though might have another stroke, visual and other problems. Local doctors or hospital did not check dilantin levels- thought I had mental problems. Took them 20months after many more drugs to discontinue the dilantin.

Then so many symptoms began for 3 years now- lupus, sjogrens etc so on Plaquenil  for this year , and seeing connective tissue, dermatologist, renal specialists, nerve conduction, and vascular physician next month- none of these in our city, have to fly away.
So thanks for your answer, I kept telling them to cease the dilantin, as I'd read about effects- of course gums terrible, big gumball, lips as well as typical lupus/aps symptoms. Why would doctors put me on dilantin for 20 years with no checking serum levels, to the extent of a second stroke, and  then when I told doctors I had problems they did nothing? Why have I had to go from specialist to specialist away from my city?