Dear guys and gals,

About Lamictal and family ignorance re: epilepsy.............

The confusion that Lamictal produces seems to have permanently altered my
life in one way but given me absolute seizure control as well. I've invited
my grown kids to read about the side effects but knowing them they won't.

Today my adult children organized a grueling family "meeting" over my
husband of 30 years leaving suddenly. I sat and thought about you all while
person after person accused me of *choosing* to be confused and forgetful.
Added to that I had to give a three month history about the antics of my
daughter's abusive husband and how we, the two sole women residing here now
should handle him. They expected me to memorize a list of 15 rules within
minutes. I thought, " This is a good example of how little my family knows
about the epilepsy meds and even epilepsy itself.

I remember my Neurologist telling me after three days of tests for all
aspects of memory that I probably had some damage to the hippocampus. That
was pre-Lamictal. I didn't bother bringing this up because they, the family,
would fail to understand.

I don't want to give up the Lamictal as it controls the szs completely and
it isn't as damaging to the liver as many of the other AED's. I have
suffered partial motor seizures with episodes of continual partials. I've
also had seizures with psychic, (as in emotional) effects.

The words, psychotic and abnormal were bandied about. Funny, I've worked as
a manager of entire county programs. I've even designed and implemented
them. How does a runaway psychotic do that??? Shithead kids!!

Any comments or sympathy will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for listening,
Cheryl