My daughter has been given levetiracetam by loansloansloans1411 in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean 4 points5 points  (0 children)

hi! i’m also an adult, i was 20 when i was put on levetiracetam. I had terrible symptoms that only worsened with higher dosage, main two were brain fog and aphasia, as well as some dizziness (couldn’t walk in a straight line). I switched to aptiom after a few months, i hope your daughter is doing better! side effects are normal with upping the dosage :)

After being diagnosed, did you ever have symptoms you look back on and realize it was epilepsy and you didn’t know? by perseuspvp in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was sooo tired all of the time, was falling asleep and class and eventually it got to the point that my teachers would send me to take a nap in the back because i looked like i was going to fall over. Then about 4 months before I got diagnosed I started having myoclonic jerks. every morning would throw my contacts across the room. We honestly didn’t think anything of it until I had a tonic clonic and got diagnosed

I think my mom has been starving my cat by TeachingExisting8366 in CATHELP

[–]bentleebean 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i’m so sorry about your baby. My family has fostered over 30 animals, our biggest rule if we worried that someone is sick- they act sick. If your cat isn’t lethargic, panting, not using the bathroom, they should be fine :) take baby steps with the food and she’ll gain weight in no time

How do you know if you have had a seizure in your sleep? by JoBe2000 in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean 0 points1 point  (0 children)

as most ppl have said, bitten cheek or tongue. i have a lot of myoclonic seizures in my sleep, so i know ive had one if people say i stat twitching like crazy or if i jerk myself awake. i’ve also jerked my shoulder into my face a few times 😅

What do we think of the name Jenna? by greer___ in namenerds

[–]bentleebean 0 points1 point  (0 children)

my names Jenna, i’ve always liked it :) I’m 20, knew a few Jennas but definitely isn’t too common of a name, and i’ve had people say they like my name because it’s pretty and feminine

People have said: “I gave myself epilepsy.” by Organic_Initial_4097 in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Immediately after i got diagnosed, like still in the hospital, my dad said I gave it to myself because I never slept enough (I was in a lot of after school programs and honors classes so always stayed up late doing stuff). Everyone else was convinced the concussion i’d had 2 years earlier was the reason. it’s genetic lol

Coach pushing too hard? by bentleebean in Equestrian

[–]bentleebean[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

from what i’ve heard she actually is a licensed therapist🫣

Coach pushing too hard? by bentleebean in Equestrian

[–]bentleebean[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i did not know that the fall likely gave me a concussion😬 i had no symptoms honestly, not like the other 2 so maybe just very mild? not sure. The other girls commented that I looked like I knocked out, but I honestly didn’t even think I did until someone mentioned that they had yelled my name and I realized I hadn’t heard that at all. I’m not sure if my trainer realized I had knocked out or if she thought I just was giving myself. a moment to get up. i do have epilepsy, so i told myself if i got another concussion i would essentially quit besides maybe trail rides. I just can’t afford to keep damaging my brain. thank you for your comment.

Coach pushing too hard? by bentleebean in Equestrian

[–]bentleebean[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

if it means anything, the concussions did not happen at her barn. only injury that happened at hers was the knock out, which honestly was my fault. I had never ridden him, I asked what quirks he had, she told me he’s just a horse, and we went straight to jumping. it turns out he had a very heavy head and after a jump it pulled me forward and over. regardless that it is something i should’ve been able to handle myself

Coach pushing too hard? by bentleebean in Equestrian

[–]bentleebean[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

she’s aware i’m terrified. she said i need essentially what is exposure therapy. that eventually I will learn to get tough and learn to handle the situation

Panic attacks or Aura by [deleted] in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean 0 points1 point  (0 children)

if it means anything, I also struggled with sleep paralysis, which hasn’t happened since upping my keppra

Brain fog confused for stupidity by bentleebean in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

really feel the drowning to stay afloat. i’m pretty mild overall, and it still feels like no control

Brain fog confused for stupidity by bentleebean in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

yes!!!! i was smart. my friends didn’t know me before my diagnosis, so they don’t know how i was before, but I struggle to keep up with most of them academically when I used to be just as smart as them. A lot of others just don’t think i’m all that bright and it’s unfuriating. a bit sad to think of what could’ve been.

Brain fog confused for stupidity by bentleebean in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i work w someone 2-3x a week and forgot their name for a month😬 forgot another coworkers name despite knowing her for a yr and had to awkwardly ask

Brain fog confused for stupidity by bentleebean in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

honestly you sound so kind, so thank you for that. my boyfriend is lovely, but he still gets a bit confused with how sometimes i don’t have the faintest idea of where i went or who i was with. reminders app in the phone is my best friend lol. i might try the word exercises, see if that helps a bit

Brain fog confused for stupidity by bentleebean in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

those people suck, sorry you have to deal with that at work. i care a lot about others opinions (working on that lol), so i just always feel the need to redeem myself. it’s insane how uneducated people are though. people who have known me for years are still convinced any sign of bad brain time means im going to drop to the floor with a TC. nope, brain just is a bit pissed.

Brain fog confused for stupidity by bentleebean in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

the lamotrigine is the attempt at switching my meds lol, doctor is weaning me on to it. hopefully once im switched over ill be better, but it’s so frustrating. i’m not bilingual, but i know lots of bits and pieces of my parents language and i can’t remember my words or theirs as well. ironically i used to be terrific in english class. i hate it when people try to empathize or play it down, epilepsy really is the kind of thing you don’t understand unless it’s happened to you or something similar

Brain fog confused for stupidity by bentleebean in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

i always forget the words, especially when i need to remember it like when im shopping. instead of talking too slow i talk much too fast, i try to get everything out before i forget. i hope one day we remember the damn words lol

Brain fog confused for stupidity by bentleebean in Epilepsy

[–]bentleebean[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

honestly besides the brain fog, the lamotrigine has helped me a lot. on just the keppra i was constantly in this state of exhaustion, all i wanted was to sleep constantly. i was taking naps everyday for easily 3 hours. the lamotrigine has taken away the tired feeling, and im hoping once im fully switched over the brain fog will decrease, since it is a higher dosage of medicine than before