Epilepsy

Updated on March 26, 2008
T.H. asks from Evergreen, AL
19 answers

I was recently diagnosed with borderline epilepsy and am still getting adjusted to the medication for it. I am still having small seizures and am not due back to the doctor until mid march. It looks like the original diagnosis of depression was wrong so I was right about doubting those past doctors.

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So What Happened?

Well it has been nearly two years since my diagnosis and I have had to be put on two types of medicine to finally get my epilepsy even close to under control. I am still having some minor problems but not quite as bad. I am having some minor side effects from the medicine that it says are supposed to go away in time like some numbing in the legs and feet or arms and hands on occasion each day. I am also concerned because I had surgery for one ruptured ovarian cyst five months ago and I think I may have one on the other side which I go to the doctor next month to find out.

More Answers

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C.H.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Request your medical record form the old office, give them to your new doc (assuming you have one?), then tell him exactly what you just told us. You should be checked out again and your new doc will most likely agree, If he doesn't, then find one who will. Take control of your health care yourself. Although most doctors are caring, competent people, it's up to you to be in contol of everything about your health. Don't wait on a doctor to decide to do something. Suggest it yourself and use your common sense when trusting his or her opinion. Don't leave your health matters in someone else's hands. Be active and educate yourself. Good luck! ~C.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.N.

answers from Jacksonville on

Hi T., I am a Christian mom of two girls. I had an ovarian cyst on my right ovary in 2005. It burst and I did not know where the pain was coming from. (I did not know at the time it was a cyst) it was just this wierd pain that got progressively worse. I was worried about it and went to several doctors. I thought it was kidney stone related, but urologist said that he didn't think that that was what was causing the pain. I went back to my regular doctor and he gave me the purple pill (nexium), again, not what I needed. I went back and he sent me to a gastrointestinal doctor who finally ordered a cat scan. The scan came back that I had a dermoid cyst (he knew because on the scan it showed bone fragment) and that it needed to be removed. 90% of time it is benign- but it needs to be removed because it'll just keep growing. NOt to give you a horror story- I ended up having to have an emergency hysterectomy because my blood work kept coming back with numbers indicating cancer.(more than likely because of the tissue damage from the burst. The cyst leaked an oil that damaged the tissue.)
I am just telling you that no one is in charge of your health but you. Keep searching and probing- if you think something is not right- listen to your body, it probably isn't right. Sometimes the doctors aren't as aggressive about finding out than you are. If I would've just listened to the one doctor who gave me Nexium- I would probably still be in pain and who knows how big this thing would've gotten. When it burst it ruined my ovaries and I had to have them removed with the hysterectomy. Now I am on hormone replacement for the rest of my life. Get a new doctor and ask them to follow up. Don't give up until you know what is going on. I am not saying all that to scare you but you need to keep asking the questions until someone can tell you something. S.

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T.C.

answers from Jacksonville on

Hi T.,
First get your medical records and find another doctor.I have had ovarian cysts myself.And I keep putting off having anything done other than getting meds for the pain,my doctor wanted to remove them.But being stubborn and having 5 kids to take care of I refused.Needless to say,a few years later I ended up needing a partial hysterectomy.I refused that to.Long story short find another doctor,and don`t wait around like I did.Good Luck.

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T.W.

answers from Orlando on

Cyst on ovaries is really pretty common. However, the doctor should keep an eye on them so as to not end up with a 6 pounder like the woman said. I have had cysts on my ovaries for probably 18-20 years. Sometimes they bother me around my ovulation time and sometimes they don't. I personally think it's why my cycle does it's own thing.
I am a cystie type of person. I had one removed that was the size of a grapefruit that was behind my descending colon. Have a lovely scar from that procedure, but it's out and that's all that matters. They tried to tell me that it was not big deal and wasn't hurting anything. I said if I have something in me that big and it's not supposed to be there then get it out.
I have one in my breast that they have been watching since I was like 22 (39 now). And I have one in my foot.

Find a doctor that you feel comfortable with and discuss it with them and make sure that they keep an eye on it. Or them, you may have more than one.

Good luck

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M.G.

answers from Jacksonville on

First: Go to your previous drs office and get copies of all your records. If, when your physican moved his practice, took his records with him find out where his new office is and get your records. (Freedom of Information Act) Then find another dr.

