As of May 1st I started the vegan life. Why, I'm sure you ask? It's mainly for my health. There are a couple diets that people who have epilepsy try: Ketogenic and Atkins. However, the vegan diet has proved to be extremely beneficial in many ways, not just for the epileptics in this world. The removal of animal products from your diet eliminates harmful hormones and other substances added to create "better products". For example, hormones are injected into a beef cows bloodstream to increase their size for the benefit of people. Think about it. What are those hormones made of? When we eat beef, we are also consuming whatever the cow has been injected with. Now, I'm not saying eating beef is a bad thing. I'm just stating the facts that I have learned. Another reason for my change to a vegan diet is for moral reasons. I don't like the way animals are treated in order for us to eat them.
It's only been a month since I started this drastic change in my life, but I will tell you that it has been more difficult than I would have imagined. The first week was the worst. It seemed like everything I had once ate was now "banned". I went to a barbecue with some friends and the only thing I could eat was grapes and one kind of chips. There were hot dogs and hamburgers that I would have LOVED to eat, but sadly, I chose not to. That's the key word: chose. I am not required to do this. I choose to for my benefit. The part of the barbecue that bothered me the most was when they handed out Creamies. You know, the delicious popsicles? Everybody was eating them and the people handing them out were asking if anyone hadn't received one. It took almost everything in me to keep quiet.
One of the things that has been hard for me with this change is how I feel my life got boring when I started. I am eating a lot healthier, but my change in diet has made it so I no longer eat the things I love. I used to be a hamburger lover. I loved bacon and Cheetos. Reeses Cups were my favorite thing ever. Those are either meat or animal products. I'm surprised by how much animal products are in everyday things. I am hoping to find variety in my new lifestyle so I can be happy with food again.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Epilepsy and Pregnancy
Where to begin...
No, seriously. Where do I start? I never know.
It's been almost two months since my last post, and in case you haven't noticed, I am not the best at keeping up on my blog.
I've always wanted to be a mother. "I want to be a vet and a mom!", I would say as a child. Of course, the occupation always changed, but you get the point. It was when I was 17 years old that I started worrying about pregnancy and how I would even become a mother with having epilepsy. Would I be able to have kids? I knew I would have to change some of the medications I was on to reduce side effects to the baby, and that would probably mean I would have more seizures. But I'd done so much to decrease seizure frequency and if I had to change medications, it'll have been for nothing! I expressed my concerns to my mom but being that I was only 17, she told me that I had plenty of time to figure that out and not to worry about it yet. Of course, those thoughts of motherhood and epilepsy remained in the back of my mind and have never left.
A few months ago, those thoughts began to surface again. Something new was added to my list of fears, however. I am currently trying to work with my hormones to hopefully reduce my seizures. It's been a burden to think about. A few days ago, I went to the library and wanted to see if there were any books on epilepsy and medications. Of course I already knew there wasn't. The only books on epilepsy were one for beginners who know nothing about it, and some picture books for children that is about their friend who is "different". Instead, I opted to look at the pregnancy books. I figured there might be something helpful in those. Boy, was I right! Though epilepsy isn't much of a topic that people care about in this world, the two books I got had a few sections on medications and also on mothers with epilepsy. I've started reading one of them and it's been so helpful. I've learned about how to work with medications when you are wanting to get pregnant and also high risk pregnancies. I learned that a pregnancy where the mother has epilepsy is considered high risk. It just means that they need to monitor it more than a "normal pregnancy". I've always known that I would have to change a few of my medications in order to get pregnant so that the baby doesn't have any defects, but this book has given me more insight into what I need to do in order to start that process when the time comes.
Up until this last week, I was terrified at the thought of having epilepsy and getting pregnant. So many woman with epilepsy have perfectly normal babies, but I was nervous that I would not be able to figure out how to navigate around the difficult parts. Luckily, the main doctor I am seeing right now is a fertility specialist and endocrinologist. I know that I will be just fine.
No, seriously. Where do I start? I never know.
It's been almost two months since my last post, and in case you haven't noticed, I am not the best at keeping up on my blog.
