I guess I don't really have a question, I just need to write down whats worrying me. I've only written on here a couple of times. I have primary generalised epilepsy and I take lamictal and epilim.

I'm from Oz but I'm in France on exchange at the moment for university and I've got to so say that my whole system is out of whack. I haven't been able to sleep until 3am, been getting up at 11-11:30am. Then I eat lunch instead of breakfast and take my meds then plus I've started myself on iron and protein tablets because I'm not eating well at the moment. I'm living in a student studio with one working stove and a little fridge and to top it all off I have been getting through each day with alot of coffee because unfortunately I found a 40cent coffee machine.

Anyway, gotta go. Ummm... this really meant nothing.

Bec.

Hi BecE, travelling halfway around the world can be a duanting and/or stressful thing to do if you have never done it before. You are leaving your comfort zone and support network behind.

I don't have epilepsy (my wife does), but I have travelled extensively as part of my consulting work. I am always a bit nervous travelling to new countries where I don't speak the local lingo.

The anxiety/stress of travelling to new places dissipates pretty quickly after you do it for a while. You get to a point where you realize that, even though cultures may be different, people are pretty much the same everywhere.

I hope you find a comfort zone over there and are able to relax and assimilate into your new environment. I'd highly recommend you lay off the caffeine. It isn't going to help you establish a new sleep cycle or calm your nerves.

BecE, 3:00 to 11:00 is 8 hrs. Set an alarm & start getting up earlier. First maybe at 10:30 then 10:00 then 9:30 or 9:00 a couple days later & so on. I used to sit up in bed in mid, of night & get up at 7:00 (before my DH left for work.)Then I started getting up earlier (5:30) cuz of his alarm and going to sleep at 10:30pm.

Hi BecE,
I'm just the opposite of you I fall asleep early before 9pm and I wake up between 3:30-4:00 a.m. and I can't get back to sleep. This causes me to have more sz. do to the lack of sleep.
You might want to cut back on the protein and caffeine it's been proven that too much protein, and caffeine can cause sz. my epi told me I couldn't have more than 4 cups of coffee or tea in a day.
You might want to try taking vitamin B12 once a day it works great reducing sz. or you might want to try the ketogenic diet to help stop your sz. Just like you I have generalized sz. and it has worked great for me and I take fewer AED's. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue