The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Brain Surgery

Mon, 03/13/2006 - 09:27
I'm curious to know how many people have had surgery done to help/cure their epilepsy? I'm also curious to hear from those who have been told they are excellent surgery candidates, yet they won't go through the surgery...and why? Lisa-Marie

Comments

Re: Brain Surgery

Submitted by roxibaby16 on Thu, 2008-06-12 - 19:46

i had my first surgery on july 12 2006 it was a 2 stage surgery. they resected my right temporal lobe. it didnt work. then october 4 2007.  and that surgery didnt work either. the drs dnt even know why.

 

email me at princessroxstar1991@yahoo.com ill explain more

i had my first surgery on july 12 2006 it was a 2 stage surgery. they resected my right temporal lobe. it didnt work. then october 4 2007.  and that surgery didnt work either. the drs dnt even know why.

 

email me at princessroxstar1991@yahoo.com ill explain more

Re: Brain Surgery

Submitted by Compassionate on Fri, 2008-06-13 - 13:35

   I have seen negative & positive aspects with brain surgery, while I was getting monitured, a grid put on my brain, and then having the complete left frontal lobe of my brain removed.

That all occurred over a 5 week period. My prognosis was not good, but I could no longer live as a mother of two, experiencing a grand mal seizure, with no warning, every 3 weeks. I convulsed on both sides of my body, was paralized from the neck to my toes and could not speak for over 30-40 minutes after the seizure. I would experience extreme depression for 7 days after the convulsion. I was given two weeks to decide whether I was willing to travel for two days to get to my destination for the monitering and the surgery. Very tough decision, but I believe that God helped me decide. I was willing to risk everything, at that point, including not recognising my 7 month old and 10 year old daughters, when I got home.

I had the surgery, meds were lessened, seizures were less frequent, also had auras. The negative aspects of the surgery: lost my ability to sleep for four years, memories that will never be replaced, personality, spelling ability, knowledge of approprite behavior in social situations,organizational skills, recognition of people that I did not see often and other areas. But do I regret the surgery? Never will I regret it. It has closed some possibilities for me, but it has opened up many things that were impossible before the surgery. I also had a baby girl exactly nine and one half months after the surgery. Not having anything to do with my brain surgery, she was born with down syndrome. She is now 11 years old, strong willed, extremely determined, but a blessing just the same. Imagine that!!! And remember that there is help available to reconstitute some of the skills that have been lost. I am just looking into those resources now, 12 years later.

   I have seen negative & positive aspects with brain surgery, while I was getting monitured, a grid put on my brain, and then having the complete left frontal lobe of my brain removed.

That all occurred over a 5 week period. My prognosis was not good, but I could no longer live as a mother of two, experiencing a grand mal seizure, with no warning, every 3 weeks. I convulsed on both sides of my body, was paralized from the neck to my toes and could not speak for over 30-40 minutes after the seizure. I would experience extreme depression for 7 days after the convulsion. I was given two weeks to decide whether I was willing to travel for two days to get to my destination for the monitering and the surgery. Very tough decision, but I believe that God helped me decide. I was willing to risk everything, at that point, including not recognising my 7 month old and 10 year old daughters, when I got home.

I had the surgery, meds were lessened, seizures were less frequent, also had auras. The negative aspects of the surgery: lost my ability to sleep for four years, memories that will never be replaced, personality, spelling ability, knowledge of approprite behavior in social situations,organizational skills, recognition of people that I did not see often and other areas. But do I regret the surgery? Never will I regret it. It has closed some possibilities for me, but it has opened up many things that were impossible before the surgery. I also had a baby girl exactly nine and one half months after the surgery. Not having anything to do with my brain surgery, she was born with down syndrome. She is now 11 years old, strong willed, extremely determined, but a blessing just the same. Imagine that!!! And remember that there is help available to reconstitute some of the skills that have been lost. I am just looking into those resources now, 12 years later.

Re: Brain Surgery

Submitted by WJM on Sun, 2008-06-01 - 17:28
I had brain surgery in 1992 because I had a right temporal lobe brain tumor.  I was only 9/10 years old and really didnt have any say.  But life since then has been no better, if not worse, so it is hard to say what would have been.  I believe I was told I would be an excellent canidate because all the anti-eplieptic drugs would mess me up any way if I stayed on them the rest of my life.  My seizures were noticed at age 2.  I posted a forum in this Topic about Right Temporal Lobectomy, I wrote down all the after effects I have had.  Of course I'm sure not everyone get the same plate of affects.  Good luck, there will be pros and cons for each.

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.