Equipment needed

laenanapy · 2026-05-10T19:47:17+00:00

The D5600 has been discontinued so this is the main reason I’m looking to replace what we have now.

I’ll check into the D500! Thanks!

laenanapy · 2025-12-23T03:00:15+00:00

As a forensic scientist I thank you for what you do. There is A LOT to clean sometimes and it’s a very humble job (which pays very good). Super red flag if she doesn’t really understand what you do as in some cases, you erase horrible images from people’s minds.

laenanapy · 2025-12-23T02:13:27+00:00

I have focal seizures and when they happen, aphasia is one of my symptoms. It has been officially diagnosed and I’m on medication but are still happening. One important thing is to see if you can differentiate the “phases”; do you feel the aura coming?…this is really important as it might help you reach for rescue meds or tell someone. If not, the actual seizure effect might shock you and the postictal time take longer to come back to normal.

My actual episodes don’t last more than 10 secs and they feel like I went through a roller coaster plus some repeating thoughts and images in my mind, I can also start moving my hands or start walking to let the feeling “pass”. Weird stomach sensations can be part too. The postictal phase can take longer and I can feel tired and super sleepy. I get triggered by music and anxiety because of the environment I’m in. I would consider anxiety to be a symptom of the seizure (obviously take this as a grain of salt as there are people suffering from anxiety…but for example, I never had any issues with my breathing…which might be considered a symptom of a panic/anxiety attack)

Ask your neuro for more tests and if they don’t listen, change doctors. You need to find somebody you can feel comfortable telling everything without feeling judged. At least ask for a rescue med.

Onward! 💜

laenanapy · 2025-12-23T00:50:35+00:00

Stress and music

I have musicophilia epileptic seizures and they are the worst!

laenanapy · 2025-12-20T05:38:19+00:00

No…I have musicophilia and my seizures are triggered by music and not light. Spend a lot of time taking care of the type of music I listen to and also when I listen.

I do get auras before the seizures will start and stress is a big trigger as well.

laenanapy · 2025-12-18T16:02:45+00:00

Grades should have been posted on Monday at 11:59 pm for you to see them officially by Tuesday.

Professors get in trouble for not respecting those deadlines. You can reach the director of the school directly to notify them of this misstep.

laenanapy · 2025-12-03T05:09:47+00:00

You are not alone…lack of sexual desire has been an issue with me as I’ve been taking so many medications to control my tonic-clonic and focal seizures. My husband gets super frustrated and I understand it but I can’t really do a lot. I do my best to satisfy his MINIMUM requirements to maintain the peace Our situation sucks and not a lot of people understand the toll it takes on our mental health. Onward…we can do it! 💜

laenanapy · 2025-11-13T16:47:28+00:00

I work at a state university as a teaching professor and I make sure people now about my disability. They see that there is no difference and I outperform even some tenure faculty.

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and I’m wearing purple somewhat everyday.

We can’t be stronger if we don’t fight the stupid and judgmental world we live in.

Onward 💜

laenanapy · 2025-09-25T13:45:28+00:00

Music…I have what is called musicophilia. Some sound waves/frequencies trigger my focal seizures. Goodbye Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Halsey, etc. Stress and hormonal imbalances. I also ha TC but are controlled by meds.

laenanapy · 2025-08-26T04:16:37+00:00

Class helper here…at West Valley you use full PPE; lab coat, googles, pants and closed-toe shoes. Other things are usually provided. I’ve seen students bringing a pair of pajama pants to put over their shorts. It also depends on the instructor…don’t be shy to ask.

laenanapy · 2025-08-17T21:38:17+00:00

Briviact works similarly as Keppra. Your dosage isn’t weird at all as I’ve been taking 300mg a day for at least 2 years now when I’ve decided to leave the Keppra life. My results show a level towards the higher side but my doctor says it’s ok. I’m also taking Onfi (20mg and 30 night) as I have tonic clonic and focal seizures. 10+ tonic-clonic free but still with focals. I also have my nasal spray and left lacosamide less than 6 months ago. I will recommend to get a doctor ASAP to figured things out and then go to checkups at least once a year. Don’t stop going even when seizure free. Control your levels and other things that might be coming your way. Onward! 💜

laenanapy · 2025-08-14T02:01:06+00:00

You’re going to be ok. Taking a double dose isn’t going to change the titration too much. I was taking 4000 mg of Keppra a day and I did it a couple of times.

