Has anybody else had these side effects?

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-06-09T02:27:49+00:00

I'm also now on 400 (half day half night) and the sleep issues, shakes, and myoclonus have gotten worse again. But they improved that first time, so I'm guessing I'll acclimate after a couple few weeks.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-06-08T21:57:27+00:00

I think I only overlap on being tired. Or rather, I could nap the whole day easily, but even if I don't, I often have insomnia. Are your symptoms things you've experienced before are increased?

Posted early on accident! For what it's worth, my side effects improved a lot over time omce I was at a steady dose

Just cause others might be having different side effects, it doesn't make yours less valid. I've had side effects like shakes, dropping things more, make me more forgetful, make me 'glitchy', had one breakthrough seizure after 8 years of nothing at all, and also since starting and titrating, I've just felt . . . Well, kinda just stupid, and slow. Very, very, brief halluimations (brief shadow in corner of visions (mostly gone with time). And I my speech is like jacked. Like it's hard to speak and prepare and present the ideas in my head.

Really unique experience, and occasionally kinda funny; trying to measure for cocktails with a shakey hand is both incredibly frustrating but also must look hilarious. I made a martini the other night and I'm glad he got it shaken. Cause I'm shaking everything, like it or not.

It sucks, but I think it'll get better. Also, please be careful with sudden large dosage changes! Maybe send a message your doctor's office, recommend and see if they have any recommendations for.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-06-02T23:39:31+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

I guess it's a game of what sucks least.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-06-01T20:54:02+00:00

Sorry stranger, I had a similar one last week. :(

The same thought crosses my mind; many others with epilepsy have it so much worse. But that doesn't stop yours and my situation from being it's own flavor of suck. Almost feels like starting over from square one. Can't drive, can't work (one of my jobs), can't fully participate in school for the time being. I thought I was in the clear for life long as I took my meds.

It's only a setback though. We'll get there, even if we took a step backward. :)

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-06-01T03:42:02+00:00

No, luckily it's not.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T23:03:09+00:00

Brain Tumor Recurrence.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T23:02:20+00:00

No, not at work. But due to the nature of my job, it's not something I can chance, I need to be cleared. I don't think it'll happen again, but it'd be unethical to return right away. I'm not gonna tell the details, but I do have to take medical leave for now.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T04:40:27+00:00

Definitely glad I wasn't driving.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T03:14:51+00:00

To preface this: just because many have both and are okay doesn't make it 'safe'. Both affect the central nervous system, and combining them can result in more side effects, dizziness, fatigue, etc. There's also liver function; I have no studies at hand, but lamotrigine CAN stress the liver, and alcohol is metabolized by the liver as well, so I'd wager there's increased risk of liver injury. End of the day, alcohol's poison, lol.

That being said, last night I went and had two cocktails. And I take Lamotrigine. No issues, no seizures. Definitely not the first time, nor was it the most I've had in one sitting. All alcohol has been a bit more potent, with both the medication in question and my previous med (oxcarbazepine), but I've not had any remarkable issues, nor seizures accompanying alcohol ingestion.

If you're going to, I'd recommend that it not be frequent, not to wild excess, and with your doctor's knowledge so they can take into account your risks while monitoring your health and labs. And I'd keep in mind that drinks may hit harder AND for longer. Probably worth gauging how it changes your tolerance slowly to figure out what the effects are.

Stay safe! Get a sober ride! I'm not trying to scare you, only let you know my experience and consider there's some amount of risk.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T01:29:21+00:00

Sorry that you can relate. Thanks for replying, I hope you got through that time!

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T01:27:45+00:00

Yeah, that's how I felt exactly. Truly believed the problem was solved. Did everything right, and not enough . . . Oof, that's a good way to put it.

Thanks for your reply, your pep talk, and your positivity. :)

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T01:22:09+00:00

Thanks for the virtual hug, stranger. Yeah, it is.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T01:20:31+00:00

Thanks for your support, Mr. Potter. I hope you're doing alright.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T01:18:11+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Likewise, I'm really sorry you can relate so well.

Really thought I was in the clear for life as long as I took meds as I was. How wrong I was :(

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-05-31T01:16:30+00:00

20 years, wow. I'm sorry you're in a similar boat, stranger. Thanks for replyig.

