I've been taking my anti-seizure meds for one week now, and here is what I have to report.
-It is more painful. Every day seems to be getting worse. Tuesday and Wednesday, it felt more prickly on my right side. Thursday, the prickles had escalated into a slight jabbing sensation. Friday and today, it feels like my side is on fire from the inside out.
-It seems to have a more pronounced arc of pain. Previously, it felt like the road I was on kept going straight and level, I just went through a tunnel. Now it feels like I'm topping a mile-high mountain and shooting back down.
-My throat gets tight (like when you're about to cry), and my head flashes with quick heat. This lasts about 10 seconds toward the end of the arc.
-The number of times per day is still sitting right at 4 (same as before), but it has only happened between 3 pm and 10 pm (ish).
-The length of time each episode lasts is still about the same, 30 seconds to 2 minutes long.
-I haven't felt the weird "all the world's terrible fake problems are mine to fix" feeling!
Two side effects are headaches and sleepiness.
-One of the maladies for which this medicine is prescribed is migraines, so I find it odd that I'm getting headaches from it. The headaches come after I wake up and go away once I've eaten or drunk something or done something to get my heart rate up (take a shower, do a load of laundry, check the mail, etc).
-I get hit about 3-5 hours after taking the medicine with a sudden and intense need to sleep. It's like someone hit me over the head. I don't lose consciousness or pass out, but I *have* to sleep! This nap lasts between 45 minutes to 2 hours.
A third potential side effect needs more time for me to decide if the medicine is the cause. I know sometimes our bodies just do weird things, so the jury is still out on this one. Ever since William was born/I had my stroke/I had my tubes tied, every month my cycle pain is off the charts. I feel like I'm in labor all over again every single month. This time...not so much. Not sure why the pain never got bad. I'll be interested to see what happens next month. (Sorry if that was tmi for anyone, but that's just life.)
I plan on continuing the medicine for now. I am keenly aware that when you introduce something new into your body, it can take it a minute to adjust. I'm hoping these (negative) side effects are just that, and I will even out once I get used to this. I sure hope so, otherwise I'm gonna have a serious dilemma because my days can't be over at 4 pm, and I feel like right now, they are. (Over as in I need to be home in my pjs by then.)
Praises:
-No terrible adverse effects yet
-No weird thoughts anymore
-Possibly unrelated lessened cycle pain
Prayer requests:
-Terrible adverse effects to stay away
-Numbness episodes to stop completely
-Sleepiness/headache to go away