Hi Everyone,

I have just got back from having my first video EEG and they
thought that I may have been in the hospital for a week or
10 days.They told me that I sure don't play around 3 days and
I was out of there,had plenty of seizures for them to see what
they needed.Now they are going to schedule me for a WADA test,
I have never had one before and by end of May I should be ready
for surgery.I am scared to death and have tears in my eyes as I am
trying to type this.The doctor told me that since I have had epilepsy
for 40 years all he can say is that I have a 85% chance of coming
out of it seizure free,if not a large reduction.He said that they will have
to shave my whole head,I thought that all they had to shave was a part,
whats up? He also said with my memory getting so bad due to so many
seziures that it will also get bad worse after surgery,but,if I do not have
surgery it will still get just as bad or worse after 5 more years of seizures.
It will be a left temporal lobectomy. I know I have posted before,but,
any info. will be appreciated,I am scared to death!!!The doctor said very
shortly after surgery I may have a bunch of seizures,and it does not mean
the surgery did not work,it is normal right afterwards.
Anyone ever had a WADA test,what is it like?
Take care,Sherri

Do a web search using WADA and neurological for search words. I found the Cleveland Clinic had a very good, brief, page describing what was done and the effects of the procedure. You may find more information than I did to help your informational needs.

NO I have not had it done (not that I am aware of anyway).

Hope that bit helps.

--Travis

Sherri,
*hugs*
I don't have anything constructive to say, but I wanted to give you my support. I'll be praying for you.

Also, what was the VEEG like? I'm supposed to be having one soon.

Travis,I read up alot on WADA test and tried to get as much as I could researching about it today,a little scary about possibly affecting my
memory that is already going bad.
Sentence,Thanks so much for your prayers and support.The VEEG
wasn't bad after they put all the electrodes on your head they will
wrap your head up in gauze to keep them from coming off,and they
did have me have a sleep deprived night,it wasn't hard on me, because
I was so nervous I couldn't sleep very good anyway.I should be scheduled
for the WADA test in the next 3 weeks,then the next step I believe is a
6 hour test to test my memory,then the actual operation,then who knows
what.I think the WADA test is the test that really sees if you are a good
candidate for the surgery or not,depending on which side of the brain
controls most of your speech and memory and where the scarring on your
brain is.I know the scarring is on my left temporal,so my guess is that
if most of my speech etc. is controlled there I would not be good for
surgery,but,they are already talking like I will be,I think they got that
info. form the MRI.Feel free to ask any questions,if I can answer them
I will.
Thank you both for replying.Take care,Sherri

Did they lower your meds during the VEEG? Did you have any GM's?

Yes,they did lower my meds. they cut them in half.But,they really
didn't even have to do that for me because it worked out great
that it was almost that time of the month and I had 2 the first night
I was there,but,they still lowered my medicine.I didn't have any GM,
my Mom who was there with me(they preferred a family member to stay
overnight with you)said I had some really bad complex partials,worse
than usual,but,nothing that I haven't had before.I hope all goes well with
you when you go in for the test.Take care,Sherri

Did they lower your meds during the VEEG? Did you have any GM's?

I'll field that one, Sherri (by the way, hugs to you! It'll all be ok!)

During the VEEG they lower your meds. but usually slowly as they don't you to have a GM. Why? Because a tonic-clonic affects the entire brain and they're trying to find the focal point of your seizures. They would rather you have complex partial seizures. Simple partials don't always show up (I had 2 and the machine didn't register 'em.)

I'm going in for another VEEG Monday, April 7th and this time my doctor is being more aggressive reducing my meds. Last time I was there for six days at half my Keppra level. grrrrr. They finally stopped it completely, and that's when I had the useless SPs.

Hi Everyone,

I just got a call from my doctor that is ordering all of this from
the hospital.I am now scheduled for the neuro-psych. test on
April 7th,then I will be admitted again on the 15th for a PET scan
and WADA test,they want to admit me becuase when I have the
WADA they have to inject something in my groin and they said
that is one of your main arteries and they like to keep an eye
on you for 24-48 hours afterwards.I will be back home on the 17th.
On the 23rd I will have a consultation with the surgeon for the first
time,are you ready for this,I will have the surgery on May 1st,and
scared to death.Please anyone, say a prayer for me.I will be staying
with my parents for the next few weeks after surgery,the doctor said,
it is not a good idea for me to be alone.I don't want to have my head
shaved either,but,he said he does to cut any chance of infection,my
hair has always been long,about 6 inches past my shoulders,what a
change and all of it is coming so quickly,this hospital doesn't play around.
Take care and thanks for everyones support,I will need it,Sherri

Sherri:

You will be in my prayers. I know you are scared but I know it will not be as bad as you imagine. My daughter had a right temporal lobectomy in Dec. 06 She says its the best thing that ever happened to her. After a few weeks recovering (headaches, jawaches), she began to feel better than she ever has in her life. The doctor will give you medication to help with the headache.

She recovered quickly and is doing better than ever in her professional job.

