another
>one.  The longer you are seizure-free, the greater chance you have of not
>having another seizure.  This is why you may need to stay on anti
>convulsants for a period of time, even if you have never had a seizure.
>
>Please discuss at length with your neuro the degree of risk you may be at
if
>you discontinue your anti convulsant prematurely.  An EEG is a measure of
>seizure activity in your brain at the time you have the test.  It is my
>understanding that it does not mean that you will never have a seizure.
>
>I hope this is helpful.  I'm not trying to scare or upset anyone.
>
>Jill
>

Hi mates,
When I got pregnant for my second child, I felt the phenobarb medication would harm the baby.  So I made the very stupid decision of discontinuing the medication.  After a couple of months, I had a grand mal while I was sleeping.  When I woke up one night, I found the lights on and my husband talking on the phone.  So I asked him who he was talking to at that time, (before slapping him silly for being unfaithful LOL)!  Anyway, all I remember is that he had this blank, scared look on his face and asked me how I felt.  Then he went on to tell me I had had a seizure.  He had been talking to my gynecologist  that night, whom I immediately went to see the following morning.  The baby was fine, but I learned my lesson.  He told me it was more of a risk to have seizures during pregnancy than taking phenobarbital.
I have been on it for many years.

I have to take phenobarb for the rest of my life.  But I don't mind if they protect me from seizures.  It's the price we have to pay for having gotten these intrusive tumors in the first place.

Delia

Hi,
>
>Several people have posted recently who are on anti seizure meds, but have
>never had a seizure, and want to discontinue the meds.  I discovered by M.
>by having a grand mal seizure.  I was put on anti seizure meds immediately
>and have been on them since (16 months).  I had two more seizures while on
>meds.  I had to try several meds to find the best one for me.
>
>I understand all too well why you want to get off the meds.  I have been
>through many unpleasant side effects.  I could not drive for nine months.
>But having a grand mal seizure is much worse.  It's a traumatic experience
>and it can be very dangerous.  I have injured myself twice from falling
>during a seizure.  Fortunately I was not driving where I could have
injured
>or killed someone else, or taking a bath where I could have drowned, or
>cooking where I could have scalded myself.
>
>Each time you have a seizure you are at much greater risk of having
another
>one.  The longer you are seizure-free, the greater chance you have of not
>having another seizure.  This is why you may need to stay on anti
>convulsants for a period of time, even if you have never had a seizure.
>
>Please discuss at length with your neuro the degree of risk you may be at
if
>you discontinue your anti convulsant prematurely.  An EEG is a measure of
>seizure activity in your brain at the time you have the test.  It is my
>understanding that it does not mean that you will never have a seizure.
>
>I hope this is helpful.  I'm not trying to scare or upset anyone.
>
>Jill
>