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What is life like AFTER surgery?

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 11:34
I have an appointment in August to discuss "options" to control my seizures. I have been having seizures for 30 years. It wasn't until 4 years ago that it was discoved that my seizure activity was coming from the front left temporal lobe. I know that every case is different, and that with any surgery there are risk involved. I'm just curious to hear from people who have actually experienced the surgery what recovery is like, and what kind of quality of life some of you are having after the fact.

Comments

Re: What is life like AFTER surgery?

Submitted by sberra01 on Thu, 2012-07-05 - 22:53

Cookin: You're right, every case is different but I've been very happy with my outcome so I'm going to fill you in on what I've experienced so far. My surgery is almost 1 yr behind me and I  have to say its one of the best decisions I've ever made. I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn. All of my pre op testing started July 25th into August and my actual surgery was Oct 14th. It took 8hrs for them to remove scarring from my right temporal lobe but they did get it removed so with that and 45 staples later the surgery was complete. My recovery time was 3 months. which I really enjoyed having Xmas off at home and became a great online shopper. I had great support from my family--things were healing just fine, going along real well when I had a very small partial seizure New Yrs day during the Badgers bowl game--dangit!! My drs werent too concerned about it--(yet) only one.. I went back to my job(I work in banking fulltime--again things going well..ad another little one March 3rd--grrrr--because of another my dr evaluated my meds again and increase my toprimate a bit--since then I have not had a seizure which is great!!In WI if you are seizure free for 3 mo you can drive again  so I am just starting that!! YAY--the independance I am feeling!    Good luck with whatever your decision is but I really feel that 2 little ones in 1 yr are tons better that what I was having before taking the big step! Feel free to email me if you have any other questions!

Cookin: You're right, every case is different but I've been very happy with my outcome so I'm going to fill you in on what I've experienced so far. My surgery is almost 1 yr behind me and I  have to say its one of the best decisions I've ever made. I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn. All of my pre op testing started July 25th into August and my actual surgery was Oct 14th. It took 8hrs for them to remove scarring from my right temporal lobe but they did get it removed so with that and 45 staples later the surgery was complete. My recovery time was 3 months. which I really enjoyed having Xmas off at home and became a great online shopper. I had great support from my family--things were healing just fine, going along real well when I had a very small partial seizure New Yrs day during the Badgers bowl game--dangit!! My drs werent too concerned about it--(yet) only one.. I went back to my job(I work in banking fulltime--again things going well..ad another little one March 3rd--grrrr--because of another my dr evaluated my meds again and increase my toprimate a bit--since then I have not had a seizure which is great!!In WI if you are seizure free for 3 mo you can drive again  so I am just starting that!! YAY--the independance I am feeling!    Good luck with whatever your decision is but I really feel that 2 little ones in 1 yr are tons better that what I was having before taking the big step! Feel free to email me if you have any other questions!

Re: What is life like AFTER surgery?

Submitted by sberra01 on Thu, 2012-07-05 - 22:53

Cookin: You're right, every case is different but I've been very happy with my outcome so I'm going to fill you in on what I've experienced so far. My surgery is almost 1 yr behind me and I  have to say its one of the best decisions I've ever made. I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn. All of my pre op testing started July 25th into August and my actual surgery was Oct 14th. It took 8hrs for them to remove scarring from my right temporal lobe but they did get it removed so with that and 45 staples later the surgery was complete. My recovery time was 3 months. which I really enjoyed having Xmas off at home and became a great online shopper. I had great support from my family--things were healing just fine, going along real well when I had a very small partial seizure New Yrs day during the Badgers bowl game--dangit!! My drs werent too concerned about it--(yet) only one.. I went back to my job(I work in banking fulltime--again things going well..ad another little one March 3rd--grrrr--because of another my dr evaluated my meds again and increase my toprimate a bit--since then I have not had a seizure which is great!!In WI if you are seizure free for 3 mo you can drive again  so I am just starting that!! YAY--the independance I am feeling!    Good luck with whatever your decision is but I really feel that 2 little ones in 1 yr are tons better that what I was having before taking the big step! Feel free to email me if you have any other questions!