Second: When the boys are not around do something you like to do...read a book, sew, go for a walk, take a bubble bath, get a pedicure, go to a friend's house for coffee or walk around the mall. A sister in Christ.
Luv ya M.

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

Hi T.! Just wanted to let you know you will not have to pay for your records if you have your new doctor request them! If you ask for them, you pay. If your new doctor requests them there is no fee to you.

Your doctor probably assumed that it was a cyst related to pregnancy but really should have checked post-partum to make sure that it was only a pregnancy related cyst. Please don't wait to find a new doctor. I'm sure there are many woman at your church that will be happy to share the names of doctors that they trust and have been very happy with the care they recieved.

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M.M.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Your problem(s)could be resolved with progesterone and other vitamins/minerals. You should also read the book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause" by Dr. John Lee. This book will give you insight about the causes and treatment of cysts and it will help you to understand how to avoid some of the problems that will (or may) interfere with your future reproductive health....I, too, was bothered with cysts before being advised to read this book because I was following the advice (which is given by most doctors) that estrogen would make my symptoms better. I also learned other tips which have changed my life around. If you read this book, you will understand what I cannot tell you with this response. However, you will be blessed by the information in it.

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P.E.

answers from Panama City on

Find a new doctor and start over. Tell him your story and go from there.

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K.H.

answers from Orlando on

I had my first ovarian tumors when I was 15, one the size of a grapefruit on one ovary and a cluster of 3 the size of golf balls on my other ovary. Then I made a terrible mistake with my monitoring. I did not have insurance for several years so I did not go to the dr for 3 years for my annual check ups. I noticed a weight gain and went on a diet, lost weight every where but my stomach area, so I thought to myself that I must be one of those women that is pregnant and do not know it. My belly was a perfect baby bump! I went to the Dr on Christmas Eve and it was no baby, it was a large, huge ovarian tumor. Surgery the day after Christmas when they removed a 20 lb ovarian border line cancerous tumor from me. I was in the hospital for several days and have a scar from breast bone to pelvic area for a reminder. My insides had to be put back the way they naturally should be, because the tumor was so large and continued to grow that it displaced other organs. By the time I was in my early 20s I had more tumors on my only ovary left and I had to have a hysterectomy. The first tumors were painful, but believe it or not the large one and other ones were not. I saw a wonderful OB/GYN for my last two surgeries to remove these tumors and then for the hysterectomy. Dr. Douglas Gearity. He has several offices and is a gentle and caring doctor. Here is the website for his offices. http://www.thewomenscenteronline.com/
I have referred several women to him and they all have the same opinion as I do, wonderful! Go and see him, let him know the lady with the giant tumor sent you, I am sure he remembers! He works with Winnie Palmer, Celebration and Osceola Reg hospitals. He used to (not sure now) work with MD Anderson Cancer and a wonderful Oncologist OB/GYN named Dr. Boothby, who I saw as well.

Bottom line, you do need to get this checked out and monitored even if you choose to not see Gearity. Do not make the terrible mistake that I did and not see a doctor!

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T.B.

answers from Orlando on

You definately need to be checked out . That happened to my sister and it grew to a 6 pound mass. She had passed out and thats how they found it. I'm sure you want to be around for your kids. Physicians Associates in Longwood is where I have gone for years. Dr. Bowles is my obgyn there. Good luck. don't wait.

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C.C.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Please go to the dr and get it checked. I had a cyst that I did not know about, and it developed a tumor in the center of it, in my right ovary. I had been feeling ill, alot of pain, mood swings, constantly tired. My depression got so bad that I had a physical and had my dr put me on anti-depressants, which didn't help. Unfortunately, he missed the fact that this tumor was almost the size of a baseball. It twisted around, and shut off the blood to my fallopian tube, and ovary. I woke up 1 morning, thinking I was having menstraul cramps, and ended up writhing in pain, and thinking I was having a tubal pregnancy, or my appendix was going to burst. I had to have emergency surgery that day, and almost died, because my ovary almost burst b/c the tumor and cyst had all turned gangrene. Please get it checked out. Luckily I'm done having kids, they had to do a partial hysterectomy.

I have a Christian, female obgyn. If you would like her information, feel free to contact me.

