Epilepsy Surgery

[maggie]

Hi, my Name is Margaret & I had epilepsy suegery last year at St. Vincent's hospital, Melbourne, Australia. My neurologist is Professor Mark Cook of Melbourne. OK, here we go, since my surgery last year( July 28,2005 ) everything has been going well. I am almost weaned off most of my meds (Valporate-finished!, Dilantin nearly finished, 3weeks to go!) & I will be staying on Tegretol for a while longer ( only 2 tablets /day, a bit of difference to the 14 tablets/day I was on!! ) I don't think I could have asked for a better result.
I am back driving & more confident in everything I do. WOW, what a difference!! I just wanted everyone to know that ther is hope sometimes. I put up with the side effects etc. for so long but I found the courage ( with a lot of support & encouragement, especially from my hubby )& the right neurologist to get something done about it. I know surgery is not the answer for everybody, but if it is possible, please consider it. PLEASE don't wait as long as I did!! Surgery techniques have advanced so much in the last few years my surgery would probably have taken longer to recover from or not been posible at all!! As it was I went into hospital on the Wednesday night for my first surgery the next day (July 21st,2005) when a grid was placed on my brain! I was kept in hospital for a week & my brain was mapped & I had many tests etc. while there. The following Thursday (July 28th, 2005) I was back in surgery to have the grid & a small section of my brain removed. The second part of the second op took part while I was AWAKE!! I had to be awake so I could respond to certain instructions so that they knew they were not out working too close to the wrong area ( the site was close to the area used for speech etc.) Everthing went well & I was discharged from hospital 5 days after the second operation!! I was home & resting ( the rest lasted for a few days anyway!)in less than the 2-3 weeks that my neurologist told me to expect it to take!
If you are contemplating surgery, I say go for it! Just make sure you know what the risks are. PLEASE.
Does your E have a great effect on your life or the life of your family? Think before you act. Weigh up the pros & cons. Drugs are not always the answer, but sometimes the E is worse than the side effects of the drugs! Consider carefully, whichever way you decide to go, PLEASE.

[Bernard]

Hi Maggie, welcome to the forums!

It's always great to read about a success story. Most folks don't take the time to share them in forums like this. Thank you.

[Nancy]

Wow Maggie - That is WONDERFUL!! I am SO very happy for you and offer many thanks for passing on the good news.

Mine is "sort of" the same...
On July 28, 2005 an MRI showed a brain tumor in my left temporal lobe that was probably causing my seizures so the docs started a series of tests.
Feb, 14, '06 I went to hospital early in the morning and they started the "fast, easy" surgery (that's how my neurosurgeon described my surgery) to remove the tumor and a piece of my hippocampus because the tumor rested against it. I was home on the morning of Feb. 16.
I haven't had a seizure since then.
Surgery for some of us is almost like a miracle. I realize that it's not an option for all but it's worth checking into.

[merlotte]

hey maggie, i just wanted to share that i had my surgery done some months back. and since then things have been looking up for me. i have not had any seizures since and gradually i was told that i could reduce the tablets i was taking too. my surgery was done at theJD Healthcare:Brain & Spine Hospital and i went through the usual series of tests and diagnosis and was accepted for surgery.

life looks much brighter to me now and i can finally feel like a normal person!

[maggie]

hi merlotte, where is the hospital you spoke of in you post?? Sorry, I don't know that one! I am from Australia, & my surgery was done in St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia!! Yes, life is going very well for me too! maggie.

[bettington]

Did your doctor recommend it or did you do the searching on your own?