Cookin: You're right, every case is different but I've been very happy with my outcome so I'm going to fill you in on what I've experienced so far. My surgery is almost 1 yr behind me and I  have to say its one of the best decisions I've ever made. I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn. All of my pre op testing started July 25th into August and my actual surgery was Oct 14th. It took 8hrs for them to remove scarring from my right temporal lobe but they did get it removed so with that and 45 staples later the surgery was complete. My recovery time was 3 months. which I really enjoyed having Xmas off at home and became a great online shopper. I had great support from my family--things were healing just fine, going along real well when I had a very small partial seizure New Yrs day during the Badgers bowl game--dangit!! My drs werent too concerned about it--(yet) only one.. I went back to my job(I work in banking fulltime--again things going well..ad another little one March 3rd--grrrr--because of another my dr evaluated my meds again and increase my toprimate a bit--since then I have not had a seizure which is great!!In WI if you are seizure free for 3 mo you can drive again  so I am just starting that!! YAY--the independance I am feeling!    Good luck with whatever your decision is but I really feel that 2 little ones in 1 yr are tons better that what I was having before taking the big step! Feel free to email me if you have any other questions!

Re: What is life like AFTER surgery?

Submitted by jimbeth16 on Fri, 2012-07-06 - 22:38

Hi Cookin.

 My situation is/was very similar to yours although I am not sure what types of seizures you have been having.  I was having partial seizures over the last 20 years.  After finally seeing the proper specialists it was diagnosed that my seizures were coming from scar tissue on my left temporal lobe.

 After going through several tests including the WADA test, overnight EEG and Neuro Phsyc testing it was decided that I was a strong candidate for surgery.  My Epileptologist (Dr Eric Geller) gave me odds of 65-70% chance that all seizures would be gone.  Well that was enough of a chance for me.

 My Neuro Surgeon is/was Dr Werner Doyle from the NYU hospital.  Well I am happy to tell you that I have now been seizure free for 9 months as my 2 stage surgery was during the weeks 10/12/11 & 10/19/11.

As far as recovery goes I think it is basically on a person by person basis.  What I do remember most are a great deal of headaches and a need for excess sleeping and napping.  You need to make sure you get up slowly from bed when first recovering and be careful because I do remember losing balance once or twice and actually falling to the ground, and my wife was very worried.  Now on a positive note.

I was actually back to the office 4 weeks after coming home from the hospital on 10/22, in addition I did work from home the last 2 weeks before going back in.  Although there were concerns over the scars on my head when I first came home I am glad that they are not even seen any longer.  Finally I have now gotten my drivers license back as of the first week of May and my life is finally complete again.

I am eternally grateful to all of the medical team involved in NJ & NYU.  I am not sure where you are located but this team was the best and I wish I did this over 20 years ago.

Please feel free to let me know if you would like any additional information.  Best of Luck!!!

Jim 

 

Hi Cookin.

 My situation is/was very similar to yours although I am not sure what types of seizures you have been having.  I was having partial seizures over the last 20 years.  After finally seeing the proper specialists it was diagnosed that my seizures were coming from scar tissue on my left temporal lobe.

 After going through several tests including the WADA test, overnight EEG and Neuro Phsyc testing it was decided that I was a strong candidate for surgery.  My Epileptologist (Dr Eric Geller) gave me odds of 65-70% chance that all seizures would be gone.  Well that was enough of a chance for me.

 My Neuro Surgeon is/was Dr Werner Doyle from the NYU hospital.  Well I am happy to tell you that I have now been seizure free for 9 months as my 2 stage surgery was during the weeks 10/12/11 & 10/19/11.

As far as recovery goes I think it is basically on a person by person basis.  What I do remember most are a great deal of headaches and a need for excess sleeping and napping.  You need to make sure you get up slowly from bed when first recovering and be careful because I do remember losing balance once or twice and actually falling to the ground, and my wife was very worried.  Now on a positive note.

I was actually back to the office 4 weeks after coming home from the hospital on 10/22, in addition I did work from home the last 2 weeks before going back in.  Although there were concerns over the scars on my head when I first came home I am glad that they are not even seen any longer.  Finally I have now gotten my drivers license back as of the first week of May and my life is finally complete again.

I am eternally grateful to all of the medical team involved in NJ & NYU.  I am not sure where you are located but this team was the best and I wish I did this over 20 years ago.

Please feel free to let me know if you would like any additional information.  Best of Luck!!!

Jim 

 

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