Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Has anyone had brain surgery due to epilepsy?
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 11:28May have brain surgery...Need advice!!!!
This is the first time I have ever used this website, so please forgive me if I miss something. So, here's my story...I am 31 years old. I was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2004. I have had a few grand mal seizures (around 6 or 7), but I have a lot of petit mal seizures (complex partial) - over 60 in 2010. This has greatly affected my life. I totaled my car in 2010 because I had a seizure while driving. Thank God no one was hurt, including myself. Needless to say, I cannot drive right now. I also has several seizures at work, which put a stress on things. I have tried many medicines (not sure of spelling), including, Lamictal, Keppra, Carbatrol, and others. I have tried name brand and generic. My seizures have not gotten better. My doc is now recommending brain surgery, as a lesion has been found in my front temporal lobe. It is currently not a tumor, but could turn into one. I have not taken the WADA yet, but it will be scheduled soon. I would love to speak with anyone who has had brain surgery and the results he/she has had. Thanks!
Comments
Re: Has anyone had brain surgery due to epilepsy?
Submitted by peytonwelch on Sun, 2011-01-09 - 17:33
AWESOME story! Thanks for sharing. I also appreciate your humor! =0)
AWESOME story! Thanks for sharing. I also appreciate your humor! =0)
Re: Has anyone had brain surgery due to epilepsy?
Submitted by flynfish on Sun, 2011-01-09 - 02:53
Hi Peyton, my wife had Temporal Lobe Resection in July of this year. She has had epilepsy since a child and had her first full seizure at age 16. Medication controlled her seizures quite well but had been lessening in effectiveness for the past 10 years or so. Finally after not being able to control the seizures and having to quit working and driving we went looking for alternatives. We wound up at the Mayo clinic (we live in Alaska). Neurologists here had diagnosed her (via video EEG) with seizures focused in the occipital lobe and not a candidate for surgery. MDs at the Mayo localized her seizures to the right temporal lobe. She recovered well physically but the emotional and memory loss issues have been difficult. Staying organized at home is proving difficult. We have purchased iPhones that I am working with her on using it as a memory aid to help this out. I am trying to get info on a program using PDAs done at a college in CA. That program is for memory loss due to PTSD. It is a slow go but she is learning. Not having to deal with the seizures and the uncertainies and embarrassment of them has been wonderful for her. We returned to the Mayo in Oct. and further EEG testing confirmed that there was no seizure activity and there were improvement in cognitive abilities as well. The cognitive abilities were evidenced around the home even though they would be trumped sometimes by the emotional and memory issues.
For us this was an easy decision. We were warned of the memory and emotional issues. Some of it was already apparent due to the effects of medication and the problems created by the seizures themselves. One thing we were told at the Mayo that helped us make the decision was that there would be further memory and cognitive decline due to the seizures. Yes, there are issues created by the surgery but overall it has been an improvement. There are days where it is very rough as the emotions run rampant and memory problems compound the emotional issues. If you have a significant other they need to be very much in the loop on this decision. They will need help of their own to help you.
Hi Peyton, my wife had Temporal Lobe Resection in July of this year. She has had epilepsy since a child and had her first full seizure at age 16. Medication controlled her seizures quite well but had been lessening in effectiveness for the past 10 years or so. Finally after not being able to control the seizures and having to quit working and driving we went looking for alternatives. We wound up at the Mayo clinic (we live in Alaska). Neurologists here had diagnosed her (via video EEG) with seizures focused in the occipital lobe and not a candidate for surgery. MDs at the Mayo localized her seizures to the right temporal lobe. She recovered well physically but the emotional and memory loss issues have been difficult. Staying organized at home is proving difficult. We have purchased iPhones that I am working with her on using it as a memory aid to help this out. I am trying to get info on a program using PDAs done at a college in CA. That program is for memory loss due to PTSD. It is a slow go but she is learning. Not having to deal with the seizures and the uncertainies and embarrassment of them has been wonderful for her. We returned to the Mayo in Oct. and further EEG testing confirmed that there was no seizure activity and there were improvement in cognitive abilities as well. The cognitive abilities were evidenced around the home even though they would be trumped sometimes by the emotional and memory issues.
For us this was an easy decision. We were warned of the memory and emotional issues. Some of it was already apparent due to the effects of medication and the problems created by the seizures themselves. One thing we were told at the Mayo that helped us make the decision was that there would be further memory and cognitive decline due to the seizures. Yes, there are issues created by the surgery but overall it has been an improvement. There are days where it is very rough as the emotions run rampant and memory problems compound the emotional issues. If you have a significant other they need to be very much in the loop on this decision. They will need help of their own to help you.
Re: Has anyone had brain surgery due to epilepsy?
Submitted by peytonwelch on Sun, 2011-01-09 - 16:52
Thanks Kevin. I'll check out your story via your link.
Thanks Kevin. I'll check out your story via your link.