I was wondering how many people here suffer from siezures after a sucsessfull surgery?
Im not whining, Im just kind of concerned, It seems like everytime I have a siezure I end up going into massive depression. Does anyone else have issues like this? I know the lamictal I'm on (600 mg a day) is supposed to work for depression as well, but it dosent seem to help for some reason.
Hi Mike. I still have seizures, different kinds at different times (that was how I actually got diagnosed with AVM) and it has been a few years now. When I have one of “my” bad ones, I want to (but can’t) stay in bed - not that I am tired but because my brain is exhausted. It doesn’t want to think or do anything. I know what depression is like and it is comparable I am just not explaining it properly. I am on anti-seizure meds too - my body is being poisoned by Dilantin but everything else so far has given me bad allergic reactions. Keppra is next so we will see. Anyway, back to the after seizure feelings; I can’t let them rule me as I have too many responsibilities and others depending on me. One thing that I do first though is put my leg brace on, lace up my hiking shoes and take the pup for a hike in the woods no matter how much it hurts physically because it helps me mentally. I’ve been at it for a few years though too so have practice on the “work arounds”. I wish you all the best, you will find the path that works for you.
I don’t have AVM but my son does however I do have siezures the only meds that im on is triliptol it works well I understand about the depression I hate ppl seeing me sick cause Im the one who takes care of others in my family! I took myself off dilantin no way will I ever go back on that med I had too many side affects!
Mike,
I hear ya, yes I am happy that I am AVM free and still here, however, wish I didn’t have to deal with the after-math. Some seizures I am laid up in bed for days, just exhausted…others, I just feel depressed. Not sure if its because I am not able to do the things I want, or what I missed during recovering from the seizure??? I am on Keppra (1500mg twice a day) it also makes me tired. All I know is that I haven’t figured out who I am now, after the AVM, after the seizures started. I don’t feel like myself and not sure if I ever will. Just have to keep your chin up and focus on the good things in your life.
Hope that helps, not a very good pep talk…but your not alone!
Good luck,
Bonnie
Yeah, after I was released from the hospital and started having the siezures and then forced on a medical retirement from the Navy I went into a major depression which I eventually came out of. Generally Im ok now with the exception of a few days after having a siezure. I was just curious as to how many people might experience this.
Mike, I don’t have experience with seizures (although I’m having an EEG next week to establish if some of my new symptoms are a result of seizures). Anyway, I do have experience with depression. Mine started a few months after I got out of the hospital. It started after I realized I couldn’t work any more and was left with so many deficits, and just the general “suckiness” of what had happened. I started anti-depression meds about a year ago. They helped a lot. I just recently stopped taking them (they caused me to gain 30 lbs) because I felt “better”. I wanted to know if it was the meds or if I really was just getting better. I’ve been totally off of them for about 3 weeks and I really think I am just better. I think besides the meds, I just got more involved in life. Focused more on being with my kids, in whatever capacity I can. I am going to start doing volunteer work with others that have brain injuries. Just being involved in anything makes me feel better. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I still get down or frustrated. The key for me is just to make sure those moments were fewer and further between. Talk with your doctor and if the change in your seizure meds doesn’t help you, perhaps an anti-depressent could help you. I am sorry you’re feeling this way, hopefully this site can help with that also!
I’m on Keppra (no allergic to it for me) for my seizures and on Lexapro for depression. For me…they both seem to work well together. Talk to your Doctor and explain how you feel! Good luck and best wishes!
Hi Mike!
A little "late" of a response, I know... but I've only found this forum in the last coupla days!
My "story": I was 22 in 1988 when, at band practice, I was suddenly, extraordinarily tired ("flu?" I thought). The next day was Thanksgiving. I woke up feeling a little more hung over than I should have felt. I couldn't sit up by myself without falling over, I ended up in the ER with a M A S S I V E headache (can I get an "Amen" out there?).
