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Left temporal lobectomy
Thu, 11/16/2006 - 22:03Topic: Surgery and Devices
I am into my 5th month of recovery after my brain surgery. I had my surgery on June 9, 2006. I didn't what to do a thing after my surgery including eating, reading, watching TV, etc. I mean anything! I couldn't even stand to look at or smell food, but it is getting better even though I am still not eating much. I my hair is almost full were they did the surgery. At first I got very light headed when I stood up but that has gone away. It does happen but not as much now. I haven't had any loss of memory at all. At first I was not able to sleep at night after the surgery. I still only sleep for about 45 minutes and I am awake, then I go back to sleep for another hour. I only sleep for about 4 to 5 hours a night, but I feel ok the next day. I have had what they call auras but NO seizures since my operation and I plan on not having anymore ever again! I am still not to suppose to do any work until I get my strength back and the doctor gives me the ok.
I had seizures almost all my life. I was only 12 when they started and been having them until my surgery. I also tried almost all the medications out there for my seizures and they weren't doing the job. They started getting worse, so I went for it, with the support of my family and my doctors.
My doctors were there for me all the way through the operation and that is one thing that really helped me. I had two surgeries. The first one was on Monday and they put wires on my brain so they could tell exactly were my seizures were starting from (which was the back side of my left temporal lobe). Then on Friday they went back in and removed the dead part of my brain that was causing my seizures.
I hope this helps those that are thinking about having surgery. I am so glad that I had it, the only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
A friend
Ken
Comments
Re: Hi Ken.. re:. "I have had
Submitted by dinger57 on Tue, 2006-11-28 - 21:25
Thanks for you imput on this. Its been a real big help to me. Have a great day. And I hope everything is going ok for you.
A friend
Ken
Hi Ken.. re:. "I have had
Submitted by solis on Thu, 2006-11-16 - 22:41
Hi Ken.. re:. "I have had what they call auras but NO seizures since my operation and I plan on not having anymore ever again!" Like you, I had surgery this year (last January) and while I agree that it is a 'chance' all who aren't being controlled by meds should take; sadly, not all will be completely controlled via temporal lobe surgery. (The stat for complete control is approx 70%) So you can 'plan' what you want.. que sera sera. You stated you have had auras but NO seizures. (???) Aura: A warning before a seizure; NOTE--> a simple partial seizure occuring within seconds before a complex partial or secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizure, or NOTE--> it may occur alone; also a warning before a migraine headache. http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/glossary.html Translation: Auras ARE seizures (simple partial) that can exist solo and are only called auras when they preceed another seizure type. I have had simple and complex partials (solo= no aura) for decades. Now, as to you having a simple partial seizure soon after brain surgery (what you called 'aura') that is not uncommon as the brain heals (my surgeon told me that)..and there are 2 others here that had surgery and had seizures afterwards. I would suggest you inform your physician next time you see him/her though. As for your 'planning' not to have seizures again, truth be told what we plan and having seizures have nothing to do with each other. I wish you the best, but don't be naive and believe your battle is immediately over after surgery. It may be, and I truly hope it is, but you won't know for sure until at least a year is up and you are off meds. But, I definitely agree that even a 70% chance of total control is worth having surgery when one is unable to be controlled via meds. a realist, ~sol