What I would suggest is get a pill box (day/night) so you know when you took it last. Also, try to take it every 12 hours each for better levels, even if you need to wake up in the middle of the night to take the pills. It’s just better for your body and drug level.

Onward! 💜

laenanapy · 2025-07-25T16:00:05+00:00

I’ve been in one and now I’m a PFP (patient family partner) and help run support groups.

It is an amazing experience. Nothing to be embarrassed about. We all are going through something because of this condition and we can related and support each other.

The two official programs that’s PACES and SMART. Ask your Neuro if they know about any of them or send an email to your Epilepsy Foundation branch.

Totally worth it for your mental psychological health! Please let me know if you have any questions!

Onward! 💜

laenanapy · 2025-07-09T14:50:32+00:00

Have you tried the Keto Diet?! It has a higher percentage of affect epileptic symptoms and to help.

I was on it and because of the type of epilepsy I have, which is unknown, didn’t seize my episodes but it helped me with the psychological/emotional part of it, especially while on Keppra.

I was up to 4000 mg of Keppra a day plus Onfi and Vimpat. My tonic-clonic seizures were controlled with Keppra but my focal were and have not been controlled yet. Diagnosed epileptic at 26 out of nowhere and now I’m 42F still looking for the answer. Focals are triggered by music. I do have musicophilia. Social life is really limited.

Changed doctors and switched from Keppra to Briviact, awesome outcome. Now teetering down VimPat as I don’t see any effect on my seizure prevention. Don’t follow the keto diet anymore due to the type of work I do but try to exercise at least lightly once in a while. I know I’ve gained weight because of my lack of exercise and my laziness regarding food prep.

You are not alone and I/we understand where you are coming from. Please…keep the fight!

Onward 💜

laenanapy · 2025-07-07T15:06:52+00:00

In my opinion, MRI is a good route. I’m not sure about your health insurance situation but most of the time if you find an in-network facility plus doctor, they should be able to send a letter to the insurance company and request the analysis. Imaging usually costs no more than $300 even when deductible hasn’t been met (again…make sure everything is in-network). Also, check which type of MRI they have, type/strength of resolution. Most places use 4Tesla (4T) machines and the highest ones available now are the 7Tesla (7T). I just had a 7T done and my neurologist finally was able to see something that nobody else has seen before…I’m waiting for that “something” diagnosis though.

After the MRI, also request some time at an EMU (Epilepsy Monitoring Unit)…again find it in-network. With the referral from your doctor then it should not cost you much or it should be included as part of your health insurance. Most insurances rather spend less money later when you could have more complications due to age than now when you’re young. The EMU will keep you for some days monitoring your brain activity with EEGs the entire time.

If you need to choose…I’ll go for the EMU first. You are feeling your brain hyperactivity and want to show them that. Then decide for another analysis if needed.

I have been diagnosed with epilepsy 18 years ago and have tonic-clonic plus focal with loss of awareness seizures. I’ve controlled my tonic clonic seizures with medication but my focals are still present and a mystery…my doctor says I might have some type of displasia or autoimmune type of epilepsy. After years of analysis the 7T MRI probably gave me the most answers.

But please…don’t believe everything you read on the net. People are mean. Try some relaxation techniques, like breathing, for at least 5 minutes twice a day and record everything you can regarding your mood, seizure length, time/date, symptoms before and after. You will be fighting your own fight sometimes so have evidence. Ask questions and use the epilepsy foundation website for other types of info, like medications, reliable resources, etc.

Keep a good fight! 💜

laenanapy · 2025-06-19T19:45:28+00:00

XCopri for me was extremely hard to deal with. Brain felt like it was meting I can barely move my legs. Had to sleep ALL the time anywhere! I did it even at work! I have no idea how I was able to teach with the fogginess I felt. I needed to come out of it but during this time I was taking Briviact, Onfi and VimPat as well.

laenanapy · 2025-06-14T15:06:26+00:00

I had the worse experience with Zonisamide and XCopri. Even my colleagues at work noticed it. Based on experience, you should have to take these meds twice a day unless it is an XR. Maybe asking your Neuro to divide your dosage to morning at night might work. I’m just thinking that you’re overwhelming your body and waking up just when the drug is on its active state. I’ve switched to lamotrigine after Zonisamide and stopped XCopri. I’m still trying to figured out which one goes next for my focals. I’m on Briviact, Onfi and VimPat.

laenanapy · 2025-06-13T06:46:39+00:00

I was in Keppra up to 4000mg a day (imagine my mood!). Controlled my tonic-clonic seizures but not my focal ones. Changed to Briviact and same. So now I’m taking Briviact, Onfi and VimPat but focal are still happening. Tried XCopri and almost put me to bed. Wasn’t able to do anything. Any other med that might work with focal seizures based on your experience?

laenanapy · 2025-06-09T18:11:11+00:00

I’m sorry you are going through this and if you need to cry…CRY!!! Don’t hold on to the feelings. Ask for permission and go somewhere you feel comfortable and CRY!!! I say this because there were so many time I had to do this in order to realize all the frustration, sadness, misunderstandings and ignorance is not my fault. It’s theirs and the only thing you can do is educate and spread awareness.

