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surgery at 40
Tue, 12/07/2004 - 01:55Comments
RE: RE: surgery at 40
Submitted by BillM on Tue, 2004-09-28 - 16:51
WS wrote:
> 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!
I had no memory loss (well, my memory's not as good as it was when I was 20, but... I'm no longer 20, either!)
I was in the hospital for a total of three stays, 5 to 7 days for each of the first two (evaluation), and four days for the final one (surgery).
The pain was significant, but it was "only" a very bad headache... and, they gave me powerful painkillers to take the edge off that pain. (The painkillers didn't completely eliminate it, but they did make it bearable.) My epileptologist was, also, wonderful about follow-up care, and making sure I could reach someone skilled to deal with those first few days after the surgery, including prescribing stronger pain-killers (or adjusting doses), 24x7, if necessary.
I was back to work, part-time, within just a few days after I got home; full-time, within 3 weeks.
There was no pain from "the drilling" itself. First, that happened under general anesthesia; second, there are no "pain sensors" in the skull itself... only what's in the skin and muscles over the skull.
There was a time of about three weeks when I couldn't open my mouth fully (no quarter-pounders... lots of apple sauce and oatmeal!) because, to reach my surgery site, they had to "go through" the muscle that runs, vertically, in front of the ears... the muscle that manipulates the jaw. That led to muscle pain, but all the pain was over within 3 weeks.
Of course, I've never given birth; but, if Bill Cosby's analogy is correct, and the pain of childbirth is like the pain of pulling your lower lip up over your head... well, let's just say, this wasn't that bad!
I had several visits from friends while in the hospital... and my wife stayed with me, every night. (Granted, we have no children.) I also had my laptop with me; there are photos of me, sitting in the bed with the EEG wires attached, typing and smiling for the camera ;)
The hospital staff was also extraordinary; that's one of the reasons I continued going to that epilepsy center, after the first ("no big deal") evaluation stay... I was evaluating them, while they were evaluating me ;)
WS wrote:
> 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!
I had no memory loss (well, my memory's not as good as it was when I was 20, but... I'm no longer 20, either!)
I was in the hospital for a total of three stays, 5 to 7 days for each of the first two (evaluation), and four days for the final one (surgery).
The pain was significant, but it was "only" a very bad headache... and, they gave me powerful painkillers to take the edge off that pain. (The painkillers didn't completely eliminate it, but they did make it bearable.) My epileptologist was, also, wonderful about follow-up care, and making sure I could reach someone skilled to deal with those first few days after the surgery, including prescribing stronger pain-killers (or adjusting doses), 24x7, if necessary.
I was back to work, part-time, within just a few days after I got home; full-time, within 3 weeks.
There was no pain from "the drilling" itself. First, that happened under general anesthesia; second, there are no "pain sensors" in the skull itself... only what's in the skin and muscles over the skull.
There was a time of about three weeks when I couldn't open my mouth fully (no quarter-pounders... lots of apple sauce and oatmeal!) because, to reach my surgery site, they had to "go through" the muscle that runs, vertically, in front of the ears... the muscle that manipulates the jaw. That led to muscle pain, but all the pain was over within 3 weeks.
Of course, I've never given birth; but, if Bill Cosby's analogy is correct, and the pain of childbirth is like the pain of pulling your lower lip up over your head... well, let's just say, this wasn't that bad!
I had several visits from friends while in the hospital... and my wife stayed with me, every night. (Granted, we have no children.) I also had my laptop with me; there are photos of me, sitting in the bed with the EEG wires attached, typing and smiling for the camera ;)
The hospital staff was also extraordinary; that's one of the reasons I continued going to that epilepsy center, after the first ("no big deal") evaluation stay... I was evaluating them, while they were evaluating me ;)
RE: RE: RE: surgery at 40
Submitted by fenway on Thu, 2004-09-30 - 03:11
Bill:
I must commend you on your success on recovery from the surgery. I went through surgery as well ......... now 15 years ago. Medically, it went smoothly. It was disruptive from a social and employment perspective. But I was willing to sacrifice everything for the surgery.
I think everyone must evaluate the pros and cons. It is particullary important to understand the risks involved with the operation. Talk to as may people as you can that have gone through the process. I was firmly commited to the surgery because my seizures were uncontrolled despite the meds etc. Surgery should be the absolute last resort when all else fails.
Bill:
I must commend you on your success on recovery from the surgery. I went through surgery as well ......... now 15 years ago. Medically, it went smoothly. It was disruptive from a social and employment perspective. But I was willing to sacrifice everything for the surgery.
I think everyone must evaluate the pros and cons. It is particullary important to understand the risks involved with the operation. Talk to as may people as you can that have gone through the process. I was firmly commited to the surgery because my seizures were uncontrolled despite the meds etc. Surgery should be the absolute last resort when all else fails.
RE: RE: surgery at 40
Submitted by Belinda on Thu, 2004-09-16 - 15:19
Wendy,I had surgery when I was 20.I had it on my RTL in Montreal,Canada in 1982.I was in Canada for 3 months altogether with my surgery and the testing.They suspected my seizures were on both sides but weren't sure.I was diagnosed when I was 2 and I've had seizures for 40 years.I've taken 18 different drugs for epilepsy that don't work for me.I have refractory epilepsy.Trileptal I'm allergic to Zonnegran I've taken and Keppra I'm allergic to.I also have complex partial seizure,Atonic sz's Absence and Tonic-clonic sz's.My husband has epilepsy had surgery in 1972 on his LTL and hasn't has a seizure since.I have a good memory it was when I came off Dilantin it improved.I take Tegretol,Felbatol,Topamax,Klonopin.Ialso have a VNS since 2000. Belinda