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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2012, at 11:23:57
My husband's younger Brother now age 45 had at age 18 brain cancer, had surgery, chemo, radiation, big dent in head, bald as hair never grew back. Since was so long ago history is sketchy as didn't know him then. But evidently as a child he had some seizures no one looked into them. Then as a healthy teen got severe headaches. Found the cancer. When I met him he was doing pretty well driving, talked well, was very isolated as live in small town in NC. He's evidently been on tegretol for seizures since the cancer and his meds have always been his responsibility. In the last few years he's deteriorated a long conitively and walks with head bend down. Now last year has been having strokes. Falls and is taken to hospital and same tegretol. Two days ago he had what was relayed as a "bad" stroke "deep in the brain". He fell and had left sided weakness leg and arm. From what told had some ability to move legs and arms. Now they are saying (again getting mixed messages) one says rehab for him and one says assisted living. I personally feel he's quite lucky to have had a cancer that could not be all removed and still be alive. What type of cancer could he have had husband says it wrapped around so couldn't get all but main question is does tegretol after over 27 years still work to prevent seizures he is told he still gets. And how do you get a stubborn Father to suggest different testing or meds to the doc. I'm clueless as don't know what one does for seizures, strokes, and brain cancer in a 45 year old. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2012, at 20:27:01
In reply to Family Member Of Husband Please Help!!!, posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2012, at 11:23:57
Guess no one else does either. So let the docs have their way and continue tegretol as it's cheap. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 7, 2012, at 21:39:34
In reply to Family Member Of Husband Please Help!!!, posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2012, at 11:23:57
Tegretol would still work as well as it did on day 1 even after all these years, but, if he isnt getting good seizure control, then there are heaps of options that could be added that have been developed over the past 25 years or so.
As for strokes, i presume he's on appropriate medication to try and prevent them (aspirin, warfarin or whatever?)
Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2012, at 23:35:04
In reply to Re: Family Member Of Husband Please Help!!!, posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 7, 2012, at 21:39:34
Thanks Jono yes the seizures are controlled but he feels like a zombie is that normal. I'm not sure what he's on for the stroke other than husband talked to his Father today who said that the stroke was a clot and didn't make the window for streptokinese. So per Father's words dissolving slowing with coumadin which I've not heard of. Just have heard of inserting a basket to catch future clots before reach heart or brain. More activity would prevent the clots as usually form in legs first. My mother died of a pulmonary embolism after being on bedrest in the hospital. I said aspirin to husband also. But dissolve slowly have you heard of this? Phillipa
Posted by neuroscience on December 9, 2012, at 10:29:31
In reply to Re: Family Member Of Husband Please Help!!!, posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 7, 2012, at 21:39:34
Maybe he shouldn't be on Tegretol if he's had strokes. It can cause cardiac arrhythmias. You said he has deteriorated cognitively. Tegretol has been linked to some serious cognitive anomalies.
Posted by Phillipa on December 9, 2012, at 20:28:14
In reply to Re: Family Member Of Husband Please Help!!!, posted by neuroscience on December 9, 2012, at 10:29:31
Been suggesting med change for a long time what's your suggestion. Also found out today from Older Brother that it wasn't a cancerous brain tumor. Aggressive is the word that was used. Why do surgery, chemo & radiation if not cancer? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by neuroscience on December 10, 2012, at 0:32:09
In reply to Re: Family Member Of Husband Please Help!!! » neuroscience, posted by Phillipa on December 9, 2012, at 20:28:14
I wish I knew more. All I can say at the moment is that benzos can be used for seizures instead of Tegretol. But you probably thought of that already.
Posted by Phillipa on December 10, 2012, at 18:36:21
In reply to Re: Family Member Of Husband Please Help!!!, posted by neuroscience on December 10, 2012, at 0:32:09
Thanks sure would cause less cognitive problems i think. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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