Finally, 23 months after starting up again, I got a surgery date of January 10th. Hopefully this one last and get on with life and school.:angel:

Hi Blue,

My doctor is also considering surgery for me,what kind of surgery
did you have the first time,is it the same all over again or a
different type of surgery you are going to have Jan. 10th?

I see you live in sarasota florida,I live in inverness fl. I have an
appt. on Jan 14th for first consultation at the Shands Center in
gainesville,is that where your surgery was or is about to be done?

Any info. will be appreciated.Thanks,Sherri

It is the same surgery as before, the right Temp. Lobe. It is Tampa General.

hey guys how r u, as u know I had right anterior temporal lobectomy 8 months ago, but I have heard of many people having to undergo a second surgery, Y? Goblue y u have to have a second op, what did they miss on the first if u dont mind me asking.. I do wish u the best and will b praying for u, I know everything will go well on the 10th next month, U know ur not alone, plus u been through this before, keep us inform

030free, I know he said he only took a little and said he would rather be conservative and if he need to he would go back. But I was fine for eight months till I had gall bladder sugery, thats where all the problems started. Besides bleeding out and the nurse laughing about, saying oh he forgot a staple, then getting thrush that took a week and three different doctors to find out, the doctor said that was the worse case he had ever seen, then got a severe middle and inner ear infection that took four months and three more doctors to find that out, I think but not sure if it caused it or helped start up again. So he is going to take a little more and hopefully it will be none and over with, once and for all. The first time I had one, was a month before I turned two.

OMG Im sorry to hear that, I would of sued those Drs. U been through so much.. I guess it does make a difference from the age of 2 till now, but the older u r i find that these surgeries have become more sucessful, due to the development of the brain, plus the science advances. Im sure you'll b just fine, after all you been through this should b easier to handle, regarding pain. Still read old post of many of us here that underwent the surgery this year and all the advices, they came in very handy for me. I had my old name here as francila back in march n April, but rsearch the posts and remember we r here for anything u need. If u dont mind me asking how old r u now. Im 26, and it wasnt until 2 yrs ago that I heard of the option of surgery that changed my life, Im glad I did it. I should b off the meds in 4 months. Also what type of seizures do u have, what is the name of your surgery?

Hi 030free, I am 34 now and had the first brain surgery at 32. The surgery is right temporal lobectomy.

Same surgery I had 8 months ago today, except they took out the Anterior temporal lobe portion also in the right. Surgery in regards to the results was great! My seizures havent returned, my memory got better ( it was horrible), my other related problems (such as panic and anxiety attacks) disappeared, and even my personality (according to others) have also improved. I feel much better and I know things will b great for u too. Your still young and you already had the first surgery 2 years ago. Why again must they do a second surgery? I was always afraid of having the doctor tell me I had to do the same, I wouldnt have the courage to undergo the second, so I give you props! lol .... When is it, next month?

030free, my first surgery went great. I was fine till I had gall bladder surgery in a Sarasota hospital and had lots of problems as soon as I woke up and it took week for them to find out I had thrush really bad, thats just one rhing that went wrong, there were several problems. I was seizure free for 8 months till that surgery. Then it all started up again and all with the panic & anxiety attacks, at least thats what it felt like and never had it before. Hopefully this surgery will stop it all once and for all. I'm tired of all the doctor from face to neuro. Hopefully this will be the last surgery of any kind for a long time.

MGOBLUE, I also had epilepsy surgery at TGH, you must not have had the same surgeon that I had. I am going on 3 years and have not any seizures or problems. I am curious of who your surgeon was.

Mgoblue, did the gallbladder surgery had any effect on ur seizures starting up again? Can they guarantee that after this surgery ur seizures will disappear? My surgeon gave me a 90% chance and it worked, I was just curious cause I would b as frustrated as u or more to have to undergo the same surgery cause another surgeon made a mistake w his operation.. Im very sorry to hear about all the surgeries, but I know u will b fine w the last one, this one will defenetly cure all your seizures, Im pretty sure. Anyways how good is your surgeon, have you checked his background?
Merry Christmas to you and your family ;)

030free and cher:

Message to you both on Rosalieh's thread 11/3.

030free & Krista.baby, the surgeon is Dr. Vale, and he is great, they think is will stop it but there is no 100% guarentee. I was fine before the gall bladder surgery, and after the surgery I bleed out and the nurse laughed and oh he forgot to put a staple in, and it took a week before the found out I was bleeding in and had one of the worse case of thursh the ER doctor had ever seen and with in a week after being on the medicine is when it all started up again. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

OMG I heard this surgeon is great at Tampa General hosp. in FL. right? I saw the live operation he did on a temporal lobe patient this year on the internet, which helped me to undertand what I was going to undergo. He did a great job, but of course he spoke through the surgery cause it was being recorded, are you recording yours? Keep me updated, its kool to know who's operating on u, I know it will b fine. Happy New Year :)

030free, Hopefully he will record the surgery, if he remembers this time.

u would need to requested and sign papers for it, not all get recorded, but it doesnt hurt to ask. I wanted mine recorded but my hospital doesnt do that for insurance purposes... Best of luck to u

He was going to record the first one but forgot, hopefully this time he will remember!!

