VNS Surgery

Hi, so glad I saw your post. I had the VNS implanted about 14 months ago, at the age of 47. I too was pretty scared of the surgery itself, not to mention the long term issues. My surgery was very easy, as surgeries go. The only real pain I felt was in my neck, and that was from the position they placed me in to do the surgery, with arthritis in my neck, it hurt like the dickens. I had some minor discomfort in the incision site on my chest, barely anything where the wires went in neck. I did take the pain meds for 2 days, just to be sure. I walked very carefully (my family said I looked like I didn't want to move my head at all) for a few days after that. And of course, I had to make sure the dogs didn't jump on me, kids, etc. I have seen some improvement with the length of my seizures, and decreased recovery times. I can't say that the number of seizures have gone down, but sometimes it takes 18 months or so. All in all, I am VERY happy I did it, and would do it again. No longterm affects, other than a raspy voice when the unit activates. Please feel free to e-mail me if you need to talk or if I can answer any questions. My thoughts and prayers will be with you tomorrow. ((( hugs ))), Barbie *************************************** "We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can fly only by embracing each other." -lucian de crescenzo

Hi Tracy I have had the vns surgery done in 2001 although my grandmal seizures have been cut down considerably from 4-5 a year down to 2-3 my smaller seizures or what i refer to as mini seizures because they only last a few seconds have not decreased. i sometimes have them 1 or 2 a day. These are the ones i want to stop because these are the one that make me incontinent. Although i don't have auras before my seizures and they come on without any warning i still swipe the magnet after the seizure. you may find that if your seizures persist even after the surgery the dr. may want to adjust the vns stimulator. this is a very simple procedure and there is no surgery involved. they just hold a wand that is hooked up to a computer over your chest where the implant is and adjust the settings on the computer. It may feel a little funny in the throat at first but you quickly get used to it. BEST OF LUCK- Jamie Crowell