Zizzie Happenings

I know many of you pray for me regarding my seizures and I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for lifting me up in prayer.  I have many things to be thankful for and this health journey has taught me many things. I went to my neurologist this week and I was able to report to him that I went almost 2 months without a seizure.  Right before the 2 month mark I ended up having 2 seizures.  I am thankful that they were mini seizures and that I haven't experienced any grand mal seizures since the very first seizure I had which will be 2 years ago come March. The last 2 seizures I had I believe were brought on because of my body fighting a cold/flu type sickness.  I was out sick for a week trying to fight this strange cold/flu but praise the Lord I am feeling great now and have not had any seizures since. I am staying on the same medication and dosage I've been on and will see if I have any seizures between now and the next time I ...

4/28 update - The stress test came back clear.  The doctor said Mom will have to have an EKG every year from now on just to monitor her heart. She is being released today.  Thank you all for your prayers! ---------------------------------------------------------- The good news is Mom's incision from her surgery is healing nicely.  She doesn't seem to have any pain from that at all. The bad news is Mom is back in the hospital. After two visits to the ER because of Mom vomiting so much and 2 nausea medications later, she was admitted back in the hospital on Saturday.   We still don't have many answers, but as of right now her EKG came back abnormal.  They did an echo-cardiogram yesterday morning but we haven't seen the cardiologist to find out anything regarding her heart.   After blood tests done at the ER we found out her troponin levels were high which they said she may be have had a small heart attack.  Several blood tests la...

I went to my neurologist this morning he changed the dosage to my medications again as our goal has been to get me off Keppra.  For the next 7 days I will be on half a pill of Keppra and then I get to completely stop taking it.  I am so excited, although I am not sure how long it will actually take for it to get completely out of my system but atleast the process can start. He has changed my Lamotrigine to 200 ML twice a day and that is the level he is hoping to keep me at for the rest of my life, as long as my seizures go away completely. This past month I had around 5 to 7 seizures.  I've had some in the middle of the night so it's really hard for me to tell if I dreamed them or if they really were seizures. I know many of you have been lifting me up in prayer and I greatly appreciate that.

Recently I was convicted about saying the phrase "God is Good!"  I found myself saying that common, well used phrase when: someone got a promotion at work  a positive answer to prayer the timing in something worked out perfectly (according to my thinking) but God is Good through trials too.  This is what I have personally been learning.  Since my seizures started I have been on some strong medicine and some of the medicine had really bad side effects for me.  I wasn't able to really concentrate or understand or remember things, so reading my Bible became really hard for me and I have to admit that I didn't really spend time in the word because it was so hard.  Now that I am on a different medicine that allows me to think clearly, I have really been trying to dig into the word of God.  I still struggle, at times, with feeling like I am walking around aimlessly in life with no direction.  I will think, "If I only had a ...

Since my last health post on my blog I have had 3 doctor visits.  My EEG results were all good, my doctor adjusted my seizure medication because I am still having seizures.  I am completely off of Depakote and am now taking 1500 mg of Keppra a day. My blood results showed my liver numbers are good again.  However my thyroid numbers are double what they should be (which is probably why I am losing my hair like crazy) so now I am on Synthroid to resolve that problem. I had some more blood drawn to have my hormone levels checked to see if that is what is causing my seizures.  I will get those results next month when I go see the doctor again. Thanks again to all for your prayers and may God be glorified through my life. James 1:2-4 ~ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, la...

I know many of you have been praying for me and my health since I had  my grand mal seizure back in March .  Yesterday I went to the neurologist for my follow up appointment, to see my blood work results and talk to him about the fact that I am still having mini seizures (on average I'm having 2 to 3 a week)  The doctor reviewed the blood results and determined that my liver is being badly affected by the Depakote medicine I am taking so he is  slowly taking me off that medicine, however since I am still experiencing seizures he is going to increase Keppra which is the other medicine I am currently taking for seizures. He is giving me a month to let my body readjust to the new medication dosage and then he wants more blood work and another follow up appointment.  I also have an EEG scheduled August 26th but I am praising the Lord that He is in charge and I am here to be used by Him. Thanks again for all your prayers and to G...

I know many of you have been wondering what's been going on with me.  After my first post in April   I didn't really share much more because I wanted more of a firm answer.  I was also experiencing side effects from the medication and I couldn't think clearly and so I basically stopped reading my Bible.  Yes, I know, that was not the wisest of choices. Many have been praying for me regarding a new neurologist, if for no other reason than to get a second opinion.  God answered that prayer by blessing me with a neurologist literally across the street from my work so I can walk to him and Kathy doesn't always have to take time off work and drive me (my previous neurologist was 45 minutes away). The new neurologist did confirm: the arachnoid cyst in my brain does not need to be removed we will never know why I have lived 35 years of my life without a seizure and then all of a sudden I have a gran mal seizure the m...

Update - My first appointment with the surgeon is April 23. Kathy and I walked out of the neurologist office this morning totally relieved.  You see, we prayed that we would have answers to why I was experiencing seizures and this morning we got an answer.  I have a 4 centimeter (about 1 1/2 inches) arachnoid cyst in my brain. The next step will be to get a referral to see a brain surgeon.  I'm not at all worried or stressed out about this.  I'm not full of fear.  I have complete peace in the Lord.  I am so thankful God answered our prayer by revealing the cyst to the doctors because I didn't want to go month after month, test after test trying to figure out what was going on with me.  Praise the Lord! To God Be The Glory as I go through this season in my life!

A month ago I had totally different plans for today.  My plans were to be leaving on a cruise for a week with Mike's family but God had other plans for me when I had that gran mal seizure. This was my first full week on medication and wow what an adventure it was.  The side effects were interesting.  At first it really messed with my head.  Made my head feel cloudy, hard to process clearly.  Then I got super powers.  My smell and hearing were extra super duper sensitive.  I didn't know how I was going to survive taking this medication the rest of my life with these super powers especially since I was only taking half the dosage right now as I was getting started.  Well, I am happy to report that my body must be getting use to the medication because I don't have those crazy side effects any more.  I am now taking the full dosage of medication and all seems to be going well. Monday I have an MRI appointment and Thursday I have an EEG appointm...