That's who I had also. He is awesome, I agree! Your neurologist isn't Dr. Tatum is it?

Yes it is Dr. Tatum, he drives me Loca!! LOL I had to tell Dr. Vale if he wanted me to talk to Dr. Tatum, that he would have to tell Dr. Tatum to be quiet and listen!! I guess he did, last time I saw him, he listened!!

Surgery has been changed from 1/10 to 1/14.

why he has plans? In a way it can b good or bad, I know u want to get it over with, but take the few days to get things ready, research more, read and spend time with ur family cause after you'll b in bed. How u feeling so far?

MGoblue, I beleieve ur surgery is tomorrow, Im excited for, ull b just fine. I'll b praying for u... Stay strong, take time heal, dont rush the healing process and start a new thread when u return to let us know how surgery went and how ur making out. Godbless u ;)

I had right temporal surgery done back in 1990 at NEMC in Boston. Before that surgery no meds could control my complex peratial seizures. Since the surgery my seizures are mostly controlled with tegretol. I've had no daytime seizures but started having nocturnal seizures for the very first time. They only occurr when I sleep on my stomach. A sleep study verified that my oxygen intake is only 77% when sleeping on my stomach. Trying my best to stay off my stomach at night I have about 5 seizures per year. Compared to 2 to 3 seizures per week before the surgery it was much easier to live with.

I have an appointment with my nuerologists next week. I've only seen this doctor for about 8 months. I'm going to tell him that I'd like to have the surgery done again. I was the first patient they performed epileptic nuerosurgery on at that clinic. I'm sure they now have more skills and knowledge to perform a better surgery.

Hey, I think if ur a candidate for the surgery u should considerate, I had Mesial sclerosis (dead brain tissue) after hitting my head at age 6. Began having seizures then; 20 years laters, Last April 2007 I underwent Right Anterior Temporal Lobectomy and I been free since. The science is way advance and the surgeries are more and more common. I was scared but after research I found out how helpful and common they were so I did it. Not all people are candidates so ur neuro will let u know after some studies if u are, but I think u should do it, 1,2, 3 seizures less is still too many. This board will answer a lot of the questions u might have the best way possible. Keep us updated in ur exams and decisions ;)

JWH; you may want to consider getting a Cpap machine if you are not getting enough oxygen. Since using mine, the after effects of my seizures are MUCH easier. I am not laid up for a half a day-mostly 20 minutes.

I just started using a CPAP 2 months ago. It has been uncomfortable and I cannot use it everywhere I go. I haven't had a seizure since using it. But instead of taking medication and using a CPAP for the rest of my life I'd rather risk the neurosurgery again. It surely is much more common today than when I had it done 18 years ago.

Taking anti-seizure medication for the past 34 years has also braught my white blood cell count done.

Got the stitches yesterday and everything is still going GREAT!!!!!!:angel:
Jen

Hi Jen Im so happy to hear from u again, sounds like surgery went great.. So no spells yet? Take it easy at home, and dont stress your be better in no time. So who r u feeling?

I am interested in seeing the surgery on the Internet. How did you find it? Please let me know.

How many time have you had surgery? My grandaughter had surgery at aged 18 months. Lasted 4 years and she has been seizing since. She is on a heavy cocktail of lamactail, gabbatrial and zonnagram. Her doctors in miami want to do surgery again but we are scared. She is now 12.

Hi Jen,

Happy to hear you are doing well. :) Keep us informed on how
you are doing.Did the doctor say how long you may be bedridden
like 030free said.May God be with you :angel: Sherri

what does this surgery consist of? And is it only for people who's seizures are not controlled by medicine? My son is epileptic since about 4 or 5 years old. He is now 17 and so badly wants to outgrow it. His doctor beleives he will but when?

hi diana, not all individuals are candidates for surgery and those that are even if their medications work for them, they undergo surgery if the neuro feels they will benefit from the surgery better. Everything depends on the person, the type of seizure they have, how long and wether or not they are candidates. I ahd no other choice but to have surgery after 20 yrs of seizures because I had dead tissue that had to be removed. Surgeries all vary once again depending on the person, but the majority purpose is to remove (extract) the tissue that the seizures are starting from (taking out those cells). Even after surgery you will need to maintane on the meds for a year, and some discontinue after a year and others will always live with them unfortunatly. Once chance the person takes and its results varies from every individual.
Jen how you doing so far, any auras? what has the neurosurgeon said? Keep us inform, we are praying for you. :angel:

