OMG, wow. That is alot to go thru prior to surgery. Im sure you have to have real good medical insurance for this surgery? Which is what I have been informed my Stephen. Thanks for the info. I feel im with you on which side its on I feel alot of pressure on the right side.
DonnaMarie-NH
Anyone on this site feel free to email or add me to chatt anytime.
____________
From: Tristin Seagraves <tristinspike26@
To: epilepsy@yahoogroup
Sent: Saturday, October 3, 2009 9:17:34 AM
Subject: Re: [epilepsy] Surgery to stop Seizures?
Hi Donna,
I had my surgery on Nov 12, 2008 (a left temporal lobectomy), and I've been seizure-free since the surgery. Before the surgery I was on two different AEDs (Keppra and Tegretol). Now I'm just on Tegretol.
I had to go through a lot of testing to find out if I was even a candidate for the surgery. It all added up to about 6 months of testing, which included numerous video EEGs, a neuropsychological test, MRIs, a PET scan, depth electrodes and grid electrodes (inserted directly in and on the brain), brain mapping, a WADA angiogram, etc. All of this testing is to pinpoint the exact location of the seizures and also to make sure that area of the brain doesn't control speech, language, memory, or motor skills.
From all of the tests, I'd have to say that the WADA angiogram was the strangest... . not scary but just a little bit Sci-fi. During the WADA, they insert a catheter into the artery in the most upper part of your leg (your groin). This small catheter is sent all the way to your carotid arteries (the arteries in your neck that supply blood to the brain). They then inject dye into that artery to get a visual of the blood flow in your brain (you'll be able to see exactly what they are doing on the screen beside you). By the way... you're awake throughout this whole test.
After the dye, they then inject sodium amytal, by way of the catheter, into one side of your brain. The sodium amytal puts that half of your brain to sleep. You are then asked simple questions. After the sodim amytal wears off, they will put the other side of your brain to sleep and ask more questions. I guarantee you that you'll fail one test... either when they inject the left or the right carotid artery. When they put the left side of my brain to sleep, I answered the questions just fine, but when they injected the right side, I couldn't answer any questions... I couldn't even say my name... All I could do was laugh uncontrollably! This test is to find out which side of your brain controls speech, language, and memory.... For most people it's usualy the left. Not for me though... I was in the minority with this. I have right brain dominance.
For the surgery, I was in the hospital the whole month of November 08, and for the first two weeks of that month, I was hooked up to video EEG every second. The surgery only took about 4 hours. The only thing bad that came from the surgery was a severe headache that lasted about two weeks. I was given prescription pain meds for this. Also, I experienced a little bit of vertigo..... every time I got up out of bed, I nearly feel flat on my face. lol.
Okay, I think I've given you a good summary of what to expect. If you have any questions, feel free to write back.
I hope it goes well,
Tristin Seagraves :)
--- On Fri, 10/2/09, DonnaM <moon_stargzr42@ yahoo.com> wrote:
From: DonnaM <moon_stargzr42@ yahoo.com>
Subject: [epilepsy] Surgery to stop Seizures?
To: epilepsy@yahoogroup s.com
Date: Friday, October 2, 2009, 9:49 PM
Hello Everyone,
I am thinking about surgery to stop or slow down my seizures all info welcomed. Please explain what you had to go thru, before, during and after the surgery.
Thanks
DonnaS-NH
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