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Lobectomy
Tue, 03/25/2008 - 20:34Topic: Surgery and Devices
Hello, my name is Laurie and I have had epilepsy for 14 years. My seizures have never been controlled through medication and my doctors are currently considering brain surgery to correct my seizures. I am already going through the pre-surgery tests and am waiting for the results to find out if and when the surgery will happen. I am looking for anybody who may have been through this surgery or may have some insight on the experience. The doctors have already told me that my chances at the surgery are pretty good. However, I know that they tend to "sugar-coat" things for patients. I would like to know more details of success rates and recovery issues after the surgery. Anyone who might be able to offer some advice would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
Re: Lobectomy
Submitted by lthomas79@live.com on Tue, 2008-04-01 - 09:04
Hey, thanks so much for the helpful info. My doctors have given me the same odds as you on my surgery, so I'm pretty positive about the situation. I am definetly not rushing anything, however, at 28 years old I am ready to (possibly) live a normal life for once. I also have a beautiful and healthy eight year old daughter (Destiny) that I cannot support. She lives with her father, four hours away. I am ready to put my degree as a Medical Asst. (which I can't use due to the seizures) to use and make Destiny proud of me. I am ready to live a life as a hard working mother, who can actually support her daughter. I know that the surgery doesn't guarantee that this will be my future, but like you said, I have nothing to lose. Thanks again for you comments, I wish you the best!
Re: Lobectomy
Submitted by bobsteer on Tue, 2008-04-29 - 17:07
I had the surgery done in JUne, 2007. I have had no side effects and no siezures. I am almost back to living a normal life and I have no regrets about doing it. It is a hard decision, and the only thing I could say to help you out is to have a great attitude about it. I was walking around two days after the surgery and to this day my doctors are impressed on how my attitude helped my recovery. I had no headaches or anything, I was to excited. If you do go in for surgery ask the doctors for some pictures, I have great pictures of my brain. Good luck, and don't be scared, always look at the "bright" spot at the end of the rainbow, it is there.
Re: Lobectomy
Submitted by aussie2006 on Fri, 2008-03-28 - 06:30
Hi I had left temporal lobe lobectomy in March 2006 and have been seizure free ever since. Your doctor should be frank and honest with you regarding you chances of success. I was given a 70% chance of a cure, 20% chance of reduction in seizures and 10% chance of no improvement or worse. So I had nothing to lose really,as I had a 90% chance of been better off.,Having said that every case is different and chances of success will be different with every patient. I was in hospital for 1 week after surgery and at home recovering 6 weeks, I was off work a total of 7 weeks. My eyes took a while to adjust after surgery, and it is reccomended that you do not change your glasses prescription for at least 2 months after surgery,otherwise when your eyes recover, you will have to change the prescription again. You will come through the surgery a lot better if you have a family member / friend who will stay with you when you come home and do things to help you, you are best to do little the first two weeks when you come home. Enquire about a Fmri test, this is a relatively new test which is used to see what side of your brain is responsible for which functions you perform and is less invasive than a wada test. It is normal that you will have to go 1 year without seizures after surgery before the doctors will start to reduce your medication. Having surgery is not a decision to be rushed,so think it through but it is also a golden oportunity to improve your life if surgery is possible. Good Luck
Hi I had left temporal lobe lobectomy in March 2006 and have been seizure free ever since. Your doctor should be frank and honest with you regarding you chances of success. I was given a 70% chance of a cure, 20% chance of reduction in seizures and 10% chance of no improvement or worse. So I had nothing to lose really,as I had a 90% chance of been better off.,Having said that every case is different and chances of success will be different with every patient. I was in hospital for 1 week after surgery and at home recovering 6 weeks, I was off work a total of 7 weeks. My eyes took a while to adjust after surgery, and it is reccomended that you do not change your glasses prescription for at least 2 months after surgery,otherwise when your eyes recover, you will have to change the prescription again. You will come through the surgery a lot better if you have a family member / friend who will stay with you when you come home and do things to help you, you are best to do little the first two weeks when you come home. Enquire about a Fmri test, this is a relatively new test which is used to see what side of your brain is responsible for which functions you perform and is less invasive than a wada test. It is normal that you will have to go 1 year without seizures after surgery before the doctors will start to reduce your medication. Having surgery is not a decision to be rushed,so think it through but it is also a golden oportunity to improve your life if surgery is possible. Good Luck