Hi Everyone,

Doctor at the surgery hospital I have been going to for and am
scheduled for tests told me that having seizures on a regular
basis as I do,that I do not have much of a choice but to get
the surgery because with my memory already getting bad and
my seizures happening more frequently that if I do not have the
surgery or something done,all that will happen is everything memory,
word find problem etc. will just continue to get even worse due to
the seizures.I cannot imagine my memory getting even worse years
down the road,I would probably end up with alzhemiers disease.
Or is he just telling me this so I will definitley agree with any surgery.
Have any of you had these problems or heard of this happening?
Take care,Sherri

Sherri lost of memory cells are directly connected to having seizures, every time you have a spell you lose a certain amount of those cells, and this is why the majority of epileptic people cant remember things, people's names or faces. The neuro is right in this perspective, but lets remember that tests most be conducted first in order to find out if your a candidate or not. In my case since my surgery 10 months ago my memory has become better and stronger. Surgery can be a scary though but it has its benefits especialy in memory gain. Think about it, dont just do it for your memory because your scared, but also for the major reason of being seizure Free!!! Keep us posted

030free,

Thanks alot for the info.I am doing it to be seizure free and it will
just be wonderful if I can gain some of my memory back.
I have had E. since I was 4 years old and use to have the best
memory out of everyone in my family,it has been the last 5 years
that I have drop attack seizures and busted my head,since then
my memory has really gotten bad worse then my mom and dad's,
and they are in their mid sixties.
Again,thanks for the info. and I will keep you all informed,video EEG
was scheduled for March 10th,but just got a call this past Wed. for
it to changed to March 24,those two weeks will seem sooooo long.
Take care,Sherri

Well I wish you the best of luck, in a month is your EEG and I know the neuro will catch a lot of the spells and they can then give you the answer you want. Keep studying and researching until then, I did for two years in a row before my surgery and learned so much that it prepared me even more and kept me positive :) Its been 10 months free here and waiting two more to get off these meds... I wish you the best and any other questions or concerns we are here... Laura

I was up and walk around the next day. After ten days and taking out the stitches the doctor said I could start work out some. He said just go light since I just them out. It has been six weeks ago yesterday and working as normal, getting ready to go back to college and have a real life. And of course go man hunting!!!!!! LOL GOOD LUCK! It like you relex and not worry and the next seizure. You can be happy, bad, tired, sleep to much and anything else with worring about that. Its awesome!!!! :)
Jen

Jen and Laura,

Thanks so much for the encouragement.Glad to see things are
working out well for both of you.:)
I am continuing to do research on it,though my parents hate
me doing it,they are just old fashioned,they don't even own
a computer.
Take care,Sherri

Mgoblue Im so happy to hear its been six weeks that must of felt like an eternity (which was to me) but still gradually return to work and school. I rushed back to society within weeks and ended up in the ER with panic and anxiety attacks because the brain according to the neuro was still adjusting to such a change that I pushed my brain into a rollercoaster... Do maintain contact with family and friends (it works wonders) in keeping your positive atitute :D hope u keep us posted on your positive changes... Sherri Go to the library or book store and get a book that covers everything like I did and hide it..lol it will help answer a lot of your questions. I wish you both the best of luck ;)

HI, its Jen, its been 2 1/2 months yesterday, so far so good!! Now I'm geting ready to go back to school at the University of South Florida as a Junior in Psychology. Time to finish school!! :)

Jen Im so happy to hear your going back to school, as long as your feeling better and take things slow, Its a great idea. I wish you the best in school, and let us know how your health continues :)

epilepsygranma, I had 2 brain surgeries. It has now been 13 weeks and start back to school next month. I finally had my first birthday Friday without having to worry about the seizures. I like being able to have fun, happy, mad or what ever without worry about if i'm going to have a seizure!! The Doctors said I could do what I want, no limits. :)

Jen

Jen I am so happyyyy for you, yes is like being given a new life worry free. Soon before you realize your be celebrating the 1 year.. Im celebrating my 1 year free this week,. Im leaving to Hawaii in 2 days, and I still cant believe it, when I get back Im going to get off these meds, Im happy. Stay strong and positive things will get much better :) congrats

Well its been 4 Months ago today since the second brain surgery and NO seizures and finally starting back to school on Wednesday the 14th at the University Of South Florida.
Jen

Thats excellent news, its good to get back to school as long as you can handle it. I started working myself 2 weeks ago as a teacher and Im happy to be busy again. Still take it easy for stress purposes but enjoy everything you do. I passed my one year seizure free and neuro wont take me off my meds until I hit 2 years free.. Hopefully we'll hear of your six month soon take care Jen :)