Sue,

Lyrica's been around for awhile. Lars has been on it for over a year now.
It can cause some weight gain, but not as much as Depakote.

Lars does have a helmet - it's kinda dorky looking (although I wouldn't ever
say that to him!). DVR bought it for him so he could get a job (still
trying to get one too!) - it's from
http://www.plument.com/protectacapplus.htm . It's softer and less bulky than
the helmets you usually see. I just wish they didn't put the contrasting
trim on it - it would be so less conspicuous if it was all one color. He
won't wear it when he's not working or on his volunteer job.

He starts bending forward and keeps on going - kinda like a dive only
without the hands protecting the head. He usually lands right on top of the
head unless his knees buckle backwards and he lands on his butt first and
then hits his head against something - he had a pretty nasty head wound a
few months back when he fell backwards and scraped the back of his head on
the edge of his bookcase. It was almost a degloving type of injury. My
concern is cracking the skull or jostling the brain around. But he's lived
with them for so long without protection that he sees no sense in wearing a
helmet when he doesn't have to. We did convince him once after the fall
against the bookcase that wearing it at least until the wound healed would
be a good idea.... he fell again the next day, hitting the wound which
started it bleeding again

We don't mind the seizures themselves -it's the falls that scare us. I wish
he had some sort of warning so he could sit down and he won't consider a
seizure dog since he's not a big fan of dogs.

Sherry


----- Original Message -----
From: Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of SUE OWNBY
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 1:48 PM
To: Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support] Re: New to the group

Rachel & Sherry,
 
Today is the first day I've heard of Lyrica.  Is it a new drug?  We'll be
looking at some different options for Chelsi.  You've both also mentioned
your husband/son landing on their head a lot.  I'm at the point with Chelsi
that I don't get so freaked out so much on the seizures anymore, my biggest
concern is "what's her head going to hit on the way down".  Do you have any
advice on protecting the head, other than a helmet?  This just scares the
crap out of me.
 
Sue