Hey Paula
I'll be thinking of you on June 12th too! My Hippocampus (right side) was removed last June, and all I was really worried about was the mess they made of my hair!! It does grow back so quickly though! That's me just having a laugh, seriously, don't worry, you are right about that part of the brain dealing with spatial awareness, short term memory, emotion, speech. You probably know that the hippocampus is part of the temporal lobe which is part of the limbic system. This part of our brain is so important for making new memories, do you struggle with your short term memory the way I do, I so bet you do?, it was fascinating for me when I learnt that the hippocampus is the first part of the brain to be affected by Alzheimers disease, hence memory being the first thing to suffer when someone is struck with that horrible disease, also the hippocampus is often involved in severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and severe depression (something I have never experienced).
I had Hippocampal Sclerosis, so even though I had a Temporal Lesionectomy in Sept 2000 and was seizure free for five wonderful years, my "wobblers" started again in Aug 2005. I must say on a more positive note, since my last surgery in June 2008, there is an incredible improvement in my seizures, and their frequency, I always said that the worst part of having epilepsy, was my terrifying auras, they were so very frightening, and I would be reduced to a quivering wreck if I had one of them unexpectedly somewhere, worse than any nightmare!! But now, since I started taking Trilpetal, I don't have them anymore, thank God, I just wish I could have been prescribed Trileptal back in 1986 when it all kicked off!
I'll be thinking of you, and keep in touch with everyone on CWE, they are a wonderful bunch of people, and a great support and comfort to me during my op last year. We all have that special one thing in common, something that is almost impossible to explain to someone that has never had any sort of epilepsy, and I think it is so important that we understand each other!
All The Best!!!
Love
Elaine x