Greetings Hurtsobad73,

Boy oh boy did I take your message to heart. I myself, just like bjholahan was suffering with Complex-Partial (glad to be Petit-Mal) Seizures. It sounds like everyone thus far that I've read who replied to your message was either born with Epilepsy, an illness may have sparked it, or just a happenstance seizure eventually turned out to be something one should really worry about. I, however, had the onset of my Epilepsy due to an unfortunate head trauma from an automobile accident back in Jan. 2000. Now 5 months TO THE DAY after the accident seizures came to be. They were very confusing @ first, even my mother a RN for 22 years was troubled by what was going on. The POUNDING headaches, dizziness, and sense of confusion as to my where-abouts was very frightening. When the taste-and smell came on though(typical of Partial Complex), getting an MD was nothing but MANDATORY. I was living in NC at the time so DUKE held the highest recommendations, but nowhere near accurate in making a diagnosis. After returning to PA, and seeing a Neurologist @ Hershey Medical Center for just over 3 years who told me she had been to some type of conference I believe it was, and once again was intrigued & very interested in the Temporal Lobectomy Sugeries to treat Epilepsy patients. To further advance my treatment and even eliminate (I know there is no cure) my Seizures, she spoke of Dr. Brian Litt @ University of Pennsylvania in Philly. My profile was sent over to Penn and within a week I was asked to come in for VEEG like bjholahan did. 1 week after the video imaging was all looked over and my Seizures were localized in the Right Temporal Lobe, the surgery was full-steam go-ahead!!! I also did the WADA test, very interesting I must say. May 4th, 2004 had to be one of the scariest days of my life. Knowing the risks of the surgery but also the success ratings I faced the emotions, and entered the operating room. Under the care of Dr. Gordon H. Baltuch and his esteemed colleagues, just 4 hours later, I was in recovery and home within 2 days. The complete surgery was a Right Temporal Lobectomy and Hippocampus (vitally important in memory) removal. I have been fine with the exception of 3 episodes ever since. The first was a Seizure triggered by an EEG that I had to evaluate the severe headaches I suffer and have suffered since the head trauma (so nothing from the surgery). The other two I'll call them "episodes" were Nocturnal Seizures, only occurring in my sleep. Only having good results, I find myself giving longer explanations to those who question the procedure I'll end this long entry. I wish you and your Father only the best in making your decision. I made mine and it changed my life. I'm back in school and driving, pursuing my degree in Physical Therapy. If I could only approach the doctors who the night of my head trauma were telling my parents, "Mam, Sir, your son won't live, if he does come out of his coma the probability of him living a normal life is extremely low, I'm very sorry"...I'd like to say, "DO YOU REMEMBER ME?"
Good Luck & GOD Bless,
Dave
Clutch8185@aol.com

OOPS, I posted that thread and didn't answer a few of the questions too clearly. The surgery is of risk, there is a chance of morbidity with any surgery. As far as the decrease/elimination of my Epileptic activity, like I said in my initial posting, I've since the surgery in May 2004 only had 3 epileptic events. At the initial onset of my Epilepsy, I was @ one point having 12-14 seizures A DAY on AVERAGE--so marked improvement I'd say. Now the memory question...hmm, that's one I wish I would never be asked, it is troubling for memory status to remain stable and as efficient prior to the operation. My greatest challenge(s) since the injury have been my speech dysfluency has greatly increased, since the surgery however my speech fluency has improved though. Secondary to the challenge I face with my interrupted speech patterns is my STM or short term memory. LTM isn't a problem at all really, I can still shoot out friends phone #ers I had in the 3rd grade. Now @ the age of 25, being back in school and being troubled with STM difficulties makes me work harder w/out a doubt. Because the trauma was @ such a young age I've undergone several Neuro-Psych examinations and the most recent of my results revealed that in a sense I've almost "re-wired the brain" and am now compensating for the brain's surgically removed RTL and Hippocampus and am able to "somewhat" keep pace with others because the left hemisphere is working all that much harder now. So with the so called "re-wiring" that the physicians feel I've successfully been able to accomplish, my STM is improving but will never be how it once was in the days prior to my accident. But with hard work, determination, and the continued guidance and support that are offered to me by those dearest to me improvement in successful progression. I'm sure your father will do the same if he finds himself in any scenario similar to mine. HAPPY EASTER!
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION,
Dave
Clutch8185@aol.com