no more surgery

My name is Greg. In 1990 i underwent surgery in which a part of the cerebral cortex (outer layer of the brain) was removed from both my left frontal & left temporal lobes. After undergoing this I went almost 3 years without a seizure, but when it returned it was worse than ever. In 1998 I underwent tests to see if more surgery was possible. After undergoing the tests, they said that my brain had partially adjusted from the first surgery & memory was now in both left & right temporal lobes, but surgery was not an option because of the effect it would have on my memory. In 2003, I underwent a different surgery. This time the surgery was to implant a vegus nerve stimulator. This did have a big affect on the seizures. Instead of having grand mals, each time being in status epilepticus (lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to over 12 hours), I began having the complex partials again. In January 2006, I underwent numerous tests, the conclusion, "Because each complex partial involves both temporal lobes, & your memory is divided between both of these lobes, unless the seizures were stopped, or at least made not as severe, I'd end up like an alsheimers patient with basically no memory." I didn't really have any options so I underwent surgery on March 13, 2006 and this time, they removed the entire front quarter of the left temporal lobe. They said with that area removed, there would be no way that seizures could originate from the left side, & the seizures should become simple partials (only involving the right temporal lobe). This theory was not correct. Besides having a negative impact on my memory, the seizures are still complex partials involving both temporal lobes, even though the entire damaged area (plus extra) had been removed from the left temproal lobe. They cannot understand this & it's back for more tests on June 19, & 20th. They cannot remove anymore, but the seizures continue. In summary I've undergone major brain surgery twice, minor brain surgery twice (both times they used depth electrodes), and the surgery to implant the vegus nerve stimulator, but after all this surgery the seizures continue.