Anybody else have epilepsy?

jenny_beans

Hey Ladies,

   I had a horrible experience today with a new neurologist.  My old doctor was located at Baylor College of Medicine and ended up opening his own practice several hours away so I decided to find someone closer....bad idea.  My old doctor told me I would be fine on Lamotrigine while I was pregnant and he said it was a plus because I was on such a low dose..150 mg a day.  Well I needed a refill for my prescription and went to the new doctor.  He basically thought I should be off the medication and told me there is nothing I can do now because the damage is already done (im two months pregnant)....Thanks A**HOLE!  I even waited and hour and a half for this doctor because he had to run to the hospital for something.  He went on to list out all the problems that the baby could possibly have.  I am so nervous taking this medication and hoping the baby will turn out fine...is anyone else taking epilepsy meds while pregnant? Any problems?

earthycrunchymama

I do - but mine have been mostly controlled this past year so I went off topamax as soon as I got a positive test... ketogenic diet is great for me though. it doesn't work for everyone and you need to make sure to get a balanced diet still on it, but I've been loosely sticking to it during pregnancy. 

Victoriamae1985

I know what you mean about being super nervous.  I am currently taking Lamotrigine also.  I spoke with my neurologist in great detail before deciding to get pregnant.  He told me that Lamotrigine is the best of all the AE drugs when it comes to pregnancy.  I'm still scared, but this Dr. has been practicing for close to 30 years and has seen hundreds of hundreds of pregnant women.  He did in no way discourage getting pregnant. 

Personally, I'm not even sure I should be on AE medicine.  I've had 3 seizures in 3 years.  But, he's the one that went to school for years for this and IF he thought it would be better NOT being on the medicine and run the risk of a seizure during pregnancy, obviously he would have said so.  (I was on a different AE medication when I began to go to this Dr, and he took me off that medicine immediately!!!) 

Obviously every Dr. has different opinions about everything.  I've done all sorts of research, and I'm confident that everything will be just fine.  With Lamotrigine, and according to statistics, there is a 95% chance that all will be well.  This can be lowered still with taking other vitamins and being all around healthy.

I hope this calmed your nerves a bit.  I know it's hard to find people to be able to talk to...  Thanks for putting up the post!!!

 

ada0716

I am epileptic and still on my meds.  I am on Keppra (at the begining of my pregnancy I was on 1,000 mg a day, but due to increased blood volume my levels dropped and I have been bumped up to 1500 mg a day). We see a Fetal Specialist and get U/S once a month.  LO is fine so far, no heart problems, no neural tube problems...NOTHING.

I can not believe your neuro told you all that crap.  I would deff. find another Dr. 

All of my Dr's (neuro, high risk OB, Fetal Specialist) have said it was vital to stay on your meds while pregnant.  Before we were pregnant I had been seizure free on my meds for 4 years, but due to all the hormone changes, that could change (it hasn't...but you never know).  The harm a potential seizure could have on the baby far outweighs what the meds you are on could do.  Everything I have ever heard from a Dr. or researched advised that anti-convulsants for epilepsy are one of the few drugs most reputable Dr's will agree should be continued through pregnancy.

Have you checked to see if there is an Epileptologist in your area?  It is a neurologist who only treats people with Epilepsy rather than a general neurologist...I saw one for the first time a few years ago and he was awesome.