Kim,
I'm sorry it took me so long to get back with you.  Been very busy around
here with lots of personal issues.  Also had a few more siezures and been
dealing with those.

>First, the VNS you spoke about I found out that out of
440 study objects who used VNS, 316 had the device removed mostly because
they felt it was ineffective.  So, to be honest I don't know if that really
is a good treatment, especially when the majority of a group does not feel
that it is effective.

When I went to the doctor this past week he agreed with what you say.  He
claims that he has referred a lot of people for this and that many have been
unsatisfied with the results.  The scarey part is he says I am "a definite
candidate for surgery".  Yikes!

>I also looked up some information about the medications you are on now and
found some interesting information that opened my eyes real wide.

I have looked up a lot of the same information.  Personally it almost made
me angry because I have had some of these side effects(dizziness, etc.) and
the doctor not only kept me on both Tegretol and Lamictal(2 you listed) but
raised my dose.

The doctor has now made the decision to put me on a new medication.  When I
use the word "new" that is exactly it.  It has not been released to the
general public as of yet, but as soon as it is he wants me on it.  According
to him none of the other meds, including the new ones, will help because
they all metabolize the same way and through the liver.

If this new medicine doesn't work he has already said he will refer to an
epilepsy clinic in Seattle at the U. of Washington.  It was after he
mentioned that when he made the comment of being a "candidate for surgery."
I've been down that road before, but never had seizures when hooked up to
EEG.  He said that they might be able to sense seizure source without
actually seizure activity now.

Will keep you all posted.
Thanks again,
Dave