Decisions

I met with our pediatrician today and went over the aspirin decision for Josephine and the seizure medication decision for Madalyn.

We gave Josephine the Chicken Pox vaccine and after getting a couple more answers from the hemotologist I plan to start aspirin in a few weeks.

I also updated him on Madalyn's issues since stopping Lamictal.  Although with the high dose of Keppra, she is much improved during the day, and her reading is back, there are still significant problems in the early morning and late afternoon.  Also, night-time wetting ceased on Lamictal, and has continued nightly with Keppra.  This is likely due to nighttime seizure activity that is not being controlled with Keppra.  Therefore, despite my worries from all the side effects of the next medicine to try, I called the nurse and told her I was ready to try it.

She made me feel better about my request to change when she said I had lasted a lot longer than most, and that I had definitely given Keppra a fair shot.  So, Madalyn will ween off of Keppra over the next 8 weeks, as we gradually increase Depakote.  If anyone is wondering why this decision was so hard for me, just google Depakote....and you'll see.  Actually, don't.  When you read the risks you might think I'm a bad parent!  However, our pediatrician and neurologist have seen plenty of kids do well on it.  We will do some blood work Monday to get a baseline, and then monitor her levels while she is on Depakote to be sure her liver is okay.

I'm very excited that we are on a new path, and hope this medicine is the one that works for Madalyn.