Interview EP02

Age at interview: 20

Age at diagnosis: 14

Brief Outline:

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1996. Seizures have been controlled since 2000. Current medication' Epilim ( sodium valproate), and Lamictal (lamotrigine).

Background:

Student; single and no children.

Explains that gaining weight was preferable to having seizures.

But then I got a new doctor and she said oh why don't we try Epilim and I said 'Ah, but I've heard that Epilim makes you put on weight.'  And she goes its not that it makes you put on weight, its that it makes you feel more hungry, which is true. I could lie and say 'Oh yes I tried Epilim and no I didn't put any weight on,' but I did, I put on about two stone I think, which I am still trying to lose. But then again that could have something to do with the fact that my brother died because that made me put on weight too. 

So I put on weight but I think it was better that I went on the Epilim because I haven't had a fit since. They slowly lowered the topiramate until I was no longer on it and also cut down the lamotrigine so that I could take the Epilim. So I think that if I had the choice again, if they were saying 'What would you prefer to stay on, the topiramate and to not have taken Epilim and to have stayed at your you know ideal weight; or would you prefer to take the Epilim and go up two stone?' I would still go with the Epilim because I would rather not have any fits than be like a skinny little insect. So, that's my choice.