HI guys! My name is Brenda.. small town girl from Iowa. BRR cold here! Married with 2 boys, 3 if you count my hubby. I have partials and complex partials. I have the VNS and take Zonegran and just started Lyrica, but i still have seizures. December 13th i go in for surgery, doc is doing a hysterectomy to see if that helps. I only have seizures when I am about to start my monthly cycle, and about a week later. Doc says he has never done this before.. BUT if I am willing to try, HE is willing to try. I am willing to try anything to make these seizures go away.

Hi, Brenda! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Forgive me, I don't know what VNS is, but I know a positive attitude when I see one and yours is great!

Why thank you! Make me blush! lol The VNS is the Vagus nerve stimulator. It is like a pacemaker, It is implanted in the chest, and wires go up to the vagus nerve in the neck, and the doc programs it for different amounts of amps to go off and different intervals.. AND it goes up to the brain. Hopefully keeping the brain from misfiring. Mine goes off at 2.0 amps every 30 seconds for 30 seconds.
Hope this helps ya!

Hi Brenda...I wanted to join Cindy in welcoming you to NeuroTalk.

The VGN is also used to help with depression.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=9959

I'm glad you have joined us!

Oh My!!! b, you sure have a lot going on!!

I am probably the Odd Ball in here since I hate doctors and Try to rely on prevention and common sense when I have problems with me body. I am probably from the old school of Walk it off or rub dirt on it. I am just into Nature and it's miraculous healing powers if you let it work. But I listen. Yea, I'm a good listener. Oh, by the way...Hi neighbor. I am in Wisconsin. I am not here very often. I have tons of other people on other sites to torment and torture. Just kidding with ya b. Hello and Welcome.

Hello Brenda and Welcome!

Keep us posted on the surgery issue and glad you found us.

take care...

Hi Brenda,

Welcome and I am happy that your found us.

I am sorry that you are suffering but hope your surgery goes well.

Its interesting that its connected to your monthly cycles.

Just a thought because I have been reading about this topic lately for myself and recently ran across some information that may or may not be applicable.

Has your doc connected this in anyway to Endometriosis? I just wondered because of the hysterectomy. If bad enough it can travel throughout the body and I recently read about a woman that had it and seizures as well.

Thank you all for the warm welcome! And making a girl feel at home!
As for your question Shelly, I have no symptoms for endometriosis... Or however you spell that, My seizures just come with my cycle, and have for years. I think the doc thinks I am old enough to try something else. I have tried all meds on the market, and none work. the VNS helps more than anything. BUT my seizures are even now getting bad again. Thanks again guys!

Brenda,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. You will find a great number of caring, supporting members here willing to help each other as they can.

I too have the VNS, it has help a lot. Curently I am also one Keppra and Lamital. On your VNS what are your setting, if I may ask.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Thanks Darlene, I have the VNS for over 7 years now. Right now I am set at 2.0 amps my magnet is set at 2.25, every 30 seconds for 30 seconds. I believe what they call rapid cycling. I have had it set as high 2.75, but could barley breath when I got active. I would vomit from folding clothes, it was like running at full speed. I would pant like a puppy. And before you know I would be throwing up. I had to have the doc turn it down.... One thing though I was smoking back then too... I quit 9 months ago! Thinking about maybe trying a little higher???