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Information regarding Surgery

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 12:21
Hi, I am 25 years old, I have partial complex seizures, and I was reason diagnose with Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I have been taken medicine since I was about 13 years old. I have been on a least 4 different medicines and the medicines are not working for me. I was referred to a to specialist at Washington University in Saint Louis, and I under took some testing. I had to take a pet scan, MRI, and was put on EEG monitoring so they could find where my seizures was coming from. Every thing match to left temporal lobe and all the test match the same spot in which the seizures were coming from. The doctors think I an excellent candidate for surgery with a 60-80 percent chance of not having seizures. I am now at the stage of making a serious decision on what choice I should make regarding my seizures. I could have left temporal lobe surgery, try to find another medicine (which have a ten percent chance of controlling or preventing less seizures), or they could insert some thing like a pace maker kind of thing in my chest to send electros to the brain (which have a ten percent chance of controlling or preventing less seizures), or have a strict diet to follow to prevent or control the seizures.

Comments

Re: Information regarding Surgery

Submitted by mommy2kyra on Sun, 2006-10-29 - 00:48
Hi Jonathan, It is a deep, personal decision. If you've tried several medications already, chances are very high that you won't get seizure control through other meds. In my case, I tried many different meds. Suffered major side effects and lack of seizure control, so that made my decision pretty easy. My epileptologist leaned towards temporal lobe resection, saying that it was the best chance of seizure control. I went for it in March 06. So, it's been 7 months. I have had three or four deja vu's (but not intense, nor did I lose awareness) since, about 3 months after the surgery, but I have remained seizure free since....a major improvement! For me, it was worth it. There are many things to overcome after the surgery. It isn't easy at all. But, for me, it was the best decision. I wish you the best of luck, take care! Heather :)

Re: Re: Information regarding Surgery

Submitted by Jonathan David on Wed, 2006-11-01 - 19:28
I prayed about my decision and I have deiced to have surgery. My surgery date is 11/17/05

Re: Re: Re: Information regarding Surgery

Submitted by mommy2kyra on Fri, 2006-11-03 - 22:26
I wish you the very best of luck, Jonathan. You will be in my prayers for a successful surgery and rapid recovery...take care! Heather :)

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