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Surgery
Tue, 05/09/2006 - 19:46Topic: Surgery and Devices
I just started these chat rooms for epilepsy and I have had epilepsy for most of my life. I have gone through tegretol, keppra, and lamictal. I am scheduled for depth wire testing on the 31st. If it shows that I can have surgery, then it will immediately follow. I am a little concerned as I have never had surgery and possibly having part of my brain removed isn't too pleasant. Is there anyone who has had surgery for epilepsy or might be having surgery? I would like a little support as I have my whole life ahead of me.
Comments
Re: Re: Surgery
Submitted by chanel26 on Wed, 2006-05-10 - 22:51
Thank You so much for your brief but very discriptive explanation about your experience. I am looking into having a temporal lobe resection but I was afraid of the side effects. I do know that it is different for everyone but hearing from some who has experienced it and not a doctor has really swayed my vote to go ahead with the process. After taking medicine for 16 years and having no luck with just one I think it is time. Again thank you so much. :)
LIZ
Re: Re: Re: Surgery
Submitted by mommy2kyra on Thu, 2006-05-11 - 10:41
Your welcome, Liz :) If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to answer if I can. I can definitely relate to having sz's for so many years without much relief. It certainly made the decision to go forward with surgery easier!
Heather :)
Re: Surgery
Submitted by mommy2kyra on Wed, 2006-05-10 - 11:34
Hi Nathan, I can relate. I went in for intracranial monitoring 3/14/06, and had a partial temporal lobectomy 3/16. It is scary, I remember very well! The recovery goes very well, and fast, which is encouraging. While I am still in recovery, I certainly feel different now than I did in my first few weeks. The first few weeks were pretty miserable for me...intense headache (nothing worked, uncommon they say), a wave of emotions (up and down, very common), and my left eye not working w/ my right (uncommon). The first two side effects have eased greatly, but my left eye is still not working with the right. I can feel that it's still a little puffed from there to my ear, so the puffiness must be affecting a nerve. At this point, it has been almost 8 weeks since my last surgery. I've got my follow-up visits and tests set up for mid-June, and I'm eager to hear the results! I haven't had any seizures since 3/17, before my surgery, an extreme improvement...but, I am a little hesitant to say "all better!". We'll wait and see what the doc's say next month. I don't regret my decision to go with it...but it has had a big effect on me emotionally. I don't have the emotional support that's greatly recommended by doc's, so that makes things a little tougher. As a result, I began seeing a psychologist to get my feelings off my chest. Rather than keeping my depression to myself- and wallowing within the depression. It is still challenging sometimes, but things are improving! I wish you the best of luck when it's time to get your intracranial monitoring. I hope that it goes well and quickly for you! Hopefully, you will be a great candidate for the partial lobectomy and will have great success with it :) Take care... Heather :)