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Personal considerations for surgery

Sat, 08/11/2018 - 20:04
Hi! I am trying to understand the pros and cons that people have considered while trying to decide whether to go through with epilepsy surgery or not. Not the pros and cons your doctor would state but your personal ones. I would appreciate if you could share your experience! Thanks!

Comments

Pros: the chance at a cure

Submitted by RTLEmum on Sat, 2018-08-11 - 21:16
Pros: the chance at a cure for epilepsy, the chance of being seizure-free or reduced seizures, the possibility that your epilepsy could worsen and get to the point that surgery is not a possibilityCons: the ordeal of having to go through brain surgery, the possibility of complications, the possibility that you could go through it and not be one of the lucky ones who become seizure free after, the possibility that you could be seizure free, but now have depression or memory loss or cannot drive because of a visual field deficit, fear of the unknown.

procedures have to be done

Submitted by just_joe on Sun, 2018-08-12 - 15:30
procedures have to be done before they ever look at surgery.In that process you may not be a candidate for surgery 

I'm trying medication number

Submitted by birdman on Sun, 2018-08-12 - 21:01
I'm trying medication number 16 now; not because I am hopeful that it will work.  Instead I hate to think that maybe one of the untried drugs out there will stop my seizures with little or no side effects.  In one way it's too bad that no drug works, but on the other hand it is comforting to know that what I deal with is the best I can get from drug therapy.  The same holds true with surgery.  I had tissue removed from my right temporal lobe in 1993, then in 1999 I had surgery to have VNS therapy.  The operation in 1993 did not stop the seizures and had little effect.  VNS didn't stop the seizures, but it did change how quickly I recovered from them.  Despite the fact that I still have seizures I'm glad I went through the procedures; otherwise I would still be wondering, "should I?"  One thing that the epilepsy clinic required for me to have the surgery in 1993 was that I "fail three mono therapy drug trial".  That meant that I had to try one medication at a time and go through seizures and uncomfortable side effects to prove they were ineffective.  It wasn't pleasant but I kept track of it all and am glad that I have record of what does not work.  I have greater control of my treatment now because I can tell my doctor what works best for me.  I will still bow to a doctor's advice once in a while to try another drug, but how I respond to each treatment goes onto my spreadsheet at home and gives me more comfort when my current treatment is not 100% effective.  I'd say if your epilepsy is disabling enough it would be comforting to know if there is better control than drug therapy.  You have to try it to find out.Ask doc about the various surgeries available; know your options.

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