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High-Risk Pregnancy
GoonieGal85
member
Seizures
GoonieGal85
member
So I have had Epilepsy for just over 10 years. I am a traumatic brain injury survivor in 2002. The biggest impact to my head, occurred in the left temporal area. The biggest problem I have from my injury, is seizures. I had 5 in 2004, all Grand Mals/Tonic Clonic (which are the most severe). Which was when my actual diagnosis of Epilepsy occurred. Over the years I have had many Simple Partial and Complex Partial Seizures. I am still allowed to drive, and still work, full time (I'm an Occupational Therapist).
I started feeling "off" last week. More groggy, run down, and just "not right". I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I could easily get hot flashes. It was impossible to sleep at night b/c I would literally wake up w/ what I call my "rushes" (Simple Partial Seizures). I checked and re-checked my blood pressure daily, several times a day. Always normal. I read up on pre-clampsia and eclampsia (seizures occur during pregnancy). I did not have any of those. I talked to the baby doctor, and he said it was most likely just stress and worry, as I am pregnant with my first. He specializes in high risk pregnancy. But he did tell me I needed to get an appointment with my Neurologist as soon as I could, to inform him. I saw him yesterday. He said I am in fact most likely having seizures.
He said that seizure medicine tends to taper off around 20-24 weeks when pregnant. (I was 25 weeks on Sunday). It does not work as effectively. I am on Keppra, was on 2000mg 2x a day. He raised me to Keppra 2250 mg 2x a day. It's only been 24hrs since this, so I don't feel "normal" yet. I still feel off. But I was able to almost sleep the entire night without waking up! He is sending me for blood work at the beginning of next week (to see where my levels are with the higher dose of med) and then possibly an EEG.
I get ultrasounds at every visit, and little man looks good and healthy. Which is relieving to me. I have 15ish more weeks to go before he gets here (be it if nothing goes wrong). I am a nervous wreck! Both for the baby, and myself. I want us both to get through this and both be fine and healthy. The Dr. did say that I could have a natural birth. No need for csection (unless necessary). But, he said, a crash cart and Ativan needs to be on hand when I deliver (which scared the CRAP out of me). Unless anything else happens, I go back to see him at the end of October. My EDD is November 16.
Any ladies out there have epilepsy? How did you do/are you doing while pregnant? Anything else I should be concerned about or ask questions? I want all the info I can get!
I started feeling "off" last week. More groggy, run down, and just "not right". I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I could easily get hot flashes. It was impossible to sleep at night b/c I would literally wake up w/ what I call my "rushes" (Simple Partial Seizures). I checked and re-checked my blood pressure daily, several times a day. Always normal. I read up on pre-clampsia and eclampsia (seizures occur during pregnancy). I did not have any of those. I talked to the baby doctor, and he said it was most likely just stress and worry, as I am pregnant with my first. He specializes in high risk pregnancy. But he did tell me I needed to get an appointment with my Neurologist as soon as I could, to inform him. I saw him yesterday. He said I am in fact most likely having seizures.
He said that seizure medicine tends to taper off around 20-24 weeks when pregnant. (I was 25 weeks on Sunday). It does not work as effectively. I am on Keppra, was on 2000mg 2x a day. He raised me to Keppra 2250 mg 2x a day. It's only been 24hrs since this, so I don't feel "normal" yet. I still feel off. But I was able to almost sleep the entire night without waking up! He is sending me for blood work at the beginning of next week (to see where my levels are with the higher dose of med) and then possibly an EEG.
I get ultrasounds at every visit, and little man looks good and healthy. Which is relieving to me. I have 15ish more weeks to go before he gets here (be it if nothing goes wrong). I am a nervous wreck! Both for the baby, and myself. I want us both to get through this and both be fine and healthy. The Dr. did say that I could have a natural birth. No need for csection (unless necessary). But, he said, a crash cart and Ativan needs to be on hand when I deliver (which scared the CRAP out of me). Unless anything else happens, I go back to see him at the end of October. My EDD is November 16.
Any ladies out there have epilepsy? How did you do/are you doing while pregnant? Anything else I should be concerned about or ask questions? I want all the info I can get!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Seizures
I feel fine! It just irks me that my levels are still not within normal range.
Wow, grand mals. I didn't start feeling anything "different" until about 21 weeks. I have simple and complex often. The med levels were adjusted and I feel fine now. But still aren't in normal range, which has me worried!
Thanks gal!