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Saw neurosurgeon,optimistic 20 months after gamma knife
Fri, 04/28/2006 - 20:25Topic: Surgery and Devices
WOW! I saw my neurosurgeon on Wed. and he said MRIs look just as excpected. I've gone 47 days without a problem, a record for me.I wasn't a candidate for temporal lobe surgery because of health problems, diabetes, 2 heartattacks, artierial disease and a MRSA infection after heart surgery in 97. It takes a few years for radiation to work on temporal lobe but it gets depressing waiting. Finally seeing results in seizures and MRIs is great! I found out that no other people had gamma knife for TLE that had diabetes or health problems like me. My Dr.s keep saying to be careful because you're our experiment. I'm optimistic too. I feel like I have a life ahead of me that may be controlled by me rather than others. It's really cool for this 48 year old guy. Thanks for reading this and I'll drop a line to keep you informed. Jeff
Comments
Re: Re: Saw neurosurgeon,optimistic 20 months after gamma knife
Submitted by jefftj on Sun, 2006-04-30 - 22:03
had E for 20 years diabetes 37 years with complications.Underwent gamma knife surgery 8/11/04,still having CPs.dilantin 300mg,lamictal 600mg,keppra 3000mg,zonegran 400mg a day
Hello Colina, Gamma kinfe surgery has been used for inoperable brain tumors and cancers for 15 or 20 years. In France some neurosurgeons found that some of the patients they treated with it that also had epilepsy got better control. They started a study in France 10 years ago and found it to work.
In the US, it's a study by the National Institute of Health. They picked 40 patients to have the surgery. I didn't understand what my neurosurgeon was talking about when he came in and told me I was lucky before the surgery. I thought if I was lucky, I'd be on the other side of the desk, making the money you make. I understand now.
Being on this study, they want to know all about my diabetes also so I have to do 5 blood sugars a day and keep really good records of everything that goes on in my life. I've had about 21 MRIs in the past 20 months. I made a joke with one of the MRI techs that I think I've had more MRIs than most small towns. He said I've had more than most major citie.
Well good luck to you and your love ones. I wish your sister-in-law the best posible outcomes with her procedure. Jeff
Re: Saw neurosurgeon,optimistic 20 months after gamma knife
Submitted by Colina on Sat, 2006-04-29 - 12:08
WOW! Sounds great. My sister in-law had gamma ray treatment for a brain tumor and flew through it. I never knew they could use it for seizures. That would be awesome if they could be zapped away. TOUCHE SEIZURES!Looking forward to hearing more from you. Smiles!