u/ava_noor

Terrified about pregnancy and epilepsy (on Aptiom), could use some real experiences
I have focal epilepsy (complex partial seizures), diagnosed formally a few years ago after years of it going unrecognized. I’m currently on Aptiom (eslicarbazepine), 1000mg daily, and it’s the first medication that’s actually kept me stable , I went through Keppra, Zonegran, and Spritam first, and none of those worked for me. My last seizure was nocturnal, several months ago. I’m not planning a pregnancy imminently, but it’s something I think about constantly, and honestly it scares me more than almost anything else about my future.
A few specific fears I’m sitting with, and I don’t even know which one to prioritize:
Seizure control during pregnancy — Does pregnancy commonly destabilize seizure control even in people who’ve been doing well? I finally found a medication that works after failing three others, and the idea of losing that stability terrifies me.
Medication safety — Is Aptiom/eslicarbazepine considered safer or riskier than other options during pregnancy? Would I likely need to switch meds before or during pregnancy, and if so, how do you even manage the risk of switching away from something that’s finally working?
Risk to the baby — Beyond birth defect risk from the medication itself, how much does seizure activity during pregnancy actually endanger the baby directly?
Genetic risk — Is there a meaningful chance I’d pass epilepsy on, or is that more dependent on the specific cause/type?
I know a lot of this will eventually be a conversation with my neurologist, but right now I mostly want to hear from people who’ve actually been through it ,on Aptiom specifically if that’s you, but really anyone with epilepsy who’s navigated pregnancy or is thinking about it like I am. Did the reality end up better or worse than what you built up in your head beforehand?

I wear niqab (full face veil, eyes only) and I’m starting a health-related degree this fall, medicine is something I’m seriously considering. Looking for honest input from people in healthcare.

Specific questions: How much does niqab actually affect patient care in practice (bedside manner, reading expressions, hearing-impaired/elderly patients)? Do hospitals/clinical rotations accommodate religious dress, or does “professionalism”/infection control policy shut it down fast? Has anyone seen applicants or residents wearing niqab actually get through med school/matching, or is it a quiet dealbreaker? Are some specialties basically fine (radiology, pathology, psych) while others are a hard no (surgery, ER, OB)? Is there any actual licensing policy barring face coverings, or is it purely informal/cultural?

Not asking for opinions on niqab itself, just trying to get a realistic picture before I commit to a path, whether that’s medicine, another clinical role, or public health. Appreciate any honest experiences.

Muslim women in medicine how do you stay within shariah (niqab, lowering the gaze) while becoming a doctor in the US?

I’m starting a health-related degree this fall and thinking seriously about becoming a doctor. I wear niqab and try to lower my gaze, and I’m trying to understand how that actually holds up once you’re in the thick of medical training — before I commit to this path.

Things I’d love to hear from sisters (or anyone who knows) about:

\*\*•\*\*	Has anyone kept niqab through labs, rotations, or patient care? What actually happens when you try- do people push back, or is it more manageable than expected?    
\*\*•\*\*	When you’re required to examine or interact closely with male patients or colleagues, how do sisters handle that boundary in real clinical settings?    
\*\*•\*\*	Are there tracks or specialties where a woman can practice medicine mostly around other women, or is that mostly a myth?    
\*\*•\*\*	For sisters who made it through, was there a point where something had to give , covering, gaze, gender boundaries , or is it fully possible to hold the line?    
\*\*•\*\*	Any advice specifically for someone just starting premed, on how to set myself up early for this instead of running into walls later?

I just want real accounts from people who’ve lived this, not theory.

I’m starting a health-related degree this fall and thinking seriously about becoming a doctor. I wear niqab and try to lower my gaze, and I’m trying to understand how that actually holds up once you’re in the thick of medical training — before I commit to this path.

Things I’d love to hear from sisters (or anyone who knows) about:

\*\*•\*\*	Has anyone kept niqab through labs, rotations, or patient care? What actually happens when you try- do people push back, or is it more manageable than expected?    
\*\*•\*\*	When you’re required to examine or interact closely with male patients or colleagues, how do sisters handle that boundary in real clinical settings?    
\*\*•\*\*	Are there tracks or specialties where a woman can practice medicine mostly around other women, or is that mostly a myth?    
\*\*•\*\*	For sisters who made it through, was there a point where something had to give , covering, gaze, gender boundaries , or is it fully possible to hold the line?    
\*\*•\*\*	Any advice specifically for someone just starting premed, on how to set myself up early for this instead of running into walls later?

I just want real accounts from people who’ve lived this, not theory.

Muslim women in medicine how do you stay within shariah (niqab, lowering the gaze) while becoming a doctor in the US?

I’m starting a health-related degree this fall and thinking seriously about becoming a doctor. I wear niqab and try to lower my gaze, and I’m trying to understand how that actually holds up once you’re in the thick of medical training — before I commit to this path.

Things I’d love to hear from sisters (or anyone who knows) about:

\*\*•\*\*	Has anyone kept niqab through labs, rotations, or patient care? What actually happens when you try- do people push back, or is it more manageable than expected?    
\*\*•\*\*	When you’re required to examine or interact closely with male patients or colleagues, how do sisters handle that boundary in real clinical settings?    
\*\*•\*\*	Are there tracks or specialties where a woman can practice medicine mostly around other women, or is that mostly a myth?    
\*\*•\*\*	For sisters who made it through, was there a point where something had to give , covering, gaze, gender boundaries , or is it fully possible to hold the line?    
\*\*•\*\*	Any advice specifically for someone just starting premed, on how to set myself up early for this instead of running into walls later?

I just want real accounts from people who’ve lived this, not theory.

I wear niqab (full face veil, eyes only) and I’m starting a health-related degree this fall, medicine is something I’m seriously considering. Looking for honest input from people in healthcare.

Specific questions: How much does niqab actually affect patient care in practice (bedside manner, reading expressions, hearing-impaired/elderly patients)? Do hospitals/clinical rotations accommodate religious dress, or does “professionalism”/infection control policy shut it down fast? Has anyone seen applicants or residents wearing niqab actually get through med school/matching, or is it a quiet dealbreaker? Are some specialties basically fine (radiology, pathology, psych) while others are a hard no (surgery, ER, OB)? Is there any actual licensing policy barring face coverings, or is it purely informal/cultural?

Not asking for opinions on niqab itself, just trying to get a realistic picture before I commit to a path, whether that’s medicine, another clinical role, or public health. Appreciate any honest experiences.

Edit: im raised in the US, based in San Francisco