Hi Garbo. I guess it's easy to say don't be too scared now, I've had surgery twice, in 2000, had a Temporal Lesionectomy, five years seizure free, then in 2008, I had a Right Temporal Resection as the seizures started again, Nobody knows why. My epilepsy was caused by forceps, and started in 1986 with a Tonic Clonic. I mainly had Simple and Complex Partials until my surgery, and although things are now much improved, I now also have Atonics, due I think to the menopause. I give a lot of talks and do radio interviews, etc to raise awareness, and when talking about surgery I try not to scare people, we are all so unique, surgery may work for some, but sadly it hasn't for me, but Temporal Lobe is renowned to be the most difficult to control.
I understand your concerns over surgery affecting your abilities as an academic. I can certainly think okay, I just have little short term memory. My Neuro explained all the risks to me before the surgery, including losing memory of the preceding ten years to the surgery, so basically my memories of the 1990's is zero, and most of the 00's, I get letters the wrong way round sometimes when I'm typing, which is strange. I can memorise sequences of numbers though, but still have no ability to concentrate before or after both lots of surgery.
This may help your confidence in the surgery, during my second surgery, I was studying for an NVQ in Epilepsy Management with Leeds University, they very kindly gave me a couple of extra weeks to complete my studying after my surgery, and I passed no problem. I just have to write everything down. If I had the chance for a third op, I'd go for it, it really wasn't painful, I was texting as I came out of recovery the second time, I was out of hospital after a week, and apart from a swollen eye, a cut through the Trigeminal nerve and the obvious headache, I couldn't believe how little pain there was.
You and the experts looking after you should decide, I was fortunate to be under a great team at Queens Square in London.
All The Best Elaine H