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surgery at 40

Tue, 12/07/2004 - 01:55
I was diagnosed with grand mal seizures at the age of 13. I was really scared about the hole situation at hand, i have heard that there are surgerys that can help, but not sure if it is right for me...I have been seizure free for almost 5yrs now. I also found out that the medication that i take causes weight gain and liver damage. If there is anyone out there that has had any of the surgerys that they perform on seizure's can you please write back...... thanks 4 your time

Comments

Re: Re: Re: Re: RE: RE: surgery at 40

Submitted by Amy on Thu, 2006-01-19 - 18:34
Hi Bau I am currently on Lamictal taking 150 mg in a.m. and 225 mg in p.m. my neuro has advised that I will be on the meds for a few more years, and will continue to taper off during that time. Regarding hair shaving! The area shaved was totally around my ear, approx. 4 inches above and behind my ear. The area that was cut was in the shape of a question mark...starting above the ear at the hairline, rounding into a half circle, then ending in front of the ear. Some friends have pointed out that it is pretty funny that I had an incision cut in the shape of a question mark in my head! As hair grows back it is covering the incision and it will not be easy to see. Another FYI is that after the surgery, gauze was wrapped totally around my head, and when the surgeon came to follow up he pulled the gauze up off my head..I was expecting lots of stitches, etc, but the incision on my scalp was closed with a type of glue...it is amazing! I was told the cranium incision is closed up with a type of metalic, but I won't have problems going through metal detectors. I was able to completely shower, including washing my hair three days after the surgery. I put several thoughts into shaving, getting very short cut, etc. prior to surgery, but instead I just let the surgery team do what needed to be done. The shaving was done after anesthetics kicked in, so I did not have to see or feel it being done. At this point I don't have much of a problem with it, I know I get some looks sometimes and my daughter likes watching people look at my head wondering why I have a goofy haircut! Besh wishes Amy

Re: RE: RE: surgery at 40

Submitted by anniemarie on Thu, 2006-12-14 - 07:10
My last Seizure was june,6,2006 I have Grand-mal and I got no warning signal before that Seizure. See I was 2 yrs Seizure free and then wham-o out cold on the floor at work, there went my long term disabilty at work. My Seizures are very bad, loose consiuosness, jerk vilently by what others told me, no warning at all. I will be asking my doctor about surg or I can forget about ever driving and not having a normal life. Meds are causing all kinds of side affects. Anniemarie

RE: surgery at 40

Submitted by WendyS on Mon, 2004-09-13 - 20:22

Hi,

  I'm 42 and like you I'm facing Surgery for Complex Partial Seizures.  The only difference is yours ore completely controlled, mine aren't.  I take Trileptol, Keppra & Zongran and still am having seizures every two - three months. I was up to six months inbetween at one time. 

  As far as weight is concerned I had gained a lot of weight and was extremely fustrated but then I discovered that a good low carbohydrate diet is all you need to control your wieght.  I've lost over 60lbs!  I feel great. 

  I'm scared about doing surgery because I'm afraid of lossing my memory, of the time away from my kids and husband and reusing a normal life style.  Let alone the pain you have to endure.  I've heard the drilling is the most horrible part to live through in all your life!  But at the same time if I don't go through the surgery I face like you say a bad liver from all the meds I been taking for years, and my memory will indeed get worse and worse through the years.

 It's hard to make the right decision you just have to weigh all the pros and cons and do what is right for you with all the facts, knowing what your facing, is the way I look at it.  I need all the information I can get and anyone who can give me info and experience I'm open so I can make the decsion for me.

  Good luck to you, I will be interest to hear what you choose to do and if you do have surgery how it goes!

 

   WS

  

 

 

Hi,

  I'm 42 and like you I'm facing Surgery for Complex Partial Seizures.  The only difference is yours ore completely controlled, mine aren't.  I take Trileptol, Keppra & Zongran and still am having seizures every two - three months. I was up to six months inbetween at one time. 

  As far as weight is concerned I had gained a lot of weight and was extremely fustrated but then I discovered that a good low carbohydrate diet is all you need to control your wieght.  I've lost over 60lbs!  I feel great. 

  I'm scared about doing surgery because I'm afraid of lossing my memory, of the time away from my kids and husband and reusing a normal life style.  Let alone the pain you have to endure.  I've heard the drilling is the most horrible part to live through in all your life!  But at the same time if I don't go through the surgery I face like you say a bad liver from all the meds I been taking for years, and my memory will indeed get worse and worse through the years.

 It's hard to make the right decision you just have to weigh all the pros and cons and do what is right for you with all the facts, knowing what your facing, is the way I look at it.  I need all the information I can get and anyone who can give me info and experience I'm open so I can make the decsion for me.

  Good luck to you, I will be interest to hear what you choose to do and if you do have surgery how it goes!

 

   WS

  

 

 

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