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Surgery for a fairly well controlled condition?
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 18:36Hello Everybody!
My name is Nick, I am 26 and was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 19 even though I have had the complex partials since I was 10... Anyways, I have controlled epilepsy when medicated. I take 600mg of lamictal xr and vimpat 100mg daily. The side effects are undesirable... it negatively effects some things like memory and focus. However, if I am not medicated, I go into a state of clustered tonic clonic seizures with complex partials as well..
I just went through a VEEG and had 9 seizures, 2 of which grand mal.. the rest complex partial... I was told it is left temporal lobe and that I look like a candidate for surgery.. so far...
So I guess I am wondering if surgery sounds appropriate considering I am controlled with medication??? I do not want to live with the side effects of the medication for the rest of my life and think surgery might be better in the long run...
I actually want to have the surgery. I like the idea of no medication and I feel very alive and excited with the thought!
Any input would be extremely appreciated.
Peace
-Nick
Comments
Re: Surgery for a fairly well controlled condition?
Submitted by RTL on Fri, 2012-02-03 - 09:40
Obviously you're not happy with your current situation. If you were, you wouldn't be here.
Over the top? Only YOU can make that determination as it involves a lot more than the medical aspect of the situation. The medical community refers to it as "quality of life". I'm not quite sure what you mean by "bending the truth." The doctor will make a medical determination based on the FACTS determined during testing, give you the percentages, and you have to apply that to your everyday life.
I do want to emphasize that it's a bad idea to go into the process assuming surgery will eliminate having to take medication. You can have an unsuccessful surgery and have to continue with medication. You can also have what the doctor would term a successful surgery and still have to continue with the meds. Hopefully it will be less medication, and whether you call that a "success" or "failure" you have to be ready for it.
Kevin
Obviously you're not happy with your current situation. If you were, you wouldn't be here.
Over the top? Only YOU can make that determination as it involves a lot more than the medical aspect of the situation. The medical community refers to it as "quality of life". I'm not quite sure what you mean by "bending the truth." The doctor will make a medical determination based on the FACTS determined during testing, give you the percentages, and you have to apply that to your everyday life.
I do want to emphasize that it's a bad idea to go into the process assuming surgery will eliminate having to take medication. You can have an unsuccessful surgery and have to continue with medication. You can also have what the doctor would term a successful surgery and still have to continue with the meds. Hopefully it will be less medication, and whether you call that a "success" or "failure" you have to be ready for it.
Kevin
Re: Surgery for a fairly well controlled condition?
Submitted by shazzax6 on Sat, 2012-05-19 - 12:28
hi nick like you ive had epilepsy mines been for over 20 years & its still not under control!!i just wondered if you,d had the surgery & how it went please??im going to ask my neurologist if i can go for it as my fits are ruining my life..
hope your well sharon x
hi nick like you ive had epilepsy mines been for over 20 years & its still not under control!!i just wondered if you,d had the surgery & how it went please??im going to ask my neurologist if i can go for it as my fits are ruining my life..
hope your well sharon x
Re: Surgery for a fairly well controlled condition?
Submitted by nick714754 on Thu, 2012-02-02 - 19:13
Hi Kevin, I read your story which was very well done. I can relate to the excitment you felt with the thought of surgery and becoming seizure free.
Here is the thing - If my seizures were uncontrolled, or the side effects were unbearable, surgery would be a no brainer (no pun intended!). BUT the seizures are controlled and the side effects are minimal. I want to go through with the surgery because why not? if I can eliminate the little medication that I am on now, and avoid having seizures when undermedicated than why not?
Do you think I am going over the top? too much risk for the reward? I want to go through with the surgery, but I think I would have to bend the truth a bit to my epileptologist to qualify...
Thanks,
Hi Kevin, I read your story which was very well done. I can relate to the excitment you felt with the thought of surgery and becoming seizure free.
Here is the thing - If my seizures were uncontrolled, or the side effects were unbearable, surgery would be a no brainer (no pun intended!). BUT the seizures are controlled and the side effects are minimal. I want to go through with the surgery because why not? if I can eliminate the little medication that I am on now, and avoid having seizures when undermedicated than why not?
Do you think I am going over the top? too much risk for the reward? I want to go through with the surgery, but I think I would have to bend the truth a bit to my epileptologist to qualify...
Thanks,