Opions of second brain surgery.

[Artsiegurl]

I'm currently given the choice of haVING A SECOND BRAIN SURGERY OR ANOTHER MEDICATION ADDED TO THE medication I'm already taking. I'm taking 8 medications as it.I know surgery and unerstand it.I have had the VNS surgery in 2003.Brain surgery in 2006.Jaw surgery in 2010 and VNS battery replacement surgery in 2010.I would like some opinions as to having a second brain sergery.What would you do? Thanks!

[Nakamova]

Hi Artsiegurl, welcome you to CWE!

I'm sorry you're having to make such a tough decision -- stuck between a rock and hard place, it seems. What would the second surgery aim to accomplish? Would it involve another implant, or is it for removing a section of the brain? I would ask your surgeon to present the best and worst-case scenarios, as well as his/her own personal track record. There are some CWE members who have had various surgeries, and I hope they will chime in with their feedback.

Best,
Nakamova

[Artsiegurl]

Hi Artsiegurl, welcome you to CWE!

I'm sorry you're having to make such a tough decision -- stuck between a rock and hard place, it seems. What would the second surgery aim to accomplish? Would it involve another implant, or is it for removing a section of the brain? I would ask your surgeon to present the best and worst-case scenarios, as well as his/her own personal track record. There are some CWE members who have had various surgeries, and I hope they will chime in with their feedback.

Best,
Nakamova

From what I know it woud be surgery to remove a section of the brain.

[Nakamova]

Have the docs done the testing already to see if the seizures are very localized? If they have, and feel confident, then it could make a huge difference. Would you be able to cut down on some of the other meds too?

You might want to check out this thread:
Almost time

[Cint]

Hi Artiesgurl,

I had a left temporal lobectomy and was seizure free for only 14 months. The seizures came back with vengeance for me. So the neurosurgeon investigated doing a 2nd brain surgery, but for me it was not possible because the damaged area was deep in the hippocampal area, the area that controls speech and much of memory. The dr. said that if we did the surgery again, I would probably end up like an advanced Alzheimer's patient. I would definitely question the dr. about the pros/cons of the 2nd surgery. What part of the brain are you talking about? Do you already suffer some memory loss from the surgery and meds?

We tried many different meds and in 1998 I had my 1st VNS surgery with the battery replacement surgery in 2002. I have the setting at the highest it can be to control seziures because that is what works for me. With the VNS, it can be turned off and the settings can be changed, as you know, whereas the brain surgery and things that can go wrong with it (stroke, memory loss, depression)may last forever.

[tonialpha]

I'm currently given the choice of haVING A SECOND BRAIN SURGERY OR ANOTHER MEDICATION ADDED TO THE medication I'm already taking. I'm taking 8 medications as it.I know surgery and unerstand it.I have had the VNS surgery in 2003.Brain surgery in 2006.Jaw surgery in 2010 and VNS battery replacement surgery in 2010.I would like some opinions as to having a second brain sergery.What would you do? Thanks!

I have had 2 surgeries and 3 years ago had an MRI indicating the location of the abn. just slightly below the left temporal lobe , parietal and near the occipital lobes. It explains why the medications have never completely been able to control my seizures. It is nothing serious but if they knew now and did the surgery, it explains why surgery was so challenging. Neurology is a tangled spiders web! I have a perventricular nodular hetertopias in the left hemisphere.