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Right temporal lobe surgery, removal of the right Hippocampus.

Thu, 11/13/2008 - 15:15

Hello, My name is Lee. My Daughter, who is 36, started having seizures abou 3 years ago. She has been on many medications, but they do not control her seizures. That is when the Doctors considered her for brain surgery. First, the Doctors tested her on everything to see if she is a good candidate for surgery. Well, it turns out that she is a good candidate. My Daughter's name is Lori. All of her seizures are coming from the right temporal lobe. They have given her a 65% chance of being seizure free. The problem is this... my Daughter is really scared that it will effect her memory even more, or worse, effect her emotions. I would like to get feed back from anyone that has had this surgery. I would like to know the pro's and con's of your experience. I would greatly appreciate this. I am very concerned for my Daughter. 

Thank You!!

Concerned Mom!

Comments

Right temporal lobe surgery, removal of the right Hippocampus.

Submitted by mjak72 on Wed, 2009-05-27 - 13:45
I am waiting for the same surgery, in fact they are suppose to call me any day now.  I too am concerned about the outcome.  My neurosurgeon basically said the outcomes are different for each individual.  Just the thought of brain surgery scares me.  I know it needs to be done because the meds aren't working well enough and the seizures are affecting my life.  Wish you two the best.

Re: Right temporal lobe surgery, removal of the right Hippocamp

Submitted by seizures101 on Tue, 2009-07-14 - 15:23

  I had my right temporal lobe removed back in 1998.I was 26 at the time and yes I was scared to death.Before the surgery I was having 2 to 3 gm seizures a week.I know that doesn't sound like alot,but when you chew your tounge up to point where it's bleeding I think that's plenty.I was also having 5 to 6 complex partical seizures a week.After the surgery I have changed a great deal.My short term memory is terrible,I have really bad mood swings.I mean I can be happy one minute and then jump down someones throat the next.

   In 2004 I had a VNS put and with the surgery,the VNS and the meds.I'm on my seizures are almost non-existing.Yeah I have one every now and then if I don't get enough sleep,but I would NOT go back and re-do anything.During my surgery I was awake the whole time.The doc.and nurses were talking and showing pics.to me while they were operating.

                                                                                                                                                        Michael

  I had my right temporal lobe removed back in 1998.I was 26 at the time and yes I was scared to death.Before the surgery I was having 2 to 3 gm seizures a week.I know that doesn't sound like alot,but when you chew your tounge up to point where it's bleeding I think that's plenty.I was also having 5 to 6 complex partical seizures a week.After the surgery I have changed a great deal.My short term memory is terrible,I have really bad mood swings.I mean I can be happy one minute and then jump down someones throat the next.

   In 2004 I had a VNS put and with the surgery,the VNS and the meds.I'm on my seizures are almost non-existing.Yeah I have one every now and then if I don't get enough sleep,but I would NOT go back and re-do anything.During my surgery I was awake the whole time.The doc.and nurses were talking and showing pics.to me while they were operating.

                                                                                                                                                        Michael

Hi,When a neurosurgeon

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2014-10-30 - 12:29
Hi,When a neurosurgeon performs these types of operations they usually remove all of, or part of, the hippocampus. They may also remove the amygdala which is an area of the brain associated with emotion. So, with the hippocampus removed which is involved in memory processes and the amygdala which is involved in emotion, your daughter may be best trying ECT therapy or deep brain stimulation. 65 % is not worth the risk. If it was 100 % then we could argue that it would be a straight swap - no more seizures though troubled memories and emotions. However, this is not the case. Is it worth swapping these seizures for our memory? Our memory is our existence. Look at patients with dementia or Alzheimer's, they struggle far worse than those with seizure disorders. I would try deep brain stimulation or electro convulsive therapy before resorting to the removal of brain tissue, 65% is just not worth it, even if it was 100% I am still not sure if I would want my personality and who I am to be affected. A seizure is something you can learn to live with and medicate; it can be helped. What if a new treatment for seizures is invented in 5 years which cures 95% of all cases? If this happened and your daughter has opted for hippocampus removal, there is no going back from this; this is permanent. I would hold off and try other options. Dave, psychology student

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