1st brain surgery came a coupla days later. About 6 weeks after, I had my first seizure (grand-mal/toni-clonic). They kept happening about every 6-8 weeks and the docs would only up my Tegretol. Eventually I had an angiogram which showed an AVM. I asked the referring neurologist, "Did the 1st surgeon NOT get it all, or did it come back?" He paused for a moment, then said, "Yes." (WTF?) Another craniotomy came in May of '90 all the while the seizures continued. Then, around 1992, they stopped (?) I stopped my Tegretol around 2001, 'cause I was poor & didn't think I needed it anymore.
Fast forward to November. '06... I had been remarried for about 6 months. I was driving home when a seizure hit me. I totalled the car & took out the sign at a doughnut shop (apart from that, no other "damage.")
The seizures have been back with me ever since. (?)
Yeah, I get blown-away-down (depressed) sometimes after a seizure. But usually only after the "heavier" ones (longer, more intense grand-mals).
I've come to believe, watching my self and know what (little) I know about this stuff, that the seizures affect every aspect of my functioning. Digestive, cardiac, cognitive, emotional, physical, you name it. For me, its the cognitive loss that bothers me. It seems that over the past five years, I've lost a big part of my thinking... I'm not nearly as "sharp" as I used to be. Frustrating... because I believed the Lord was calling me into the ministry (i.e. preaching). I can't seem to pull a sermon outta me for nuthin' these days, and I've wondered if its the drugs (Trileptal/Dilantin) or the seizures.
For me, the depressive feelings pass... usually within a day. So I hold tightly to that when find myself in "the pit." Maybe there's something in this, Mike, that you might find comfort in. I pray its the case. At any rate, I'm always available!!!
I am on lamictal as well and believe it only helps with bipolar depression and from what it sounds like you do not. I think that depression comes with the territory. We have been through a lot of intense situations and the emotions we feel are equally intense. My nuero dude suggested I go and see a therapist, but be sure to go to one that has dealt with survivors of traumatic illness as most will only look for the best drug to put you on which is not what you need. And I am more than sure having a forced medical retirement from the Navy didn’t help one bit. I am like Laine and when I get down I go for a walk or just sit and watch the sky change. A good scream and a good cry helps a little too. Best of luck to you dear and I hope you find some comfort and a good way to help lift your spirits.
a good cry helps a little too.
AMEN, Jamie!!!
Me too Mike. I've been having siezures for over a year now. All meds. the doctors tried me on either made me worst or just didn't work. For the longest time I was on sinequin for depression. That helped me a lot. I have come to realise, at least for myself, that the reason I was getting so depressed was - I no longer had any control over what my body wanted to do. That having siezures and many of the other problems I have, I can no longer do many of the things I use to do. It took me a while but, I came to terms with it. Now, I hardly ever get severely depressed like I use to. I've learned just to "go with the flow" of things. I wish you well, my friend. :)Heya Ben!
You've just offered some "anecdotal evidence" for something I've seen & believed for a long time.
I spent almost 10 years working the mental health field. Most of that time was on an inpatient unit in a big hospital near Chicago. In all that time the most effective "treatment" I saw was something we called "cognitive therapy": Changing the way we think. Its a hard thing to do, ESPECIALLY when we've been in a "habitual" way of thinking for many, many years, but it was, without a doubt, the best way I saw to treat depression of the nature we are talking about here... depression coming as the result of circumstances.
Later, I saw how the Bible prescribes the same "therapy." (see Romans 12:1,2)
Just one man's thoughts here... take it or leave it, folks.
Ben Morrell said:
Me too Mike. I've been having siezures for over a year now. All meds. the doctors tried me on either made me worst or just didn't work. For the longest time I was on sinequin for depression. That helped me a lot. I have come to realise, at least for myself, that the reason I was getting so depressed was - I no longer had any control over what my body wanted to do. That having siezures and many of the other problems I have, I can no longer do many of the things I use to do. It took me a while but, I came to terms with it. Now, I hardly ever get severely depressed like I use to. I've learned just to "go with the flow" of things. I wish you well, my friend. :)