Becky Vinehout's Story
Stitches post surgery
I celebrate living seizure-free every day and you can too! In September 2012, neurosurgery removed the focus of my seizures. My uncontrolled focal epilepsy stopped immediately, my recovery was easy, and my memory improved! My medications slowly reduced until I went off them completely. After a period of time with having no seizures and no medication, my epileptologist stated I'm living proof of being cured! I am no longer living in fear and prevented SUDEP.
The focal point of my seizures was identified at an Epilepsy Center in their Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). They offer up-to-date tests that locate the origin of seizures. An Epilepsy Center provides a comprehensive team approach to diagnose and treat epilepsy. Learn about the options available at an Epilepsy Center to prevent seizures, an EMU, and how they have the ability to cure epilepsy in the video link below.
See how an epilepsy center can help you! (Video Link)
Utilizing a surgical treatment for seizures is a wonderful opportunity to support brain health. Since 2014, laser ablation has been used with increased frequency for epilepsy. It uses heat to destroy the precise area of the brain where the seizures originate rather than removing the tissue. It is an alternative to open surgery with the goal of eliminating seizures. Since it is minimally invasive, very little hair is removed.
Approximately one-third of people with epilepsy cannot control seizures with medicine alone. If you are seeing a general neurologist and continue to have seizures despite treatment for more than a year or after the trial of two medications, request a referral from your doctor to an Epilepsy Center.
The focal point of my seizures was identified at an Epilepsy Center in their Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). They offer up-to-date tests that locate the origin of seizures. An Epilepsy Center provides a comprehensive team approach to diagnose and treat epilepsy. Learn about the options available at an Epilepsy Center to prevent seizures, an EMU, and how they have the ability to cure epilepsy in the video link below.
See how an epilepsy center can help you! (Video Link)
Utilizing a surgical treatment for seizures is a wonderful opportunity to support brain health. Since 2014, laser ablation has been used with increased frequency for epilepsy. It uses heat to destroy the precise area of the brain where the seizures originate rather than removing the tissue. It is an alternative to open surgery with the goal of eliminating seizures. Since it is minimally invasive, very little hair is removed.
Approximately one-third of people with epilepsy cannot control seizures with medicine alone. If you are seeing a general neurologist and continue to have seizures despite treatment for more than a year or after the trial of two medications, request a referral from your doctor to an Epilepsy Center.
Stitches are covered
It was time to seek advanced care. I requested a referral from my doctor to an Epilepsy Center. They have specialized physicians whose main focus is treating seizures, and they diagnose medical cases as a team. After my first appointment, I knew I was in the right place. My epileptologist was able to walk in my shoes. I set up a time to stay at their EMU and had advanced tests run to pinpoint exactly where my seizures were stemming from. These tests removed the “how do you feel” guesswork. Before my tests, I was the only one who could try to explain what was going on inside my head.
During my stay at the Epilepsy Center, my medicine doses were reduced. When my threshold was low enough, the seizures began. All my detailed movements were recorded on an EEG monitor and video camera. Every seizure I had hit the bulls-eye on the same target, every time. The other tests conducted hit the bulls-eye, too. I was an excellent candidate for surgery!
During my stay at the Epilepsy Center, my medicine doses were reduced. When my threshold was low enough, the seizures began. All my detailed movements were recorded on an EEG monitor and video camera. Every seizure I had hit the bulls-eye on the same target, every time. The other tests conducted hit the bulls-eye, too. I was an excellent candidate for surgery!
Out in public post surgery
My right hippocampus had deteriorated. It was supposed to be plump like a grape, but mine looked like a raisin. The neurosurgeon’s concrete decision was to have a right temporal lobectomy. The main goal was to stop the seizures from where they were stemming from, forever. Awesome!
I decided I wasn’t going to wait any longer…the seizures needed to stop! I wanted to make sure I remembered my kids' concerts, sports, and vacations. My decision to have surgery was clear.
The day of surgery came. My care was in the hands of a team of experts with groundbreaking research and state-of-the-art technology. Everything was explained, and I trusted them completely. We were all in this together.
I am a cosmetologist, and I arrived at the hospital with my hair style prepared for surgery. I visualized a positive image, and it gave me a sense of control before surgery even began.
During my recovery time, my seven year old son stayed oblivious and may times I asked my eight year old daughter if my incision was covered, and her answer was always "Yes"! They were reassured continuously that everything was going to be okay. I went back to work eight weeks after surgery. My clientele questioned which side my surgery was on. They were relieved to see how healthy I was, and we attended to business as usual.
After surgery, my brain breathed a sigh of relief and I recovered better than I ever expected. I authored Live Seizure Free to inform and be matter-of-fact about mine and another’s post-surgery results. My self-help, easy-read book was written to assist people in dealing with the same struggles I did with focal seizures.
This testimony offers folks the confidence to say “yes” to up-to-date medical advancements available at an Epilepsy Center by sharing the ease of our recoveries with cognitive improvements. Before my surgery, writing an email was difficult. After surgery, I self-published a book!
Check out the medical care guidelines under Epilepsy Centers when to seek advanced care. You have the ability to live seizure-free too!
I decided I wasn’t going to wait any longer…the seizures needed to stop! I wanted to make sure I remembered my kids' concerts, sports, and vacations. My decision to have surgery was clear.
The day of surgery came. My care was in the hands of a team of experts with groundbreaking research and state-of-the-art technology. Everything was explained, and I trusted them completely. We were all in this together.
I am a cosmetologist, and I arrived at the hospital with my hair style prepared for surgery. I visualized a positive image, and it gave me a sense of control before surgery even began.
During my recovery time, my seven year old son stayed oblivious and may times I asked my eight year old daughter if my incision was covered, and her answer was always "Yes"! They were reassured continuously that everything was going to be okay. I went back to work eight weeks after surgery. My clientele questioned which side my surgery was on. They were relieved to see how healthy I was, and we attended to business as usual.
After surgery, my brain breathed a sigh of relief and I recovered better than I ever expected. I authored Live Seizure Free to inform and be matter-of-fact about mine and another’s post-surgery results. My self-help, easy-read book was written to assist people in dealing with the same struggles I did with focal seizures.
This testimony offers folks the confidence to say “yes” to up-to-date medical advancements available at an Epilepsy Center by sharing the ease of our recoveries with cognitive improvements. Before my surgery, writing an email was difficult. After surgery, I self-published a book!
Check out the medical care guidelines under Epilepsy Centers when to seek advanced care. You have the ability to live seizure-free too!
My story can be your story...
LIVE SEIZURE FREE.