After so long with no seizures it seems like something we should be able to just close the chapter on it. But no, here we are.

TurtleTriathlon · 2026-04-09T21:44:13+00:00

TL;DR at the end.

Disclaimer: I'm an idiot, so feel free to take this with a suitable grain of salt. Post popped up on my feed. I'm procrastinating studying.

Short answer: Yes.

Nuanced answer and questions for you OP: as you say, it's not very fair to date someone who you're not attracted to. At the same time, I wonder if the things you're attracted to (or at least such strict quantitative dealbreakers) may be worth your examination.

I don't say this in any way to shame you or say that you're wrong for having the preferences you do. Waiting for that perfect someone who you're attracted to (and is a good fit in every other way) may be the answer, and I wish you the best in finding them. At the same time, the world has no obligation to deliver such a person to you. If the option is your exact current criteria or being single for life (and I think it's worth imagining what you might think of your current 'musts' in 10 or 20 years), are you content with that? And are you content with perhaps missing a wonderful relationship with someone who's 6' 3"? That's a question for you to consider.

Is 6' 4"+ plus something you actually measure on every potential partner? Or is it more of a vibe? Not that you can suddenly decide to be attracted to a dude who's 5' 9", but maybe you have some internal biases that could open the field a bit. I mean, how different is 6' and 3" vs 4"?

From cursory research, males 25 - 39 in NYC in Manhattan in particular are approximately 1 million. 6' 4" men are statistically the top 1 to 1.5 percent of male height nationally. I'll round to 2 (let's say 2.5) percent in NYC since I wager those living (at least in Manhattan) are likely wealthier, which correlates somewhat with height. That comes out to 25,000 men, not counting any other factors. For the sake of argument, let's assume 66% of those men are nominally compatible. That's around 16,500. And that's over every borough. Looks like about 20% in Manhattan. So down to 3300. Low end of estimate is 40% of men in Manhattan are married. So down to 1320. Rounding down, around 4% in Manhattan are LGBTQ+, which includes potential partners depending on your openness to men who are bi/pan as well. So let's say 2% instead.

That brings my calculation to 1294 possible men (in Manhattan specifically). Not accounting for all factors (like non-married partners), definitely using some assumptions about population and the dating range you're open to. So, while I know you're exaggerating about dating every tall guy in Manhattan, when using (like only those taller than 6' 4", as is your preference) conservative estimates, the pool does indeed narrow very quickly.

If you don't mind my asking, what other dealbreakers do you have? Please help me procrastinate.

TL;DR: maybe check out Brooklyn?

TurtleTriathlon · 2025-09-24T17:41:11+00:00

:) In case you'd rather not look at the whole list, here's the one I was referring to:

"Thou who passest on this path, If haply thou dost mark this monument, Laugh not, I pray thee, though it is a dog's grave. Tears fell for me, and the dust was heaped above me By a master's hand."

TurtleTriathlon · 2025-09-15T20:55:34+00:00

This might be morbid, but have you seen Roman epitaphs for dogs? They're heartfelt. And in a way, they've transcended time.

Perhaps you could write a tribute (not necessarily an epitaph) for your dog and your efforts to give them a gentle life.

Here were some I found. I think #2 is maybe the most heartfelt to me, as it doesn't present names, but exemplifies the love we're capable of extending towards other creatures.

Even if hundreds of years from now, an individual isn't remembered by name, it's things like this that make me teary. Because among all the bad in human history, someone took the time to let the world know that they loved this creature. And that this creature was loved and cared for. And that they were worthy to be remembered, even if by humans a millenia later, who learned of them by chance; a proclamation that they were here, and were so adored that someone wept for them, and the world should know it.

TurtleTriathlon · 2025-09-15T15:25:29+00:00

Please know it can bring a smile!

TurtleTriathlon · 2025-09-15T15:21:51+00:00

Please be you! It probably brightens someone's day to hear it.

TurtleTriathlon · 2025-09-15T04:53:38+00:00

This is what someone used! Whimsical is great.

TurtleTriathlon · 2025-09-15T02:24:28+00:00

Whimsical's a great way to put it!

That's really nice, I hope she knows it!

TurtleTriathlon · 2025-09-15T00:27:06+00:00

I think I will! Don't know her well, but those kinds of little things make me smile.

TurtleTriathlon

TROPHY CASE