Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Considering Surgery
Mon, 01/17/2005 - 11:30Topic: Surgery and Devices
My 15 year old son's neurologists want to send him to an epilepsy clinic (UCLA) to evaluate him as a candidate for surgery. Right now I am very against him having any surgery and so I am not in favor of this evaluation. Is there any benefit for having the evaluation for surgery even if you have no intention of ever having the operation. Here's some background. My son has been diagnosed with left temporal lobe, partial complex seizures. He's currently on Trilepal and Keppra. He's only tried two other meds. Right now he's developed a pattern to where he will go seizure free for 2 to 3 weeks. Then in about 3 days, he'll have several seizures. The worst has been 4 in one day. Then will go seizure free for a couple more weeks. He started this pattern since he's been on the Keppra last May.
Comments
RE: Considering Surgery
Submitted by WendyS on Sun, 2005-01-16 - 15:06
Hi, I know how you feel as a parent, your scared of the outcome and don't want the responsibilty on your shoulders and if there is another way to obtain a better result you'd rather try that but why not try to understand from his point of view as well. Your son has to go through this, shouldn't it be at least his choice to try and find out if it's an option? At least give the doctors a chance to give you the probablities I now how I felt at that age having seizures and only having medicines that didn't work. At that time I didn't even think that surgery was even an option and I was fustrated feeling like I was against a brick wall I went through a lot of emotions in my teenage years. It's hard enough to deal with regular circumstance of high school let alone being epileptic. If there would have been the option at that time I would have at leaast checked it out to see if I had a chance to lower or get rid of my seizures anything would have been better that what I had to deal with at that time. I've learned so much from my surgeon and like he said it's my decision in the end, let it be both yours and your sons. I have to go through testing to see what the outlook will be after that if the doctor says he is willing to operate that I'm a good candidate then if I feel the outcome is better than what I'm dealing with now I will do it if it isn't then I won't I will ask them what are other options. Give your son that chance to know and then if you won't let him do it now when he's 18 and he chooses to do it and is a candidate then he will have results to work with knowing one way or another.
RE: Considering Surgery
Submitted by angel_lts on Tue, 2005-03-08 - 09:39
trileptal will cause seizures if his sodium gets too low. Trileptal and tegretal cause low sodium. Check out my group for alternatives too before you make your decision.http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EpilepsyApproach/Lisa
RE: RE: Considering Surgery
Submitted by pongosmommy on Sun, 2005-01-16 - 15:26
I am glad that you went for the consultation. The Doctors at UCLA are great. I am looking forward to discussing my seizure activity with the Neurologist there. Especially the 3 I had last night. Did you go to the Santa Monica or the Westwood offices?I have seen Dr Flippin at the Westwood campus. And I am going to have a consultation with Dr Porter in Santa Monica who will probably refer me back to Westwood...ah the joys of HMO's.Best of luck to you, and to your son.Dayna