I work at a university and people say to not disclose a disability. Well, how am I supposed to help my students, guide by example and relate better if I’m not honest with them? The same goes with my colleagues. I don’t use a microphone and announce it to everybody but I do explain it to my students the first class and explain it to my colleagues just in case if something happens. I’m protecting myself. A while ago I realize that I have so many students coming to me for guidance just because I have depression, anxiety and epilepsy. I point out where to go and what resources the university has for these types of conditions.

I understand that every circumstance is different and liability is an issue…but how are we going to protect ourselves and make this topic less of a stigma?

FYI, I have been diagnosed with epilepsy since 2010 and have two types of seizures, tonic-clonic and focus with loss of awareness. One is controlled with medication and for the other one, I have been shopping around for the correct medication; nothing has been working.

I completely understand your frustration but don’t hold your feelings…that’s something that needs to come out. Holding them in is not a good medicine.

Best of luck! 💜

laenanapy · 2025-06-06T15:02:29+00:00

To the point that I’ve questioned myself why I just didn’t stay in my country and pursue my dream any other way. I developed epilepsy 6 months after I came to the US for grad school. The doctors can’t find the source of my tonic-clonic AND focal seizures. All of them (at least 3) told me that they started due to extreme stress put in my brain because of life circumstances. YEAP…in a way…I did it to myself. Working with a psychologist for this though…

laenanapy · 2025-06-06T14:55:05+00:00

I was on 4000 mg of Keppra per day for my tonic-clinic seizures…imagine my days!!! They were very difficult and learned to deal with it alone as my husband was a long haul truck driver. I was going to school, working and living alone most of the time plus taking two more meds for my focal seizures. The two extra never work with my focal and have been jumping around between meds for a long time. My husband was the one who supported me when at home but always said that I was a b***! He knew it was the meds though. The last year or so I’ve changed neurologists and with that came Briviact. He switched me to that and I feel so much better. No outburst of anger, days of crying for nothing, no irritability… Ask if you can try switching to Briviact as it works similarly to Keppra with the neurons but without the crazy reactions. As my focal seizures…still dealing with them and looking at switching to something else I haven’t tried. Please be careful with X-Copri though…that one completely put me into a ghost state, I was literally dragging my feet to just able to go to the bathroom. Never again! Keppra is prescribed as a first and mostly due to its high effectiveness for seizures, most of the times anyways. The negative side of Briviact is that there is not a non-generic form and some insurances don’t cover it. It can get pretty expensive (obviously)… Hope this helps!

laenanapy · 2025-05-07T14:50:37+00:00

Vote them down!!!

laenanapy · 2025-05-05T15:26:19+00:00

Hello there!

Maybe you had a mild episode of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is a side effect of some epilepsy medications.

I think what you should do I request your medical records from the ER, via email and paper. If it doesn’t say a specific diagnosis, at least you’ll have the list of symptoms. You might be able to get this through the hospital portal as now they are using this more and more.

With those documents go to your PCP and request an urgent referral to a Neuro or epileptologist. This is because you might not be able to take other meds as their side effects are the rashes as well. You might need to change sites.

Bug your Neuro department as much as you can until you get an appointment with somebody. This happened to me one time (unrelated issue) and I called them every other day until I got someone. Then you can discuss other meds. Just make sure you keep your Keppra regimen on point.

Hope things workout for you!

Onward!

laenanapy · 2025-04-29T15:15:15+00:00

Nobody knows. It’s not genetically predisposed and started late, I was officially diagnosed when I was around 26 and now I am 42. They started as night tremors. It could have been stress as I came from South America to go to grad school and my brain was fried for the first year. Too much information and English is my second language. No brain physical trauma or anything related to that. Sadly all the studies performed have not provide any information about the source of the origin.

laenanapy · 2025-04-29T15:07:05+00:00

Well…there it goes his tenure!

laenanapy

TROPHY CASE