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Epilepst Surgery, Docs Contradicting Each Other
Thu, 12/08/2016 - 15:53Hi All,
I'm 48yo, seizure disorder for 15 years following radiosurgery for L Parietal AVM. I take Lamotrigine, Clonazepam and Zonisamide, and my seizures are fairly well controlled, but side effects are literally killing me. Doc finally gave the option for epilepsy surgery. I have a well identified focal point ID'd by MRI, fMRI, and specific symptoms. The neurosurgeon was ready to go. Then I see an Epileptologist who has never seen me before, hasn't read my chart and hasn't consulted with my Neurologist or Neurosurgeon. I now have a video EEG ordered, and I don't want to do that unless absolutely necessary. I'm also diabetic, and the process makes me worried about that.
I emailed my Neurologist saying I needed to put this off for awhile. I won't have surgery when one doc says one thing and another says another. I have Kaiser insurance so my options are limited. Can anyone give some advice as these folks aren't touching my brain?
Thanks,
Chris
The surgery is
Submitted by ctwheby on Thu, 2016-12-08 - 20:43
The surgery is straightforward. The Epileptologist was new to the HMO and we wanted another brain in on the issue. The surgeon knows exactly where it is. I'm refusing the video EEG for the moment and requesting a second opinion. I'm upset beyond belief right now. The area to be removed is on the lesional side of my L sensorimotor area, which should be easy to get to. I don't know the reason for the video EEG as it doesn't seem indicated in this case. She (epileptologist) didn't explain the reason for it to me. She hadn't looked at the imaging or notes. She's the only one who works there, and I refuse to see her again. Rock and a hard place. Grrr.We have a great hospital in town, Oregon Health and Sciences University, which has an epilepsy clinic. I'm going to do what I can to be transferred there. I need my docs to talk to each other before making decisions. We'll see.Thanks