I've always wanted to be a mother. "I want to be a vet and a mom!", I would say as a child. Of course, the occupation always changed, but you get the point. It was when I was 17 years old that I started worrying about pregnancy and how I would even become a mother with having epilepsy. Would I be able to have kids? I knew I would have to change some of the medications I was on to reduce side effects to the baby, and that would probably mean I would have more seizures. But I'd done so much to decrease seizure frequency and if I had to change medications, it'll have been for nothing! I expressed my concerns to my mom but being that I was only 17, she told me that I had plenty of time to figure that out and not to worry about it yet. Of course, those thoughts of motherhood and epilepsy remained in the back of my mind and have never left.
A few months ago, those thoughts began to surface again. Something new was added to my list of fears, however. I am currently trying to work with my hormones to hopefully reduce my seizures. It's been a burden to think about. A few days ago, I went to the library and wanted to see if there were any books on epilepsy and medications. Of course I already knew there wasn't. The only books on epilepsy were one for beginners who know nothing about it, and some picture books for children that is about their friend who is "different". Instead, I opted to look at the pregnancy books. I figured there might be something helpful in those. Boy, was I right! Though epilepsy isn't much of a topic that people care about in this world, the two books I got had a few sections on medications and also on mothers with epilepsy. I've started reading one of them and it's been so helpful. I've learned about how to work with medications when you are wanting to get pregnant and also high risk pregnancies. I learned that a pregnancy where the mother has epilepsy is considered high risk. It just means that they need to monitor it more than a "normal pregnancy". I've always known that I would have to change a few of my medications in order to get pregnant so that the baby doesn't have any defects, but this book has given me more insight into what I need to do in order to start that process when the time comes.
Up until this last week, I was terrified at the thought of having epilepsy and getting pregnant. So many woman with epilepsy have perfectly normal babies, but I was nervous that I would not be able to figure out how to navigate around the difficult parts. Luckily, the main doctor I am seeing right now is a fertility specialist and endocrinologist. I know that I will be just fine.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
New Possibilities
Hey everyone! It's been so long, I don't know where to begin. A lot has changed and I don't think I will be able to remember it all.
First, I've been seeing a reproductive and fertility endocrinologist. She told my neurologist that she was interested in my case because she deals with hormones and I have Catamenial Epilepsy. Therefore, my seizures occur when I am on my menstrual cycle, when my hormones are out of whack. She has been a huge blessing to me and gives me hope! I tried to go on a birth control called LoEstrin, but that caused more seizures. Too much estrogen. After that, she suggested I try three things, so I am currently taking progesterone (I took that a year or so ago, but by itself it caused more seizures), using a patch called Climara and getting a birth control injection once a month that is called Lupron. So far, things have been okay. I still have seizures, but they rarely come in clusters like they used to. I will have a couple but they aren't in a row. I will tell you, that has been nice. I've been on another anti-seizure medication called Acetazolamide. I think it has helped? Then again, I can't exactly tell what is helping anymore, unless it causes more seizures, then I know it is not working.
About a month ago my best friend whom I live with asked me what I would like her to do when I have a seizure. Now, let me explain. Years ago when we met, she asked the same question. I was particularly insecure about my seizures back then and I told her to just ignore me and continue talking and doing what she was doing. The reason why she recently asked me the same question was because she and I know each other so well now, and she wants to be able to help me if she can. I really appreciated her asking me because that made me realize that times have changed, and it's important to let her know how to help if possible. Luckily she can. If I happen to be having a cluster of seizures that won't seem to stop, I have what I call a "seizure stopper". I take it and it generally stops the seizures fairly quickly. I told her where the pills are, and that if I am having the seizures and not getting the pill myself for some reason, to get it for me. Sometimes when I'm having clusters of seizures I can't seem to accomplish what I am doing. In the past I have gotten up to get a pill but then turned around and sat down on my bed instead. Epilepsy is complicated.
I have a job. Not one in a store, no. I learned from that! In November I was lucky enough to get a job working for a family friend at her at-home business. It's perfect for me, I can work my own hours and since she knows me, she knows my situation. I really enjoy the work I do and I am honestly so grateful to have a source of income. I don't know what I would do without it. I'm lucky enough to have supportive parents who help me with money when I need it, but having any income to me is better than none. It gives independence in a world that prevents that from me.
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