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Possible surgery undecided
Sun, 06/10/2007 - 19:42Topic: Surgery and Devices
Hello everyone.
I have been dealing with this condition for seventeen years now. I have tried several AEDs and have also had a VNS operation. Now, I am discussing the possibility of a right temporal lobectomy with my doctor. However, I wonder if my situation would be unrelated to my seizures and more related to the meds I take. I have had less than ten seizures in the past year, however, the side effeccts that I deal with from the meds are frustrating. Many of you can probably relate to sleepiness, tremor, balance issues...I feel that surgery would be my last chance to become siezure free. I still wake up in the morning wondering if I will have one. Surgery could potenially stop this feeling of helplessness. But is this surgery fear and med- related? Do I have surgery to avoid only these things, or to become seizure free for good? Can someone give me some insight? Thank you!
Comments
I was born too long ago to
Submitted by solis on Mon, 2007-09-03 - 23:46
I was born too long ago to have the option of surgery after having epilepsy for just 17 years.
I spent decades of my life going from one specialist to another until I found an epileptologist that got me controlled almost immediately.
Ten years later I lost that control and began testing re: possible surgery.
I believe I was I was lucky to even have the option of possible surgery and it was definitely worth taking that chance but I remained prepared that it might not work as I didn't want to get depressed if it failed.
(The success rate for a temporal lobectomy is approx 70%)
My surgery was 19 months ago and since that time I've had no seizures & the after-surgery VEEG I had was completely normal. As of last June I've been off all AEDs for the first time since I went on them.... more than two score ago.
If you are also lucky enough to also have that 'chance' I'd recommend you take it.
Best wishes to you.
~sol
Re: I was born too long ago to
Submitted by Seruzies on Thu, 2007-09-06 - 18:43
I just turned 40 and started receiving disability, so it's on my mind.
Re: Re: Possible surgery undecided
Submitted by daisy97 on Mon, 2007-09-03 - 20:30
Hello. I understand....I've taken maybe ten drugs, and it all seems so confusing. I suppose you can feel like you're walking a tightrope sometimes. Wow. I took dilantin in the very beginning, and it only worked for awhile. My seizures are mostly complex partial, but just frustrating enough to interfere with life. I'm sure you can see this too.