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the after life of temporal lobe sururgery

Sun, 01/08/2006 - 15:31
I had my right temporal removed in Sept of 1994 I actually was aginniy pig for ateaching hospital in Gainesville,fl.I dont know about the rest of you, but my first two years after surgery where HELL! I was amentel case,I had to betaught how to be social around people again and how not to let people make me like something that Im not.A friend taught me to drive again,I was like achlid learnig how to take steps all over again.Its been 11 years and I stll take more medicanes now than I did when I had surgery. I take Topamax,Lexapro,and Ativn.I have both short and long term memory loss,alearning dis.,simple-partial seizures,anxiety dis./ mood-swings.But as time as gone by,my learning has improved alot.Can anyone relate?terrij

Comments

Re: the after life of temporal lobe sururgery

Submitted by edy_telephone on Sun, 2006-01-08 - 22:03
Hi Terry, (I guess your first name is Terry, isn't it?) I'm Edy from Australia, and I overwent the operation on May 2000. It didn't work and I had big memory problems as you did. I started to have memory problems after the operation but specialists had told me that the problem was going to disappear soon. Usually, most of the patients who overgo such an operation may have memory problems for some time but then everything would go back to normal. Unfortunately, I had constant memory problems for two years. But I have struggled with all my strength and perseverance and I have improved some of my physical and memory force which I had lost. I am taking Keppra, Rivotril and Lamictal. I still have some absences from time to time and there are times when I feel frustrated, exasperated and angry because I lost some of my ability and knowledge (which I have gained when I came to America and went to the university of California for 6 years). Don't give up, struggle and try to gain your goal with more faith and help. After the operation, I thought that my neurologist would send me to the rehabitation center but there were no one who could help me. I had to face memory problems (beside others) by myself and I still do, but I always try to reach my goal . . . with time and patience and hope to gain more control, scan the alternatives and continue my everyday life. I am lonely, I don't have many friends, and no relatives (relatives are in America and Italy). Effects of anxiety and emotion and stress are the cause of my absences and probably yours too. Don't give up, fight against the odds and continue to regain more strenght and continue your life. If you are not satisfied of you neurologist, look for another opinion. Good-luck . . . and remember you are not the only one with these problems. Do you drive? Well, I can't. Edy edy_buzz@hotmal.com

Re: the after life of temporal lobe sururgery

Submitted by edy_telephone on Sun, 2006-01-08 - 22:05
Hi Terry, (I guess your first name is Terry, isn't it?) I'm Edy from Australia, and I overwent the operation on May 2000. It didn't work and I had big memory problems as you did. I started to have memory problems after the operation but specialists had told me that the problem was going to disappear soon. Usually, most of the patients who overgo such an operation may have memory problems for some time but then everything would go back to normal. Unfortunately, I had constant memory problems for two years. But I have struggled with all my strength and perseverance and I have improved some of my physical and memory force which I had lost. I am taking Keppra, Rivotril and Lamictal. I still have some absences from time to time and there are times when I feel frustrated, exasperated and angry because I lost some of my ability and knowledge (which I have gained when I came to America and went to the university of California for 6 years). Don't give up, struggle and try to gain your goal with more faith and help. After the operation, I thought that my neurologist would send me to the rehabitation center but there were no one who could help me. I had to face memory problems (beside others) by myself and I still do, but I always try to reach my goal . . . with time and patience and hope to gain more control, scan the alternatives and continue my everyday life. I am lonely, I don't have many friends, and no relatives (relatives are in America and Italy). Effects of anxiety and emotion and stress are the cause of my absences and probably yours too. Don't give up, fight against the odds and try to regain more strenght to continue your life. If you are not satisfied of you neurologist, look for another opinion. Good-luck . . . and remember you are not the only one with these problems. Do you drive? Well, I don't and cannot drive. Edy edy_buzz@hotmal.com

Re: Re: the after life of temporal lobe sururgery

Submitted by pinkangel_82 on Fri, 2006-01-13 - 07:53
Hello there I am so sorry to hear off the difficulties you have both been going through after the surgery. I am on the waiting list to have surgery done to my left temporal lobe, but I am just not sure of the outcome it may bring me. Up until now all I have read on here are positive stories of peoples lives after surgery. So it was nice to hear the other side from you. At present, I am only at having the wada test stage where they want to find out which side of my temporal lobes my memory is at because if it is on the same side of where they wish to operate then I am not a good candidate for surgery. I received the date through the post this morning for my wada test to be done which will be in the March. I have waited six months for this appointment to arrive and it had to be on FRIDAY 13TH!!! Would you please let me know how your wada test turned out? I would really appreciate it!! I hope you both improve with your health in the near future. Teri

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