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Right Temporal Lobetom candidate?
Tue, 02/21/2006 - 14:54Topic: Surgery and Devices
Hi,
I have been diagnosed with Right temporal lobe epilepsy. Up until now the seizures were all nocturnal and weren't a huge deal because they always happened during my sleep, weren't terribly frequent and I never had auras. However, now I have auras that turn into partial seizures and I actually had a breakthrough seizure while I was driving with my two kids in the car. Thankfully we are ok but the big problem is that I am allergic to nearly all the seizure meds and the ones I am using now don't seem to be effective. Seem to be running out of options! I am on Felbatol which causes me to sleep on average maybe only 3 or 4 hours a night which is enough to make anyone bonkers. And the Keppra they just added has caused such anxiety and mood swings that I am ready to just pitch it. I guess the big question is, since I don't have Grand Mals frequently, and the medication CAN control the seizures although with many side effects would surgery be my best option? I could go back and re-try all the meds I couldn't tolerate before but that would mean no driving and it might put my kids at risk to be home aloe with me if I have a reaction. Not to mention that I would have to give up working while I do all this.
My EEG showed very clearly where the seizures are coming from, the MRI showed very little though. So I amjust at a loss. Don't know how to proceed. An6y advice would be so welcome!
Comments
Re: Right Temporal Lobetom candidate?
Submitted by astevens on Sun, 2006-02-26 - 08:11
HI Mary,
I'm 27 and was diagnosed with RIght temporal lobe 6 years ago. I've had petit mal siezures most of my life. LIke you I could live with them but it was awful. I couldn't drive for some of the years and the medications were killing me. At one point I was on Keppra and tegretol and that was miserable. Keppra made me so tired and depressed.
I had the surgery 5 years ago this may and have been siezure free since then :) I would love to talk with you more if you have questions about the surgery and after. let me know
Re: Right Temporal Lobetom candidate?
Submitted by new beginnings on Sun, 2006-04-16 - 10:49
I had Rt temporal lobe surgery when I was 16 and I am now 40.The doctors tried numerous drugs on me.Too many to recall.None of them seemed to work.It was then that surgery was a consideration.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi .. 1)I'd suggest you
Submitted by solis on Wed, 2006-02-22 - 22:48
Hi Mary.. Ah.. Dancing.. (A former theatre student I took years of dance class.) You can tell to a certain degree that my memory it isn't all that bad as I'm able to write a reply rather rapidly. Specifically what's often gone is my memory of specific words ... simple, stupid, words like 'stove'. But that doesn't happen all the time either (ie - I may remember the word stove next time I want to use it) I'm in the process of writing a book (trying to) so I'm not exactly happy in this even-temporary forgetfulness, but.. My surgery was on Thurs Jan 12th, and I haven't had any seizures since... I would imagine the inner part of the brain was somewhat shocked by the surgery and the surgeon told me it would take about 7 months to heal completely. So, given where they operated, I can understand why a temporary memory problem might exist, so I'm not too freaked out. Glad to hear I was able to be of assistance. Pamela :)