Hi,
Firstly alittle background....
I first had an 'episode' many years ago, it was when I was in bed, unwell with a cold/flu..
I didn't know what it was, so put it down to being well, and forgot about it.
Over the next few years, these 'episodes' became more and more frequent, so went to my gp, who referred me to a Neurologist, and after afew scans, was diagnosed with partial seizures of the temperol Lobe (according to my last report: refractory epilepsy secondary to the right hippocampal lesion)
The first mediation to be put on was tegretol carbamazepine. I stayed on this for about 1 year, trying different doses, but unfortunately had little effect on controlling my seizures.
Then came the transitional period over to a second drug, lamotrigine, which I'm currently on, dosage of 200mg morning and 200mg at night.
Unfortunately these don't seem to be controlling my seizures neither, I'm probably having slightly LESS seizures than before, BUT the intensity of the seizures are greater... (this has been the trend since I first had a seizure many years ago, starting very mild to were I am now, which is FAR more regular, and FAR more intense.
It feels like a downward spiral, and will only get worse as the years go by.
So after my last visit to my Neurologist, he mentioned the idea of looking into the potential going down the surgery.
I've since had 2 scans, I believe it's to establish if I'm a potential candidate for the surgery..
1)mri scan of the head
2)ambulatory EEG monitoring
I've now got a follow up appointment with my Neurologist is February 2015.
My question is, after speaking to my gp, various other people and alittle research online including this forum that I should seriously think about going down this route.
It seems like alot of people with epilepsy are on various drugs at the same time, and different doses to try and control their seizure, which is something I've not done...
Is my Neurologist being alittle premature with considering going down the surgery route?
The one certainty I have is that I CAN'T live my life as I am, and how my seizures are controlling all aspects of life, hence why it's something I will/am seriously considering, but I don't want to make a rash decision that I may regret later.
In the end it will obviously be my decision to have it done, but my Neurologist has said after trying and being unsuccessful with 2 different meds, it's VERY unlikely any others would have any effect....
Any advice?
Firstly alittle background....
I first had an 'episode' many years ago, it was when I was in bed, unwell with a cold/flu..
I didn't know what it was, so put it down to being well, and forgot about it.
Over the next few years, these 'episodes' became more and more frequent, so went to my gp, who referred me to a Neurologist, and after afew scans, was diagnosed with partial seizures of the temperol Lobe (according to my last report: refractory epilepsy secondary to the right hippocampal lesion)
The first mediation to be put on was tegretol carbamazepine. I stayed on this for about 1 year, trying different doses, but unfortunately had little effect on controlling my seizures.
Then came the transitional period over to a second drug, lamotrigine, which I'm currently on, dosage of 200mg morning and 200mg at night.
Unfortunately these don't seem to be controlling my seizures neither, I'm probably having slightly LESS seizures than before, BUT the intensity of the seizures are greater... (this has been the trend since I first had a seizure many years ago, starting very mild to were I am now, which is FAR more regular, and FAR more intense.
It feels like a downward spiral, and will only get worse as the years go by.
So after my last visit to my Neurologist, he mentioned the idea of looking into the potential going down the surgery.
I've since had 2 scans, I believe it's to establish if I'm a potential candidate for the surgery..
1)mri scan of the head
2)ambulatory EEG monitoring
I've now got a follow up appointment with my Neurologist is February 2015.
My question is, after speaking to my gp, various other people and alittle research online including this forum that I should seriously think about going down this route.
It seems like alot of people with epilepsy are on various drugs at the same time, and different doses to try and control their seizure, which is something I've not done...
Is my Neurologist being alittle premature with considering going down the surgery route?
The one certainty I have is that I CAN'T live my life as I am, and how my seizures are controlling all aspects of life, hence why it's something I will/am seriously considering, but I don't want to make a rash decision that I may regret later.
In the end it will obviously be my decision to have it done, but my Neurologist has said after trying and being unsuccessful with 2 different meds, it's VERY unlikely any others would have any effect....
Any advice?