Update on Monday

Yesterday morning I ate a slice of chocolate chip bread, and the theobromine (a chemical very similar to caffeine, but not identical) got to my head within an hour and I had a seizure after about three months of peace. (For more about chocolate and caffeine, read http://www.xocoatl.org/caffeine.htm)

I had a total of four seizures yesterday, and I took some extra medicine.

According to earlier plans, Saturday evening's medicine contained the last half-pill of Trileptal for me. Getting off of that medicine without having any seizures in the process had some part in tempting me to overestimate my stability. After having seizures, I took a half-pill, some extra of the new medicine that is replacing it - Vimpat - and some Ativan, which is most usually used in a pragmatic manner.

The four seizures were separated by intervals of about 2 or 3 hours. After dinner I had the fourth and last, and my mind slowed noticeably after it.

Today I have felt much better. My mind is clear, and though I have had some feelings similar to auras (an experience that always precedes a seizure, for me, lasting about 30 seconds before I either it ends and I'm fine or I lose muscle control and consciousness), I don't think any real auras have started.

It is very nice that I have my brothers with me. This summer, I figured out that hearing humor could help stop seizures when I feel an aura. I told Johnny and Mikey about it, and several times, I went to them and said "I'm having an aura," and they immediately did and said funny things. My guess is that the humor distracts me from the stress of soon having a seizure, and stress increases the probability of a seizure coming on.

My last aura this summer was chased away when I told Johnny, "I'm having an aura," and he responded in an artificial irate voice, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (See Genesis 4:9). He followed that up with, "Don't answer that." It set me off laughing then, and every time I remember it.

Up and Down

According to the plan, Saturday evening was my last dose of Trileptal. Everything was going well, with no seizures since about three months ago.

Then, this morning, I got too adventurous. My sister Rachel had made some chocolate chip bread, and I decided to have a full slice. An hour of so later, I had my first seizure in a quarter of a year.

Mom pointed out to me that it is easier to keep having no seizures than to stop having seizures, so I took some extra medicine, including a half pill of Trileptal.

Please pray that I will not have any more seizures, whether because of natural causes or because of foolish decisions. (Like eating chocolate.)