Unmedicated

After Kristine's episode two weeks ago Thursday her neurologist put her on an antiseizure medication. His concern is that having had one seizure Kristine is now at a higher risk of having another. Kristine took the medication as directed for a few days, but almost immediately she experienced some adverse effects. She was getting very dizzy, began to get depressed and started having increased problems with her muscle coordination -- a concern given her current physical state. Kristine, frustrated with the side effects, stopped taking the pill and experienced instant relief from the past days' symptoms. We have an appointment with Dr. Lee on Monday to discuss the medication and Kristine's next steps. The doctor will likely encourage Kristine to continue taking the medication for fear of reoccurance, however, it is unlikely that Kristine will take heed of his advise.

This past Wednesday we met with our cardialogist Dr. Miles to discuss Kristine's heart pauses and another of her medications. The doctor urged her to get a 24 hour halter monitor hooked up to measure her heart rate over and encouraged her to remain on the medication until we could review the results. As you may recall, the premise driving the medication began after Kristine's brain surgery when the doctors found that her heart experienced occational pauses. At the time they recommended installation of a pacemaker to prevent a more prolonged pause that could cause Kristine to faint or, in a more unlikely but serious scenario, for her heart to stop altogether. Kristine chose to go on the medication in lieu of the pacemaker. In our Wednesday meeting with the doctor Kristine insisted that she go off of the drug. Dr. Miles again reiterated the risks of doing so. Kristine responsed to the doctor's rebuttel explaining that she wanted to deal with it if and when more serious problems occur, the most likely of which (fainting) seemed managable. He had trouble disagreeing with her argument.

In both cases, discontinuing the medications did a great deal to make Kristine feel better emotionally and physically and she is feeling quite a bit better. From her standpoint she is fighting against the odds of an abbreviated life, so living miserably with the side effects of drugs that simly aim to prevent small incremental risk of death doesn't make a whole lot of sense. So for now she'll stay off as much medication as she can to feel as good as she can and focus on staying strong.