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[mhatfield00]

I have been dealing with epilepsy since 2012 with the dr trying different meds. They have decided that maybe surgery might help to control or completely do away with the seizures.

I decided to come on here after a friend on Facebook pointed here to ask questions and get advice.

I am wondering if anyone has had any form of surgery and if so what kinds.


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[Music36]

Hi and welcome to CWE. I had the MRI-guided laser ablation surgery on my left temporal lobe in 2015. It's less invasive than the traditional lobectomy. They started performing this surgery in 2010. Most of my left Hippocampus and Amygdala were removed. I no longer have complex partials, just occasional auras. There are surgery discussions on the website that you can check out.

 

[Nakamova]

Welcome to CWE!

There are several kinds of surgeries out there -- have your docs made any specific suggestions?

In the meantime, you'll find a bunch of threads from the CWE archives at this link:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f41/

 

[Porkette]

Hi mhatfield,

Welcome to CWE! I have had a right temporal lobectomy done where I was awake for most of the surgery. Now they have the gamma knife surgery which is safer for some people and if all goes well you can go home the same day of the surgery. They just use high frequency radio waves do destroy any damage that is triggering the seizures. The only time you have to stay in the hospital is if you receive to much radiation or if the Dr. wants to observe you overnight. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

 

[mhatfield00]

Hi mhatfield,



Welcome to CWE! I have had a right temporal lobectomy done where I was awake for most of the surgery. Now they have the gamma knife surgery which is safer for some people and if all goes well you can go home the same day of the surgery. They just use high frequency radio waves do destroy any damage that is triggering the seizures. The only time you have to stay in the hospital is if you receive to much radiation or if the Dr. wants to observe you overnight. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!



Sue

There is no scar tissue or damages that they could see on my MRI. My Neurologist is just as confused as I am about the cause.


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[valeriedl]

I'm unable to have any type of brain surgery so my neuro suggested a VNS, vagus nerve simulator. It works sort of like a pace maker to the brain. It has helped reduce the number of seizures and they aren't as bad. I'm also taking meds with it but not as many and the dosages aren't as high.

 

[CQ:)]

Hi mhatfield
Welcome to the group.

I had left temporal lobe surgery in 2011 where they removed scarring on my left front temporal lobe. When I had the surgery I was told the surgery wasn’t in no way a cure fir my epilepsy but another treatment as meds didn’t help control the partials seizures alone.
I went 2 years seizure free and had reduced my meds but my seizures returned in 2013.

I am now having focal seizures (partials) again but not as strong or often as before surgery.

 

[mhatfield00]

Hi mhatfield
Welcome to the group.

I had left temporal lobe surgery in 2011 where they removed scarring on my left front temporal lobe. When I had the surgery I was told the surgery wasn’t in no way a cure fir my epilepsy but another treatment as meds didn’t help control the partials seizures alone.
I went 2 years seizure free and had reduced my meds but my seizures returned in 2013.

I am now having focal seizures (partials) again but not as strong or often as before surgery.

Thanks for the information. My case is a lot different according to my neurologist because I have no scar tissue for how long I’ve had seizures.


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[CQ:)]

Thanks for the information. My case is a lot different according to my neurologist because I have no scar tissue for how long I’ve had seizures.


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Ive had epilepsy fro most of my life, I had my 1st tonic clonic at 9 months and took tonic clonics until I was 3.

But I went 21 years seizure free and started having seizures again in 2002 when I was 24. When my seizures returned the neuro did MRI which showed the scarring on left temporal lobe. We tried a variety of meds, they helped control my tonic clonics but not the partials which is why my local neuro suggected surgery in late 2009 and referred me to a epiologist in the city.

I saw the epiologisit in mid 2010 who went though my info said i was a good candidate & after that i started the testing. All MRIs Ive had over the years have shown scarring, the specialists think my scarring may be from the tonic clonics I had as a baby/ toddler but the reason why I went so long seizure free is a mystery & one of those things.

 

[txtiger]

Welcome mhatfield!

I had left temporal lobe surgery in 2006. It controlled my complex partial seizures for a while. They did come back, but as simple partials.

For a long time before surgery, I was seeing a general neurologist. The MRIs he would order did not seem to show anything, but once I started seeing an epileptologist, he wanted the MRIs done at a major hospital facility, and they did show gray matter heterotopia. Apparently, the resolution on the older MRIs was not as high.

I wish you well. You will find a lot of support and answers here.

 

[Sabbo]

Hello & welcome to the group. I've had seizures since childhood, but they weren't diagnosed until after I had 3 or 4 tonic clonics when I was 14. That's when 1 or 2 occurred during EEGs, & the doctors finally realized that those "weird feelings" were seizures. I began having complex partials about 18 years ago.