She has been seizure free....God Bless you and give you courage... Nan

Sherri, I remeber your feelings like it was yesterday, in 2 weeks i turn a year since my Right Anterior Temporal Lobectomy and I was as scared or more than you (i cried a lot!) but researched even more... I prepared carefully. I did all test last year exept for the WADA and Spect because my surgeon found it unecessary, so I was lucky; but yes I read about it and they will insert a dye substance to numb one hemesphere first ask ques, and vice versa until they can find which hememphere is your strongest and where your sensories and motor skills are located so they can prepare. It will a one day stay and rest at home until you can walk, but not too bad. The neuro-spych is about 6-7 hrs of questions and test very exhausting but also dueable. The Spect is a week lond and a pre surgical procedure as well due the week prior to your surgery which also works as a inner EEG where they insert spects and wait to catch your brains wavesduring a spell from a deeper perspective so they can exactly pin point the area where they seizures are coming from in the brain, its more precised than an EEG. As a recent post surgery patient I tell you honestly to relax trust in God and go with it, I been free since and it was worth the pain and months of rest. The after feeling is wonderful :D I know is easier said then done but everyone here helped me and Lots of prayers and faith kept me strong until the day of surgery, you will do it!! What surgery your undergoing?
Laura

Hi Nan and Laura,

Nan,thank you very much for the prayers,I know I will need them.

Laura,I am going to have the left temporal lobectomy,they say that
the left side is what controls your memory and speech more and that
is why I am soooooo scared.Thank you for all the encouragement.
They did tell me that this test is so long that they do give you an hour
lunch,it is less than a week away.I hear that the doctor that will be
performing the surgery has done a little over 400 surgeries,I guess that
is alot of experience.I am not having the SPECT test either,just
the WADA and a PET scan,they say the PET scan is like a MRI except
they are looking for your good working parts instead of the bad.I am glad
to hear that it will soon be one year seizure free for you.I am just worried so
much about my memory getting worse as it already has decreased over
the last 5 years,but,the doctor told me that without surgery and just
more and more seizures will also make my seizures even worse over time.

Again,thanks for the encouragement and prayers everyone and any info.
is highly appreciated.Take care,Sherri

Hi Everyone,

I am now scheduled for the neuro-psych. test on
April 7th,
Hey, I'm having my neuropsych test the same day!

Anyway, you're in my prayers with all these tests and surgery! *hugs*

Hi Sentence,

Having the test on the same day,what a coincidence :)
How many years have you had epilepsy? I forgot
I have it for 41 years

I have added you to my prayers also.
Take care and (((((hugs))))) back to you.

Sherri,
I've had Epilepsy for about 14 years, but I've been on meds for 7 years, since after having a GM after only previously having simple partials.

Thanks for the prayers and the hugs! :D

Sherri in regards to the memory as per experience it will get better and stronger after ur surgery. Mine has become better and things I didnt remembered came back to me, I know it will be the same for you. Yes the left temporal is more complicated but your surgeon should know wat he's doing. Ill give you a tip, I looked up my neurosurgeon and his results with prior surgeries which your allowed to do (and sites on the internet will give you his records, you need his full name and hospital) so you can feel more calm. Mined had done more than 1,000 surgeries, with 100% sucess rate, plus during my interview with him I asked he he was truthful. Write down all questions you want to ask, (major concerns like: memory, speech, motor skills and more) and this will give you a better understanding of you procedure. I know people that had the left temporal lobectomy and are better than before. I had my seizures for 20 years and meds for 10, so having the surgery helps you see life different. I lost my vision on the left eye upper quadrant but now Im used to it, it was the only after effects which I wont get back but it was worth it, surgeon told me ahead though so I was ready. Prepare right and take the appoinments this month to ask all questions. Ince again I felt the same and now here I am this month doing my post surgery exams. Keep us posted :)

Laura,

Thanks for info. I do plan on ask him many questions when I
the consultation with him,it will not be until April 29th.I will
keep everyone posted.Again thanks,Sherri :)

Hi Sherri,

I had epilepsy surgery on Jan 5, 2006. I also had to go through all those pre-op tests, the long-term EEG, the WADA, the neuro-psych. It was very scary, I wasn't sure I wanted to do it either, but I will tell you sincerely, from the bottom of my heart. I thank God everyday for leading me to the Dr who gave me the opportunity to do it. That surgery has totally changed my life. I am seizure free. My last seizure was 2 hours before the surgery. I am also in the process of being taken off my medication. I am down to only 1 1/2 pills a day compared to 8 before surgery. The WADA test is really interesting. They freeze one side of your brain at a time and are asking you to memorize items that they flash in front of you to test your recall and short-term memory. My seizures were coming from the left side of my brain so when they froze the left side, I didn't remember anything they showed me, I actually blacked out for a few seconds, but the right side I didn't feel anything it didn't effect me at all. It doesn't hurt, You just can't eat before they do it. My seizures came from the part of the brain where your emotions are, so when they froze the left side, I started crying, I also cried when I had seizures. You will do fine. I know it's nerve wracking not knowing what your going into. But It's worth it in the long run. Like I said, that surgery changed my life. It gave me a life back. I am now back in school working towards a medical degree so I can help others and give back.
Good Luck. I can't wait to hear your success story.

Sherri,
Think positive about all these tests! I've had them all and also had the surgery May 2003-have been seizure free since Sept 03.

Your Dr's gotta be pretty positive about you having the surgery-or he wouldn't have you having all these tests. During the WADA test there will be several things you will have to do for the Dr. You'll have to lay very still during that time and for several hours afterwards.

Peace, Cherie :angel: