Alternative Medicines For Epilepsy Posted: 11-19-05 19:07pm
My husband suffers from epilesy and has
done for 20 years. In the last 2 years he
seizures have been getting worse. He used
to have approx 1 seizure a month, but
latley he does not have seizures every
month he can go 2 maybe even 3 months
seizure free. But when he does have a
seizure he will have 3 else 4 in the space
of a couple of hours. He had 3 seizures
recently within 2 hours 10min. After a
couple of hours he was complaining of an
upset stomache, then he was very sick and
I had to call paramedics out because of
the pain he was in. He was rushed to
hospital where they told us he now has a
hernia, beleived to be caused by the
seizures. Since this recent bout my
husband has been very concerned about his
health, the fact that we have a toddler
has made him want to seek other
alternatives to the meds he is currently
taking.
Has anyone any suggestions on something
that he could try??
I would appreciate any help or suggestions
from anyone.
Thank you
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kayakmom
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 252 Location: Conn
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-19-05 19:17pm
I am so sorry he is having a hard time!
Horrid that he had a hernia after one!
Ouch.....
I do not know how many medications he has
tried. Has he tried to see a neurologist
who specializes in just epilepsy?
Sometimes they are better at tweaking meds
to gain better control.
There are also some meds to take just
after one seizure when you cluster like
that to stop the second one....He can talk
to his neuro to see if that is right for
him?
Hoping you find answers for better
control! Here the neuros are working with
things like south beach diet and atkins to
help some get better control. Brain
surgery, vagus nerve stimulator, neuropace
stimulator are a few more things people
try.
Best wishes that you find better answers!
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tbaa_29
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 32 Location: England
Thanks For Reply Posted: 11-19-05 19:31pm
At the moment my husband is on epilim and
keppra. He is seeing a consultant but
neither of us like him. He does not seem
interested in finding out how to help him.
The last time we saw him he asked me to
make a video of my husband having
seizures!!!! I dont know if he has every
been with a person having seizures but its
very difficult making sure they are safe
and looking after a toddler whilst trying
to make a home movie!!!!!!!!!! Not
easy as I found out last weekend.
I am also to administer rectal diazipan
during my husbands third seizure in a
cluster or if I feel the seizure is
lasting too long.
Thanks for diet advice i'll look into it.
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kayakmom
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 252 Location: Conn
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-19-05 19:46pm
It is so hard when neuros ask you to
video!! Why can't they understand that
you cannot sit there with eye through the
camera lense and just watch (especially
when you also have a toddler!)....
((hugs))) I am sorry you do not care for
your doctor much. Is there a way for a
second opinion elsewhere? Not sure how
your medical system works to allow this.
Sometimes it takes a new set of doctor
eyes to find answers.
Glad to hear you do have diastat. There
is a new oral midazolam
bucculate(something like that, pardon
spelling).... That you can ask about as
well. It is not supposed to be a risk for
aspiration is absorbed imediately.
I hope you can get answers soon. Best
wishes to you both!
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HennieSnyman
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 24 Location: Arusha, Tanzania
Posted: 12-02-05 12:08pm
Hi thaa,
i'm sorry to hear your husbands' seizures
are happening more often.
I hated it when that happened, with an
undscribable passion "as soon as I thought
things were stable, i'd have a seizure."
regarding your question:
there are a number of natural alternatives
out there. These usually work in
conjunction with a very strict diet.
If you stop taking meds you simply have to
give your body all the help you can. Ie:
nutrition, excercise, no stress etc..
Please keep in mind that certain natural
substances work well for some people while
it has no effect on others. Your husband
will have to decide for himself.
Natural remedies are also not as much of a
"quick fix" as medication.
It's not a case of stopping medication and
eating apples and oranges instead. It is
a bit more "involved".
Also, if he decides to move away from
medication he will once again have to go
through a trial-and-error period.
The problem compounds because: if you
want to guage the effect of whatever
natural substance(s) you're tyring, you
have to be completely off the medication,
otherwise how will you know if it's the
naturals or the pills working?
Your husbands' neurologoist might also not
be able (or willing) to help him if he
decides to go the natural route.
The blood-level results which neurologist
rely on, cannot be used if you're on a
natural remedy, simply because there is
nothing to test for.
No sodium valproate in his blood etc.
This means that you and your husband will
pretty-much have to take complete
responsibility for his teatment program.
It's a huge step going off the meds,
especially if one has been relatively
stable with only the odd sezire here and
there.
But if your husband has expressed interest
in natural remedies then there is hope,
lots of it. :-)
i've been off medication for quite some
time now (i try not to remember when I
took the last pill) and I have not looked
back once. I took various forms of
anti-convulsants for approx 25 years.
If it was in pill-form then i've probably
tried it.
Only during the past two-odd years have I
realised what the medication actually did
to me, my body, my mind and my
personality.
Maybe get in contact with someone who
specializes in natural remedies, someone
"reputable".
The biggest change for me was in speaking
to people who were more interested in my
life history and what I eat than than in
my medical insurance status.
Maybe do a google search for "natural
remedy epilepsy":
see the sponsored links on the right-hand
side first, then read the search
results.
Get as much background info as possible.
The more you know the better.
And please keep in mind that if your
husband decides to go the natural route he
will have to do the whole "change of
lifestyle" thing.
The idea is to "remove the fuel so there
is nothing to burn".
Best of luck.
Smiles,
hennie..
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CWE
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Friendswood, TX
Posted: 01-28-06 14:30pm
My wife had very good results with eeg
neurofeedback, a psuedo ketogenic/sugar
busters diet, and a regimented sleep
regimen. You can read her story here:
http://www.Coping-with-ep
ilepsy.Com/background/
Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Friendswood, TX
Posted: 08-08-06 08:17am
I tried to join that group some time ago
and was denied because i'm not a doctor
administering it. I don't think that
group is for patients or
curious/interested 3rd parties. Too bad,
because I would have loved to talk to the
group about my wife's experience with the
lens system.
