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Left Temporal Lobe Lobectomy Effects
Fri, 07/14/2006 - 11:52Topic: Surgery and Devices
Hi there,
I know it's too early to ask, but I was hoping for feedback. I can't help but wonder about the surgery effects, even though the option has not yet come up.
My goal is to work as a college professor. I was doing well in the master's program, but things are on hold due to the seizures. If I qualify for surgery, do you think it will prevent me from obtaining a Ph.D.?
I have simple partial seizures most every day despite experimenting with several meds. The epilepsy is from a brain injury, but it’s the seizures significantly affect my cognitive abilities. I overcame the brain injury effects.
Did anyone feel as mentally strong as they did before the surgery? Did you never regain your former cognitive abilities? Everything is relative, but I'm just looking for other's stories.
Thanks,
Kristine
P.S. The seizures have been occurring for almost a year.
Comments
Re: Re: Left Temporal Lobe Lobectomy Effects
Submitted by sallyshredder on Sat, 2006-07-15 - 10:53
I'm glad to hear things have gotten better. I'm sure it's a relief to find dependable medication.
Did you discuss surgery with your doctor? I know we're both curious, but hopefully the meds will keep us under control.
Take Care,
Kristine
Re: Re: Left Temporal Lobe Lobectomy Effects
Submitted by ahazari on Sat, 2006-07-15 - 15:33
Hi Sara,
I was interested in your response to Kristine. My son (20) is on Trileptal 1200mg per 24 hours - Could I ask you to share with me what side effects you observe with it? Also what exactly do you mean when you say "depending on how well I take care of myself".
Did you start with a higher dosage and was it then reduced to 900 mg.? Would decreasing his dosage also make him sucesptible to seizures? Since he was diagnosed last year when he was at University and he doesn't live at home, I worry a lot as he himself is extremely reticent about sharing or talking about his condition. He also sleeps a lot - how would I know if he is not having seizures in his sleep?
I have just discovered this site and have learnt so much in the past couple of days.
Thanks for sharing,
Re: Left Temporal Lobe Lobectomy Effects
Submitted by SaraOwens on Fri, 2006-07-14 - 12:04
HipChic Hi Kristine. I had a brain injury, too. I have a microscopic piece of scar tissue up there somewhere, unseeable by MRI, but causing Grand Mal seizures during sleep, and partials (deja-vu style) during the day. This has been happening since 1995. I've finally found a great med., Trileptal. Light side effects, depending on how well I take care of myself, and I've wondered about surgery as well. I take a low dosage, 900MG per 24 hrs. I still have seizures few and far between. I wanted to share with you, for I'm curious about a permanent solution as well!