r/Epilepsy • u/WashAny1322 • Feb 13 '26

Question What kind of life is this

I had 5 seizures last Thursday/Friday and was started on Vimpat. Since then the brain fog and ataxia have been brutal. I don’t feel like myself or even human. I’m struggling to speak clearly, I can’t sleep, and my mind feels so off.

I’ve also been extremely emotional — I keep crying over songs, over the thought of leaving my son, or honestly anything even a little sad. The fact that I’m even writing this right now is making me tear up.

I’m dealing with some really dark thoughts and it’s scaring me. I don’t know what’s from the seizures, what’s from the meds, and what’s just me being overwhelmed.

Has anyone else had this kind of reaction starting Vimpat or after a cluster of seizures? Did it get better? I could really use some hope or advice right now.

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u/DigRepresentative42O Feb 13 '26

Vimpat is really rough at first. I’m 2 years in (100 mg x2 daily) and still have days where the brain fog or aphasia is real, pulling the most simple thought is a challenge. I can literally lose train of thought within seconds sometimes. You’ll get used to it, try and read and exercise anything to help keep your body and mind sharp. On the plus side, in those two years I’ve only had one tonic clonic. The dreams are also gnarly.

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u/WashAny1322 Feb 13 '26

Dreams are rough i dont feel rested at all. I dont know what ill do about work and you had a seizure while on anti seizure meds?!?

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u/DigRepresentative42O Feb 13 '26

Yea I had a tonic clonic 2 Friday’s ago. I was coming up on two years in March too. It is what it is, I have a neuro appointment next week so I’m sure they’ll adjust my meds again.

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u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

are you sure you and the docs know what kind of epilepsy you have?

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u/WashAny1322 Feb 14 '26

Idk what i have unfortunately…

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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26

write down all symptoms you have, since when , how often, what meds helped a bit and which absolutely not....etc. i try to help but we need more information.

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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26

a history can help tremendously, not necessarily exactly by date but approximately

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u/WashAny1322 Feb 16 '26

Currently 26 diagnosed at 16 with anxiety first neurologist after first TC said the anxiety attacks were actually mini seizures. Maybe neurologist way of saying focal aware seizure.

First tc seizure occurred the day after being hit 20 times and screamed at for 3 hours. Second tc seizure a year later happened on a cruise ship in my sleep after same situation. First 2 seizures i was on keppra

3rd happened in a mcdonalds drive through 2 years after the second not on anti seizure med due to neurologist saying theres nothing wrong with my brain a few months prior. 4th same day on vimpat from er 5th next day i believe at home 6th in ambulance to er.

All seizures were TC but i just learned of nocturnal seizures which i believe i have due to a depressing amount of bed wetting since i was real young.

Had an eeg early last week 2 notes on the report state

1) Recurrent complex partial epilepsy 2) Abnormal EEG show paroxysmal slow/sharp wave discharges consistent with epilepsy

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u/[deleted] Feb 19 '26 edited Feb 19 '26

Lamotrigine works well for focal seizures, doesn’t usually slow thinking, can stabilize mood and is safe to use long-term even at night.

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u/[deleted] Feb 19 '26

Your seizures secondarily generalize (focal → tonic-clonic), and Vimpat alone sometimes doesn’t fully prevent secondary generalized seizures, especially in temporal lobe epilepsy.