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:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f41/almost-time-11741/

 

[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.

 

[jingle]

I had first surgery Feb., 2006 to remove tumor from left temporaL lobe and did not have another seizure until May, 2007. So I had second surgery May 2007 to remove hippocampus that was in bad shape. I have not had a seizure since then.
But, gee whiz, I miss that left hippocampus more than you can imagine

 

[ashmstng]

I had surgery on my left temporal lobe May 22nd 2008 at Shands University of Florida. Since then been seizure free. I was on 4 meds before the surgery, now on one. Whatever you decide to do, do alot of research on different pages. Not just here. I would get more than one opinion on what to do next from another Neuro. I went thru 4 different doctors before I decided to go thru it. I will say it was a process but worth it to me. We all have different outcomes. I can say this is why I went to other pages for info other than here. No one but a few people that are still on here helped me. Some arent here much anymore and I see why.

 

[tonialpha]

Congratulations on your surgery

:clap:

You really researched. I felt I went to the best places. I finally have gone to a place where I get the best atttention and I have a friend with me.

Being seizure free or under control is the cherry on the cake or sundae!

That is fantastic. I used to be a Neurodiagnostic Tech and found out 3 years ago that my abn. was below my lobes and that is why none my surgeries were not successful.

I wish you the best! Thank you for sharing!

 

[molson]

I would think that surgery is the way to go. I had surgery once and it held me for six years. It was wonderful not having to change medication, not having to wake up in the hospital, being afraid that people would see you having absence seizure, losing jobs. When I first asked about surgery and if it were posssible that i would never have a seizure again, the doctor shouted "you're an epilepic get used to it". I left the office and never returned there and went to another specialist and had right temperal lobe surgery and i was fine for 6 years, then it came back with a vengence. Now for 2 years each episode worse than the last. No mdication working. I was offered another surgery if this last new med does'nt work, and i will jump at it. Any thing is better then waking up in the hospital and the stupid nurses telling you that you had a stroke or tieing you up in a bed and not letting y use the bathroom. The only problem is I have is that I Have to wait to see if this medication works before I will be considered for second surgery. Wow I can't wait. Surgery is the best bet and what do you have to lose.