Side Effects of Seizures

Seizures have so many side effects that we don't know until a loved one or we go through them. My son Logan has Lennox Gastaut which there is not a cure for this type of seizure disorder. Some meds work for some but in our case meds just made the seizures worse. Logan experienced intense side effects from the drugs. He uses CBD oil.

Logan has Grandmal, cluster and 15 min long seizures. He gets 6 - 10 weeks without seizures and gets between 2 and 12 seizures a day for 1 - 2 weeks. When then seizures completely stop, all the side effects start for the next 2 -3 weeks. Logan starts pulling his toenails out, picking his fingers until the bleed, rips the skin off the sides of his thumbs. This part of the mania starts a few days into the seizures. Then There is very little talking for the next week ( the words are there but hard to get out). When the communication returns , Cussing is usd a lot. Anger and agitation are at an all time high. In the past he would hit or kick holes in the walls, punch or hit his father and I, break things in the house, kick dents in our cars, go into 6 hour rages. Then there is the checking his underwear every 5 minutes, taking baths or showers 10x per day. Can't sit still, will go into the cupboard pull snacks out to eat ( take a bite of 4 different items) put them back and take out other items doing the same thing over a few minutes. Following directions, not being able to comprehend requests and not understanding what time frames mean( in 10 minutes we will go to the store and purchase food). Logan needs to see pictures to help him understand. Like his brain is scrambled.

This takes awareness, compassion, loving kindness to help someone through this phase. There will be a lot of miscommunication, misunderstanding of the persons awareness and comprehension levels at this time especially when we are exhausted, overwhelmed and doing our best to not fall apart. This is not an easy path but one that can teach us true love, compassion, patients and freedom to become better people in the face of adversity. Much love and many blessings.

Wendy