Our Ketogenic Diet Journey: Why We Chose to Stop After 8 Weeks

In today’s episode, I’m sharing an honest update on our family’s experience with the ketogenic diet for epilepsy—what went well, what was harder than we expected, and why we ultimately chose to transition back to a regular diet.If you’re a parent considering the ketogenic diet for your child with epilepsy, I hope this episode gives you a realistic look at what the journey can involve. Every child responds differently, and while the ketogenic diet can be life-changing for some children, it wasn’t the right long-term solution for our daughter.In this episode, I discuss:What it’s like starting the ketogenic diet during a hospital admissionThe positive changes we noticed, including increased energyWhy we made the difficult decision to stop the diet after eight weeksWhy we’ll continue searching for the right seizure treatment with hopeOver the years, our daughter has undergone numerous epilepsy treatments, including multiple medications, brain surgery, Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), and now the ketogenic diet. While this chapter didn’t end the way we hoped, it reminded us that managing drug-resistant epilepsy often requires perseverance, flexibility, and the willingness to keep trying.If you’re walking a similar path, I hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone. Sometimes treatments work for years, sometimes they don’t work at all—but every step brings us closer to understanding what our child needs.If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another parent navigating epilepsy or special needs parenting. Your ratings, reviews, and shares help this podcast reach more families who need support and hope.Connect with Erica: Instagram: @parentingepilepsy_specialneeds #specialneedsparenting #epilepsy #parentingepilepsychildren #hemispherectomy #hemiparesis