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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: RE: Considering Surgery
Submitted by aw14187 on Sat, 2004-11-27 - 09:26
I have several objections, the most being the risks in any surgery. He's my only child. But it doesn't appear to be a cure. Many people have seizures again after the surgery.
RE: RE: RE: Considering Surgery
Submitted by Kristi92200 on Sat, 2004-11-27 - 10:25
I don't know anything about the surgery, but I would at least get a second opinion and try all the medication options before I would decide on surgery. (this from a parent who JUST had her 5 year old daughter diagnosed, so I know nothing but mother instincts) :) GOOD LUCK!
RE: Considering Surgery
Submitted by e_nuffofthis on Fri, 2004-11-26 - 10:39
I don't understand why you don't want to consider surgery? It is very scary, horrific... believe me I know. My 6yo just went through it and it was the hardest thing I ever did and hope will ever have to. But now he is seizure free and we are hoping med free in time. I do think you should continue with monitoring to see if he really is a candidate and then make your decision based on their findings. Temporal Lobe is the most common place for seizures to begin and they do have the most experience resecting that area. What are your specific concerns about surgery? My son had a very large resection and afterwards, mentally, cognitively, you would never know it. He is the same. The area was not working properly anyway. In his case they think that the mental functions in that area had moved somewhere else in the brain. You will have neuropsychological testing to see if they think that anything will be effected... the testing is worth it. One thing is the sooner the better, the younger the better... UCLA is suppose to be one of the best on the West Coast. I'm on the East Coast.