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the after life of temporal lobe sururgery

Sun, 01/08/2006 - 15:31
I had my right temporal removed in Sept of 1994 I actually was aginniy pig for ateaching hospital in Gainesville,fl.I dont know about the rest of you, but my first two years after surgery where HELL! I was amentel case,I had to betaught how to be social around people again and how not to let people make me like something that Im not.A friend taught me to drive again,I was like achlid learnig how to take steps all over again.Its been 11 years and I stll take more medicanes now than I did when I had surgery. I take Topamax,Lexapro,and Ativn.I have both short and long term memory loss,alearning dis.,simple-partial seizures,anxiety dis./ mood-swings.But as time as gone by,my learning has improved alot.Can anyone relate?terrij

Comments

Re: the after life of temporal lobe sururgery

Submitted by Sheri1969 on Sat, 2008-05-03 - 02:03

Terry, I too had my RTL in 1990.  I was also a guinea pig for their research at London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario.  I went through HELL after the surgery emotionally, as did my family.  In fact, 18 years later, despite that my seizures are stopped, my emotions continue to go down hill.  I've been in and out of psyche wards for 12 years now.  Won't go into details, but to say that patients should be warned of the emotional after effects of having their RTL removed.  They took the emotion control centre and I have no understanding of emotions, don't know what I feel or how to handle the stuff.  I have trouble with some memory as well.  I'm on loads of anti depressants, I have Social Phobia that I never had.  If you want to talk more, let me know.

Jesus Is My Rock, Music Is My Sanity. Sheri L. Adams

Terry, I too had my RTL in 1990.  I was also a guinea pig for their research at London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario.  I went through HELL after the surgery emotionally, as did my family.  In fact, 18 years later, despite that my seizures are stopped, my emotions continue to go down hill.  I've been in and out of psyche wards for 12 years now.  Won't go into details, but to say that patients should be warned of the emotional after effects of having their RTL removed.  They took the emotion control centre and I have no understanding of emotions, don't know what I feel or how to handle the stuff.  I have trouble with some memory as well.  I'm on loads of anti depressants, I have Social Phobia that I never had.  If you want to talk more, let me know.

Jesus Is My Rock, Music Is My Sanity. Sheri L. Adams

Re: the after life of temporal lobe sururgery

Submitted by Sheri1969 on Tue, 2008-05-20 - 00:33

Hi Teri, boy can I ever relate to your story.  I was a guinnea pig for a hospital in London, Ontario in 1990.  I had my RTL removed completely while I was awake.  Like you, both me and my family went through hell afterwards.  Nobody told us what the emotional after affects would be.  I wrote the hospital almost monthly for 2 years.  They wrote back saying everything we were going through was normal.  Why didn't they tell US that????  It is 18 years later for me and I am on loads of anti-depressants and other psychiatric drugs and I've been in and out of psyche wards for over 12 years now.  I would not go back and UNDUE the surgery, but I would definitely be asking for what to expect AFTERWARDS for both me and my family.  We have come through some really bumpy roads.  I think anybody who is considering epilepsy surgery should know what the emotional aftermath COULD be.  I've met nobody who has had this surgery who HAS NOT HAD emotional troubles and been in and out of hospital psyche wards.  Blessings to you.

Jesus Is My Rock, Music Is My Sanity. Sheri L. Adams

Hi Teri, boy can I ever relate to your story.  I was a guinnea pig for a hospital in London, Ontario in 1990.  I had my RTL removed completely while I was awake.  Like you, both me and my family went through hell afterwards.  Nobody told us what the emotional after affects would be.  I wrote the hospital almost monthly for 2 years.  They wrote back saying everything we were going through was normal.  Why didn't they tell US that????  It is 18 years later for me and I am on loads of anti-depressants and other psychiatric drugs and I've been in and out of psyche wards for over 12 years now.  I would not go back and UNDUE the surgery, but I would definitely be asking for what to expect AFTERWARDS for both me and my family.  We have come through some really bumpy roads.  I think anybody who is considering epilepsy surgery should know what the emotional aftermath COULD be.  I've met nobody who has had this surgery who HAS NOT HAD emotional troubles and been in and out of hospital psyche wards.  Blessings to you.

Jesus Is My Rock, Music Is My Sanity. Sheri L. Adams

Re: the after life of temporal lobe sururgery

Submitted by reba on Tue, 2008-05-20 - 09:33

Hello

I'm truely sorry to hear about your emotional problems. I had my RTL surgery done in 2007 and I guess i am one of the fournute few that hasnt had any emotional problems after surgery. I knew all the risks involved before hand, and asked many questions. One risk that did happen to me was the small periferial vision loss. I take each day as it comes and i try to stay strong. I thank the Lord for healing me and ridding me of these seizures. I cant offer much insight on the emotional effects, but to just say continue to stay strong and have strength.

Take care, and God Bless, Becky 

Hello

I'm truely sorry to hear about your emotional problems. I had my RTL surgery done in 2007 and I guess i am one of the fournute few that hasnt had any emotional problems after surgery. I knew all the risks involved before hand, and asked many questions. One risk that did happen to me was the small periferial vision loss. I take each day as it comes and i try to stay strong. I thank the Lord for healing me and ridding me of these seizures. I cant offer much insight on the emotional effects, but to just say continue to stay strong and have strength.

Take care, and God Bless, Becky 

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