Posts by Ethan Carter32

Not much to report, just sticking with Topamax for now. My very first medication was Carbamazepine, but they eventually transitioned me over to Topamax. I don't deal with anything quite as intense as you do, though I definitely struggle with constant fatigue and feeling sleepy all day long. It’s pretty rare that I can actually say I feel 100% great.
To be completely honest, I'm not exactly thrilled with it, but what can you really do? I haven't had the chance to try any other medications yet, and at least this one gives me some peace of mind regarding my diagnosis.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens during my next routine checkup.

I'm curious about what dosage you're currently on? Personally, I take 100 mg about two hours before hitting the hay. If you check out the "epilepsy" topic, you'll find plenty of other people following that same routine. I actually started out on Carbamazepine, but I ended up dealing with a bit of a skin reaction, so my neurologist decided to switch me over to Topamax (well, technically we tried Oxcarbazepine first, which is basically the same thing, but since Pfizer stopped making that specific version, I've transitioned to Topamax).
For me, the transition was handled really gradually; I did 25 mg for two weeks, then bumped up to 50 mg for another two weeks, before finally settling at 100 mg.

To be honest, I’m not exactly a huge fan of the medication myself, though I haven't run into the specific issues you mentioned. You should definitely make an appointment with your neurologist just to be safe.

Hey there!!
I’ve been on this medication for about a year now following my epilepsy diagnosis, and I can definitely vouch for most of the things you mentioned. In the beginning, I dealt with constant exhaustion, occasional dizziness, some memory fog, mood swings, and even digestive issues. Things have leveled out quite a bit since then, though the fatigue still lingers and I get a little irritable from time to time, even if those moods have mostly settled down. Honestly, given what I'm dealing with, I'm willing to put up with just about any side effect if it means keeping the seizures at bay... Who knows, maybe everything will eventually settle down and I'll be able to get off this stuff entirely in a few years...

Kimberly Nguyen said:but I drink from the tap, from bottled water, and even from my filtration system... what am I supposed to choose now?

I’m in the exact same boat, 🙂
Honestly, I’m feeling a bit stumped on which option to pick for the poll since there isn't a specific category for those of us using home water pressure tanks or specialized filtration units. 😁 🙂

I’ve been noticing lately that a diet designed to manage high triglycerides looks almost identical to what someone on a diabetic meal plan would follow. I can't help but wonder why that is?
I guess I'm just curious about why there is such a heavy emphasis on cutting back on sugar, and even certain types of fruit—like how cherries might be fine, but maybe something else isn't quite right?😕

I find myself in a very similar boat with my triglyceride levels. My doctor told me not to sweat the small stuff too much, though she did suggest I be a bit more mindful about what I'm eating (following that specific guide you were handed). To be perfectly honest with myself, I definitely overindulge on certain things—lots of pasta, heavy fats, and far too much cheese—and since I’m carrying a bit of extra weight at 178 cm and 227 lbs, this dietary shift might actually do me some good. I'm just crossing my fingers for some better numbers at my next physical, especially since my cholesterol and blood sugar have been looking fine so far.
A buddy of mine from work is quite thin, yet his triglycerides shot all the way up to 13. It was a pretty scary situation for him, but by sticking strictly to a diet, he managed to bring those levels almost back to normal over the course of two years, all without needing any medication at all.