epilepsy meds post surgery

I am an epileptic having gastric bypass next Tues. I was wondering if there were any other epileptics who have gone through this surgery and how they handled their meds post surgery. The Dr.'s tell me not to worry...but of course I do. It just seems like a lot of pills for a little pouch!

Do you have questions about your meds still? What do you take? My husband is pharmacy doctor and is going to a seminar on gastric bypass surgery tomorrow through Wed. Hope your surgery went ok. take care, Linda

Hi Anne My husband, a pharmacy doctor, asked about epilepsy and surgery at the conference he was at this week. They told him what they do at their hospital is switch the patients from time release to immediate release medications and then use blood levels to adjust medications. Hope all is going well. Linda

Thanks, Linda, Yes, they were to do that, however there has been quite a bit of dosing confusion. I was so out of it and all the meds changed names when made to God awful tasting liquids! My poor husband was unaware that he was told to give me 3x my dose of one med and NONE of another. I thought the strange seizures I was having were due to the narcotic painkiller. Once removed from that and somewhat clearheaded I discovered the errors. In the meantime I became dehydrated and sleepdeprived because I could only sleep 45min.-1hour prior to a seizure. I am beginning to feel better though still a little groggy. :-lAnyone on special meds inform whoever is with you of your exact dosages!!! :-l It may save you from the horrible week I have just survived! Anne

Hi Anne You poor woman! I talked to Ted about your problem. He also suggests that they use immediate release medication. Pills can be crushed in a pill crusher and capsules can be pulled apart and put in apple sauce. With liquid you have to be careful of volume and sugar. I had some liquid medications in the beginning. Some hospitals send patients home with a pill crusher although mine did not. Are they monitoring your blood levels? Are you still in the hospital? I guess the drug companies sometimes don't know where some drugs are absorbed and so predicting is difficult. My surgeon said a RNY can have different lengths to the 2 legs of the "Y" depending on the surgeon. Maybe that makes a difference?? Hopefully they will get your seizures under control. Take care, Linda