Hello everyone
I know that I have not been posting about all of what has been going on with
the VNS, my doctors appointment about the lyrica and anything else in between.
Just things for me have been crazy.
My appointment with my neurosurgeon about my VNS and the pain I was having was
a good one. My main concern was that the stimulator was moving. Thankfully it
was not. I was very happy about that. Then he asked if I have been using my
left hand and arm for many things, which I have. Then he also asked if I was
left handed and I am. So that could be what the problem was - specially using
my shoulder, arm and hand to carry my purse. So I now just keep track on when I
put the most pressure on it and when it hurts. He also gave me pain medication
to only use if I really need it.
He then asked started to talk with me about my testing and the operation back
in 2002. I felt ok with that. Then we talked about the status ep I went
through in April of 2003. Now that was very hard for me to do. Specially to
just tell him about the things that happened the following week and months
after, how I felt, etc. I tried to talk clearly but I was starting to cry
softly. So he looked at my husband and asked all that he remembered. Then he
started talking about a subject that was really hard on both my husband and I.
With him being a surgeon and not know the total story of it and that my doctor
and I have been working on he just stopped. Then we left.

The following week I had to go back to see my doctor. Now this was a
interesting visit to say the least. My appointment was at 10:30 am. I did not
see him till about 1:00 pm. I was with my mom and she was about as aggravated
and mad about this as I was. So the doctor and I talked about the grand mal
seizure I had a few weeks earlier at a concert. Then a few after - it is
because I have catamenial ep. and it was my time of the month. Also it was due
to the fact of the weening of zonegran. So he stopped the weening of that. Now
I also take Lamictal, keppra & klonopin. In the past he did try to ween me off
of keppra and that did not work. He wants to try having me take lyrica. He
will start increasing it slowly until it gets to and good level, then try
weening me off of other medications I take. I was not to yahoo about it, but
understood what he was saying. Then he told me something that really got me
mad. (Before I say this to make a long story short - my
husband and I are trying to have a baby.) My doctor told me I would have to
stop trying to get pregnant for the next months until they see if the lyrica
works. When he said this I just became so mad that I was unable to speak. My
doctor just looked at me and I really think he could tell I was mad just by the
way he acted. He waited for about 5 minutes and asked again. I just sat there.
So my mom just did most of the talking.

I was only taking 75 mg. of lyrica at night and I would not get out of bed
till almost 10:00 am. When I started taking them in the morning also, I could
hardly stay awake. So I called him and I am now taking the 50 mg. pills at
night. I have been since last friday. I will start taking them morning and
night this friday. So I will see.

So that is what has been going on. Oh..Earth Day went ok. Sunday night I had
a seizure. My cycle was about to start so I started taking my diamox and did
fine after that. Sorry this is so long.

Take care
Ashley


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