Comments on: Epilepsy, Brain Surgery and then, Seizure-Free

By: C. Madison

C. Madison — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:57:47 +0000

My husband, age 55, had surgeries for seizures at another hospital. He had the first surgery to place the electrodes that would record seizures, and the second surgery – a partial left-temporal lobectomy – one week later. I’d done as much research as I could in the 6 weeks leading up to the surgeries (Oct. 2012), but looking back, it was not nearly enough. This is truly a profound experience, both for the patient and for his or her family. The hospital we went to clearly did not prepare us. Additionally, there were unacceptable inconsistancies with the ICU nursing staff. Nurses are human, but there should be less room for error when dealing with surgeries of this magnitude. Also, I believe it would have helped immensely if we’d had some sort of preparation for the surgeries other than the medical steps being outlined. Lesson learned: interview 2+ hospitals before you let them cut into your loved one or yourself.

By: Bill Porter

Bill Porter — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:12:15 +0000

I am glad people have had a success with Mayo-Clinic. I grew up with a brother who went there about twenty years ago. He didn’t have a success with Mayo-Clinic and passed away after the brain surgery.

I never had epilepsy until he did pass away. I have been on all kinds of drugs and a VNS monitor. None of it has ever worked. I finally had my brain surgery November 20th, 2011 at the UNMC hospital in Omaha, NE and it has worked great.

To this date no seizures it has been a short time. I hope it keeps going that way for me since I went to UNMC.

By: Erica Egge

Erica Egge — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:23:48 +0000

Thank you all so much for your support. It certainly feels like I’ve been given a new lease on life. I’m glad the surgery worked for those who’ve had it and I suggest taking a look at it for those who haven’t.

By: Erica Egge

Erica Egge — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:01:45 +0000

In reply to shena.

I’m glad I can be of help! Kids are especially resilient – I followed a two year old boy who had the same surgery as me, but while I couldn’t sit up or even lift a spoon, he was crawling around on the floor playing! Good luck and blessings to you and your daughter.

Erica

By: shashank

shashank — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:11:32 +0000

Hi,
I am Shashank Tiwari and this is my 1st visit on this site , I found it is very useful and informative. It has very nice information regarding Epilepsy, Brain Surgery. I am glad to visit here and will visit again. All the best

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:56:33 +0000

Im glad the surgeries had gone well for some of you. I work one on one with a little boy who has grand mall seizures and its hard for the family and the child. I wish you all the luck.

By: shena

shena — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:53:57 +0000

this made me cry a bit my 8 year old is going thru seizures that have not been controlled and they have mentioned surgey and just the thought is so scary but your story made me see that this may just be the right thing to do!

By: Mike Henle

Mike Henle — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Your story hits very close to home considering that I had a right temporal lobectomy Dec. 6, 1994 at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, Calif, and remember ever step of the way as we headed through the hospital doors and into the operating room. The journey was certainly life-changing for me, too, considering that I had four seizures the day before the surgery (the last was while standing in front of Scripps) and I haven’t had another since after dealing with epilepsy dating back to the mid-1950s. Like you, I had also grown tired of dealing with the seizures and the medications — none of them worked for me — and the surgery undoubtedly changed my entire life. Take care and keep the faith!

By: Janice

Janice — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:34:05 +0000

My Dad had the same thing done over 4 years ago and he is seizure free still!! He did have major depression at about a year out but that is improving now too. He had epilepsy since he was an infant related to high fevers they think and he was untreated until he got out of high school. Hopefully this surgery can stop lots of suffering and worry. Take care!