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VNS for simple partial seizures?
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 14:50Topic: Surgery and Devices
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on something that I'm not too sure about. I have temporal lobe epilepsy and I only have simple partial seizures. I think I may have had a complex partial a long time ago, and that is only because I "zoned out" while reading a book for a few seconds. Anyways, my doctor has mentioned the word "surgery" because I have failed almost every medication out there...besides the dreaded old medications that no one wants to take because of the horrible side effects. (I haven't tried those yet) Best for last right! :) Well, I'm not a candidate for temporal lobectomy because my MRI and PET scans were all normal so I'm assuming he is talking about VNS. My question is this - Is it really necessary for me to have surgery if I'm only having simple partial seizures? As annoying as they are, I don't lose consciousness, can remember everything, and can function during them. I'm on a medication right now that controls them fairly well - when I say fairly well that means I have about one a week during the day and about 4-5 in the middle of the night per week. Any thoughts?
Re: VNS for simple partial seizures?
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2012-03-05 - 21:15
You've raised important points and ones you need to talk to your doctor and health care team. The issues are really around the risks of seizures - and how do the risks differ between seizures that don't affect your awareness or consciousness and those that do. While there are obvious safety risks when people have seizures with loss of consciousness or even when not fully aware able to talk, or remember, there still are safety concerns with simple partial seizures. All types of seizures can affect thinking, memory, mood as the parts of the brain involved with these functions are areas where simple partial seizures may arise from. Seizure discharges can also affect other body functions, and the medicines that people take can have long term health consequences (depending on the medicine and of course, the benefits of meds to stop seizures are usually greater). All these questions or issues rather should be talked about by everyone with their health care team. The info can help you think about your own situation differently and weigh options in a more informed way. Treatments should not be out of the question just because a person has simple partial seizures until all factors are considered. Epi_help Resource Specialist