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I Have Epilepsy

Went back up to Stanford for some final appointments before the surgery. The first was with the surgeon's assistant. Mainly to go over the procedures of the surgery and to see if we had any questions. We spoke with him for about 20 minutes, then headed on to the next appointment, which was with the anesthesiologist.
She basically explained what her job was, and that I would be “asleep” for about three hours, as she put it. Very nice woman, seemed trustworthy.
The third appointment was with one of my original doctors. While there, I received a package, which included more information about the chip. She also told me more about the way to record the seizures and send them back to Stanford.
She showed me what she called a “wand”. To me, it looked like the hand talk that pilots use to talk to the airport towers with, only with a longer handle. The whole contraption is about 8 inches long. With that, I am to record my activities of the day. To do this, I hover the wand over the chip. Not touching the head, but close enough that it can read the chip properly. The information gets transferred over to basically a “laptop computer” that they give me. (unfortunately, I can’t do anything else with it.) Once a week, I send that back to Stanford, so that they can see my brain activity for the last week. Interesting set up.
The first month is basically an “educational month”. It’s so that they chip can basically learn about me, just what happens to me, and what I need. Once that month is over, I will go back to Stanford and they will turn on the stimulators that will hopefully detect and stop the seizures.
The timing of the success with this is unknown. It could be a few months, it could be a year. There is the possibility I may not be completely seizure free, but the numbers and intensity would go down considerable. There’s a chance it may not even work at all. It’s all up in the air. I’ll be staying on the meds for now, and eventually, I might be able to stop completely. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all goes.
All I can hope is that it makes things better, even if I still end up experiencing a few seizures from time to time. Fingers crossed.
The surgery is on February 8th. I was told that it could be as early as 5:00 am. I have a friend who has offered us a place to stay. I’m hoping to go up Thursday afternoon/ evening, so I can be closer to Stanford Hospital. He has had medical care there and knows what they are all about and how well they work with their patients.
They tell me that if all goes well, I can come home the next day. If they feel they need to keep an eye on me, they’ll keep me for another night. While they say I can go back to work within a couple of day, but not to do anything strenuous...especially no lifting of heavy items. So, customers will be asked to help with that unless I have some help in the office, which I’m pretty sure I will.
The only bummer about all this that I have to take myself off my ibuprofen, so I’m sure I’ll be hurting in the meantime. lol Oh the price we pay!! I’m pretty sure it’ll be worth it though.
Until next time.
MaryJanine · 61-69, F
I went to school with a girl who had epilepsy. I didn't know it until we were talking between classes one day and suddenly she stiffened, bent over slightly, and her books dropped out of her arms. The first time, it frightened me, then I was told the problem by somebody who was "in the know" about the situation. I saw it happen several times after that. After I understood, I wasn't upset about it any more.

Her parents didn't help their daughter's condition any. They were yellers and screamers, and if she got a bad grade or failed a subject, they treated her like a little girl and spanked her. She admitted she was afraid of them.
silentwriter180 · 51-55, F
@MaryJanine That's ashamed. While my seizures were all mainly dizzy spells, with no falling, I told a few people about it, especially my teachers and at least one person in my class, so that if I needed help, they'd know what I needed, and the teacher knew that if the person left to grab me a wet towel, he/she was doing so for me.

It's a shame that her parents didn't help any. She needed their support. My grandmother didn't believe it was true, but then again, she didn't believe that anything could have been wrong with any of her kids. I hated that I had to hide everything from her.
MaryJanine · 61-69, F
It's nothing that should be hidden. I'm sorry about the situation with your grandmother. But if it happens, it's a condition, and parents or whoever lives with that person should know what to do if a situation arises. Two friends and I stopped by this girl's house one day and ask the loan of an umbrella for the upcoming Talent Show. We barely got the explanation out before her mother yelled from down the hallway, "Linda, get going! You're going to be LATE!"
SagePoet · 61-69, M
I thought of you today even before I read this post. Continued prayers and best wishes.
silentwriter180 · 51-55, F
@SagePoet thanks, honey. I appreciate that!
SagePoet · 61-69, M
you are most welcome @silentwriter180
MaryJanine · 61-69, F
I went to school with a girl who had epilepsy. I didn't know it until we were talking between classes one day and suddenly she stiffened, bent over slightly, and her books dropped out of her arms. The first time, it frightened me, then I was told the problem by somebody who was "in the know" about the situation. I saw it happen several times after that. After I understood, I wasn't upset about it any more.
Peaches · F
WOW! 😯I wanted to stop by to check up on you Cricket and I see you've had the operation for the chip now, how's it going? I sure hope this is the break through you've waited so long for! 😌 Sending love and prayers your way.💕💜🙏🏼🌟
silentwriter180 · 51-55, F
@Peaches yesterday's surgery went well. I got out this afternoon. Been sleeping all afternoon. Head hurts, with the staples, but should feel better soon.I'll go have those taken out in about ten days. I'll write up a full report soon.
Peaches · F
@silentwriter180 You've been through so much! 😔 Healing hugs sent your way my friend.✨🌟💕💜
xixgun · M
I’ve had eeg’, ekg’s, cat scans, heart monitors, psych testing, psych evaluations, Xanax, tegretol, and a generic speed. “Well, you have something but we don’t know what.”
silentwriter180 · 51-55, F
@xixgun Yeah, I've gotten that a lot with a number of doctors. Most of their attitudes were "take two of these and call me in the morning", then come see me in 6 months. This last doctor I went to, though, literally made me cry, telling me that if he couldn't help me, he'd send me up to Stanford. No one has ever cared to go that far. Good doctors like that are so few in between.
Over the years, I've taken Dilantin, Depakote, Tegretol, Keppra Vimpat & Lamotrigine , and a couple of others I can't remember. Right now, I'm on the Vimpat & Lamortigine. They somewhat help, but not 100%.
xixgun · M
@silentwriter180 Most of the doctors I get try and show me how funny they are by telling me, “maybe you’re pregnant!”

They get upset when I say, “well, I’m glad that medical degree is paying off”
Ynotisay · M
Good luck.
(And you may want to consider a full spectrum, THC-free CBD oil to help transition off the ibuprofen).
silentwriter180 · 51-55, F
@Ynotisay I actually have some. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. Hopefully, it will work for me this week at least with some of the pain.
Ynotisay · M
@silentwriter180 Hope so. Here's to the recovery being in the rear view mirror soon.
God bless you; may it give the freedom you deserve.

With every prayer for a safe and successful procedure, we wait and watch, close beside you.



Godspeed Cricket.
Quimliqer · 70-79, M
Good luck, you are remembered!!
silentwriter180 · 51-55, F
@Quimliqer Thank you, dear.

 
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