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• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Neurosurgery >> Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery

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Neurosurgery

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• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP22 >> Discusses coming off anti-epileptic drugs after having neurosurgery for epilepsy.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1988. Tried various drugs, and had neurosurgery in 2000. Has been seizure free since surgery, and stopped taking medications (lamotrigine and carbamazepine) a few months after neurosurgery.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP10 >> Discusses some of the tests he had just before and during surgery.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1982. Tried various drugs which did not control seizures. Had neurosurgery in 1984 at the age of 13 and in 1998 at the age of 28. Although there was some improvement in the seizures, epilepsy is poorly controlled. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard), vigabatrin (Sabril) and lamotrigine (Lamictal) daily, and clobazam (Frisium) when needed.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP22 >> Discusses her concerns before having surgery for epilepsy.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1988. Tried various drugs, and had neurosurgery in 2000. Has been seizure free since surgery, and stopped taking medications (lamotrigine and carbamazepine) a few months after neurosurgery.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP37 >> Explains why he wanted to have surgery and did not feel nervous before the operation.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1968. Had neurosurgery in 1999 and has been seizure free since then, though still experiences auras. Current medication: sodium valproate (Epilim) and phenytoin (Epanutin).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP05 >> Explains that a brain tumour was found during surgery and her reasons for having the operation.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1981. Tried various drugs and, in 1999, had neurosurgery which reduced the frequency and intensity of seizures. Current medication: gabapentin (Neurontin) and carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard) daily, and clobazam (Frisium) around the time of menstruation.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP09 >> Explains why she had surgery in the USA rather than in the UK and her feelings before the operation.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1990. Tried various drugs which did not control seizures. Had neurosurgery in 1998 in the USA. Experienced having seizures for 2 years after the surgery, but has been seizure free since November 2000. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP37 >> Recalls how he felt after the operation.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1968. Had neurosurgery in 1999 and has been seizure free since then, though still experiences auras. Current medication: sodium valproate (Epilim) and phenytoin (Epanutin).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP37 >> Describes the effects of surgery on his life although he still has auras.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1968. Had neurosurgery in 1999 and has been seizure free since then, though still experiences auras. Current medication: sodium valproate (Epilim) and phenytoin (Epanutin).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP18 >> Recalls her feelings after having the operation and recommends surgery for epilepsy.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1967, at a few months of age. Tried various anti-epileptic drugs and had neurosurgery in 1997 which reduced the frequency and intensity of seizures. Current medication: lamotrigine (Lamictal) and sodium valproate (Epilim).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP22 >> Recalls some of the changes in her life since having surgery.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1988. Tried various drugs, and had neurosurgery in 2000. Has been seizure free since surgery, and stopped taking medications (lamotrigine and carbamazepine) a few months after neurosurgery.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP09 >> Explains that she became seizure free two years after surgery and why she does not want to stop taking medication.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1990. Tried various drugs which did not control seizures. Had neurosurgery in 1998 in the USA. Experienced having seizures for 2 years after the surgery, but has been seizure free since November 2000. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP10 >> Explains that, although he has had neurosurgery, he still has seizures.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1982. Tried various drugs which did not control seizures. Had neurosurgery in 1984 at the age of 13 and in 1998 at the age of 28. Although there was some improvement in the seizures, epilepsy is poorly controlled. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard), vigabatrin (Sabril) and lamotrigine (Lamictal) daily, and clobazam (Frisium) when needed.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP09 >> Explains that she is slowly regaining more of her memory after having surgery.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1990. Tried various drugs which did not control seizures. Had neurosurgery in 1998 in the USA. Experienced having seizures for 2 years after the surgery, but has been seizure free since November 2000. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 50-69 >> Interview EP28 >> Explains why she decided against having VNS.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1951. Has tried several different drugs, and been involved in various clinical trials. Had neurosurgery at the age of 20. Although respondent had 14 years without seizures, seizures returned and epilepsy is not controlled. Current medication: levetiracetam (Keppra), phenytoin (Epanutin) and clobazam (Frisium).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP22 >> Praised the information and care she received from the consultant, but wondered why she was not offered neurosurgery sooner.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1988. Tried various drugs, and had neurosurgery in 2000. Has been seizure free since surgery, and stopped taking medications (lamotrigine and carbamazepine) a few months after neurosurgery.

• Condition
• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Epilepsy

Publication date: March 2003          Last updated: February 2012.

Review date: February 2014.

 

Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures (fits). We interviewed 41 people about their experiences of this condition. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

 

You may also be interested in young people with epilepsy, which can be found on youthhealthtalk.org.

• >> Epilepsy >> Epilepsy

Publication date: March 2003          Last updated: February 2012.

Review date: February 2014.

 

Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures (fits). We interviewed 41 people about their experiences of this condition. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

 

You may also be interested in young people with epilepsy, which can be found on youthhealthtalk.org.