seizures-our frightful experience

[Dawn]

Funny, just last week I was thinking that I needed to ask Bills PCP about whether he really needs his seizure meds because he's never had a seizure. Then, monday night our new dog barked me awake because there was Bill having the mother of all seizures! It scared the crap out of me! I tried to get him to respond to me but he was too far gone....shaking, all his muscles clenched, & breathing loudly through clenched teeth. I panicked & called 911. I had them take him to Mercy, where he was in the beginning & his neurosurgeon is on staff.

By the time we were half way there, his seizure had passed & he was coherent. He was upset to be at a hospital, but he later told me I did the right thing. It was after 2 AM & we were there until almost 6. They did a CT scan & took blood. Everything came back fine, no damage was done, but they did tell me that usually the dose of Keppra (anti-seizure meds) he was on is just the initial dose & later bumped up. Bill's was never bumped so now it has been. They put him on double the dose, which is making him very tired until his body gets used to it. The Dr. & EMT both told me that it is very common for TBI sufferers to experience seizures at some point, even long after the initial injury. It was very scary to witness though! Now I find myself checking on him often when he sleeps.

[sapphyre]

Dawn, may I suggest that your dog sleeps in the same place as Bill... s/he sounds like an excellent warning system. That might help you to be a little less anxious and get some more sleep yourself.

[Dawn]

I try to get her to sleep there, but we end up kicking her out after an hour or so because she barks at everything. I kid you not...she barks at the wind rattling the windows, the clock that chirps like a bird every hour, buses going up the street, me coughing....etc., etc. We can't get any sleep with her in there.

We sleep with a fan on for the white noise & what I have done, is start putting it on the low setting instead of high so I can hear Bill more easily.

That stronger dose of Keppra has really thrown him for a loop. He's so tired! I've noticed that he's having a harder time getting his thoughts together too. But he's still raring to go for his therapists. I'd be more worried about it, except that his CT scan came back fine so I know it's just him adjusting to the stronger meds.

[jj]

Those meds do make you so tired. My X was on some pretty strong ones for his epilepsy and he compensated by drinking tons of coffee, which helped, but before you add more coffee for Bill to drink I'd check with his doc.

I know you are going to be on edge for a while always listening for any signs of a seizure. Hopefully, he won't ever have one again as his brain finishes healing.

[Dawn]

Its good to know that others had symptoms of fatigue too. Bill drinks a TON of coffee as it is. I think he's immune to the caffeine. He can drink 4 pots & still nap right afterward....he's always been that way. I actually have to limit his intake because it makes him have to pee a lot so I can't let him drink too much right before I leave for crossing guard or if we have to go out to an appointment.