BTW-not using the other dr, I almost died and I feel he should have caught that as many times as I went to his office complaining.

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L.W.

answers from Orlando on

Dear T.,
My name is L., and i have been struggling with ovarian cysts since i was about 17 and still am struggling today. I get them every month and i have had some stay for a years. The only thing you can really do to find out is get a pelvic ultrasound. You can go to the Emergency Room and they are required to do one there, just explain what happened when you were pregnant and the Doctor should be able to help you. Unfortunatly if the cyst is not that big the only thing they can do is refer to an Gyno and give you medicine for pain (if there is any). Now if it is a large cyst than they will prepare you for a small surgery called a laproscopy. I know there not fun to have at all so you should definately get that checked out!!
~~>L.

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J.A.

answers from Orlando on

I am not sure where you live, but I would go for a consult to Dr. Steven McCarus in Celebration. I used to work with many doctors and he is THE BEST. He is a world renowned surgeon, he teaches other surgeons new procedures and he is SO PERSONABLE and nice. The following is a website with a little information about him. Good luck!!

http://www.hysterectomysurgeon.com/ourteam.htm

J. A

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S.A.

answers from Tallahassee on

T. I know I may be a little late in the game with my response. But I don't know why you or your husband don't "trust" other doctors to help you. If you don't want anti-depressants the doctors don't force them on you. If you don't feel like you've been helped, then get a second opinion of course!

I had a cyst on my ovary once. I had to stop taking motrin for the pain! I had to stop because it was making me feel worse and can cause constipation! But I was also told to try the birth control pill. The pill has a steroid in it and it should help you shrink the cyst and also keep you from having more kids - obviously! LOL Of course the pill can get your hormones out of wack which is why doctors lean towards anti-depressants. But I'm sure you'd be fine without them.

I don't think you need to go that far to find a trust worthy doctor. What about a health clinic and you can speak to a woman doctor? Maybe you'd feel more comfortable with that.

I sure hope you get medical attention soon and that the pain stops.

Just a little info. Your ovaries form cysts while you are pregnant to keep you from ovulating during pregnancy! Are you pregnant once more?

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T.S.

answers from Panama City on

T.,

Ask some of your friends to recommend another Dr. to go to. You really need to get confirmation on whether or not the cyst is still there. You owe it to those rowdy boys. If you wait to long, it could burst and cause you a LOT of pain. I had a friend who had this happen and she ended up in the emergency room with a ton of bills. She said it hurt worse than giving birth - naturally. Not to scare you, but I'd rather scare you than for you to wait too long. God Bless You!

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D.P.

answers from Jacksonville on

Go to your (a new one who maybe a couple of your friends recommend and trust) doctor for your yearly physical (we all need a pap every year anyway) and tell him or her about this cyst and that you are concerned. Also it wouldnt hurt to do some research on the internet beforehand. Doctors tend to kinda blow us off a little bit if we let them get away with it so be kind of assertive, know what you want done and let him know you want it checked out.

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B.E.

answers from Orlando on

T.,
I don't know where you live, but Dr. Grace Sarvotham at 630 Main St., Maitland, FL is a fantastic OB/GYN. ###-###-#### She delivered our twins and HUNDREDS of other babies. She's been my Doctor since 1988.
Good luck & God Bless.
B.

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R.M.

answers from Daytona Beach on

Request your med records and go to another dr. I used to work @ a drs office and we charged for giving them records, but they are yours so just call ahead so they can have them coppied for you. my ob/gyn is awesome where are you from?
God Bless

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R.M.

answers from Orlando on

Don't ignore what your are sensing or feeling, putting it off or hoping that the pain goes away will just leave you wondreing what is happening to your body. Besides getting a second opinion can be insightful and beneficial in any decisions you may have to may. There is a really good obgyn office in Maitland called Premier Obstetrics that I used when I was pregnant and there after. The atmosphere there was always light and pleasant, I always felt taken care of.
Just pray and ask God to give direction and most of all STAND upon His word to bring healing, to enter His rest and to walk in peace. Also going to the doctor by no means signifies that you lack faith or trust in God, your body is His temple and He needs you to help in maintaining it. Be blessed and I pray that your mind is alert and that you have clarity and confirmation concerning this situation.

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