I’m pleased to announce that my mother, at eighty-three, is back to her feisty, charming self again. She has increased her exercising—walking four times a day, using weights, walking on the step-up platform, and utilizing a stationary bicycle. She is witty, entertaining, and we all rely upon her for her sage advice. Nevertheless, we went through a rather “bad patch” at the end of last year.

At the end of last November she contracted strep throat and her internist, after medicating her with more Dilantin because her “levels” were low, prescribed an antibiotic, Levaquin, to treat her throat.

Immediately my mother became lethargic and, after two seizure-free years, began to have petit-mal (or absent-mal) seizures. My family and I were in a quandary as to why this was happening. Upon researching Levaquin online, I found that one of the side effects is seizures! I stopped the medication, contacted the doctor (why he didn’t notice the drug’s literature is beyond me), and found a great neurologist.

He very slowly weaned my mother off the Dilantin.  She is now on Kepra and is tolerating it beautifully. She has not fallen and her energy level is normal for her age. She also has a new day-time assistant who is positive, enthusiastic, and encouraging. Of course, as one knows after reading the index of my site, that makes a huge difference in my mother’s attitude. We are grateful for this alteration of her health and care and look forward to the times we spend with her.

Eleven Years Post Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)