additional: Was later diagnosed with photosensitive epilespy in late 1993
cause: Unknown
date diagnosed: late 1993
type(s) of seizures: All types
frequency of seizures: Usually 2 or 3 weekly
additional health issues: None,perfectly healthy
Medications used (in chronological order)
Phenobarbital
still being used:
effectiveness: Neutral
positive effect: None
side effects: None
comments: Medication was changed so much, can't remember.
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
still being used: No
effectiveness: Neutral
positive effect: None
side effects: None
comments: Changed regularly
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol)
still being used: No
effectiveness: Neutral
positive effect: None
side effects: Terrible mood swings
comments: Made him very upset and threw fits. did not take long.
Divalproex (Depakote, Depakote Sprinkles, Epilim)
still being used: No
effectiveness: Neutral
max. dose: Changed
positive effect: None
Personal Notes
Cody died April 23,1995 after suffering a terrible seizure that left him in a vegatative state for 4 months.That was the worst 4 months of my life. Cody was sensitive to light, even a 15 watt light bulb could send him into a seizure.Needless to say Cody was not able to enjoy the outdoors like other children.The sensitivity to light did not happen until he was 14 months old, but the seizures began at 8 months of age and continued to worsen with age.I wrote a letter to several major magazines trying to find help with type of disorder but they refused to publish it. They said it was not what they were looking for at the time. Please, make your doctors listen to you,and if they don't, go to another who will. I believe if Cody's doctors would have listened to me in the beginning, things might have been different. Cody was a special little boy, but GOD had better plans for him than we did.I have to believe that to be able to live with the loss. I am still very interested in hearing about other children with the same type illness and hope I can help other parents cope with a hard disease. Vickie Bryant E-Mail walvic@linkfast.net
Contact info
For additional information, please send e-mail to Vickie (bwalvic@aol.com)
