Hi - My Atkins and Epilepsy experience

[gr8landing]

Hi fellow members,

I just wanted to say that this place is awesome and I look forward to participating in the discussions here.

I am one week into induction and I am loving it.

After being diagnosed with Epilepsy one month ago, I was faced with a lifetime of medication with a tonne of side effects. The worst being substantial weight gain. This was devastating as I am a bit of a gym junkie, so the future looked bleak. I never started the drugs. Instead, I started looking for alternatives.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and my doctor recommended a modified version of the Atkins plan as it has had amazing results for Epilepsy sufferers negating the need for drugs.

My options were drugs with weight gain or Atkins and the possibility of actually losing the last few kilos that seemed to just hang around. It was a no brainer!

I am happy to report that after just one week, I have lost close to 4 kilograms and I haven't had a single seizure. This is amazing considering I was having 3-4 seizures a week before starting this.

I am not a medical professional. This approach is working for me so far, but everyone should consult a medical professional because we're all completely different.

I just wanted to share my experience with everyone here, because my life has literally turned around and I am the happiest I have felt in a very long time.

Gr8Landing

[liv]

Re: Hi - My Atkins and Epilepsy experience

Yes I have heard about this. The diet was developed by the John Hopkins University. It is fabulous that it is working out so well for you. And as you say so much better than the alternative. Good for you.

[JulieB]

Re: Hi - My Atkins and Epilepsy experience

Hi & welcome! Glad to hear that this WOE is working well for you

[imagood1]

Re: Hi - My Atkins and Epilepsy experience

Congratulations on your success this far. It's wonderful that you haven't had a seizure since starting eating this way!

To help keep your meals interesting try some of the recipes on these sites.

The recipe sites are helpful for meal planning – just make sure you use Induction Recipes to begin with.
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html (Linda’s)
(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html (Induction recipes)
(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html (Induction Recipe Basics)

If you need anything we’re here to help you!! Good luck to you!

Continued good luck to you!

[ChantillyLace88]

Re: Hi - My Atkins and Epilepsy experience

That's awesome! This really hits home because last August, my boyfriend was diagnosed with epilepsy out of nowhere. I found it odd that he was 27 and had no family history of seizure disorders. I can honestly say that seeing him seize for the first time was the worst thing I've ever experienced (up until he went into SE).
To make matters worse, he decided to try the Atkins diet in May, and he went into status epilepticus 2 days later, which resulted in the doctors putting him into a coma for 3 days.
Unfortunately, he is petrified to try a low-carb WOE ever again, even though it may result in him getting off of his Keppra, which makes him irritable and hostile at times. I am glad that the ketogenic diet works for you. After seeing the side effects, first hand, of AE drugs anything is a better alternative. I am majoring in neuroscience and hope to one day find better alternatives to understand and treat epilepsy for those like my boyfriend and yourself.