Becky Vinehout's Story
Stitches post surgery
I celebrate living seizure-free every day and you can too! In September 2012 I had neurosurgery where they removed the focus of my seizures. The seizures stopped immediately, my recovery was easy, and my memory improved! 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 pinpoint 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 uncontrolled seizures in the video link below.
See how an epilepsy center can help you! (Video Link)
Utilizing a surgical treatment for uncontrolled seizures is a wonderful opportunity to support brain health. Since 2014, a laser ablation treatment 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 that is minimally invasive with a quick recovery.
One-third of people with epilepsy cannot control seizures with medicine alone. If you are seeing a general neurologist, and your seizures have not been brought under control after 12 months, request a referral from your doctor to go 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 pinpoint 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 uncontrolled seizures in the video link below.
See how an epilepsy center can help you! (Video Link)
Utilizing a surgical treatment for uncontrolled seizures is a wonderful opportunity to support brain health. Since 2014, a laser ablation treatment 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 that is minimally invasive with a quick recovery.
One-third of people with epilepsy cannot control seizures with medicine alone. If you are seeing a general neurologist, and your seizures have not been brought under control after 12 months, request a referral from your doctor to go to an Epilepsy Center.
Stitches are covered
At the age of one, I became sick with encephalitis. My seizures were infrequent starring spells that were considered to be daydreaming back then. At the age of 23, I began to have an aura followed by a seizure. The same year, I drove into the back of a semi-truck without feeling the impact. After the accident, I had an EEG, epilepsy was diagnosed, and I went on medication.
Through the years my epilepsy progressed. During my seizures, I would feel lightheaded and quietly hyperventilated. They lasted about 45 seconds. I was averaging one bad day every other week with multiple seizures on that day. I was on triple the amount of the recommended dose of two medicines. For 23 years, I experimented with nine different medicines, always cock-tailed, while adjusting doses and mixtures. My electrical storm kept firing. My seizures were never controlled.
I started having difficulty locating my car in parking lots. I became disoriented driving to family homes and had to consciously think about how to get there. I became forgetful of names and made lots of notes. I would retrieve the newspaper daily to see what day of the week it was.
When I expressed my concerns, people would say; “It’s a sign of getting older”. I knew it was more than the natural aging process for I was only 46 years old. My memory was deteriorating, and uncontrolled seizures were the cause.
It was time to seek advanced care. I requested a referral from my neurologist to an Epilepsy Center. They have specialized physicians whose main focus is stopping 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 epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) and had some 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.
Through the years my epilepsy progressed. During my seizures, I would feel lightheaded and quietly hyperventilated. They lasted about 45 seconds. I was averaging one bad day every other week with multiple seizures on that day. I was on triple the amount of the recommended dose of two medicines. For 23 years, I experimented with nine different medicines, always cock-tailed, while adjusting doses and mixtures. My electrical storm kept firing. My seizures were never controlled.
I started having difficulty locating my car in parking lots. I became disoriented driving to family homes and had to consciously think about how to get there. I became forgetful of names and made lots of notes. I would retrieve the newspaper daily to see what day of the week it was.
When I expressed my concerns, people would say; “It’s a sign of getting older”. I knew it was more than the natural aging process for I was only 46 years old. My memory was deteriorating, and uncontrolled seizures were the cause.
It was time to seek advanced care. I requested a referral from my neurologist to an Epilepsy Center. They have specialized physicians whose main focus is stopping 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 epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) and had some 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.
Out in public post 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!
My right hippocampus had deteriorated. It was supposed to be plump like a grape. Mine had been struck by lightening endlessly my entire life, it shriveled up 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 already prepared to cover the incision immediately after my 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 incisions 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 uncontrolled 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 composed 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 right hippocampus had deteriorated. It was supposed to be plump like a grape. Mine had been struck by lightening endlessly my entire life, it shriveled up 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 already prepared to cover the incision immediately after my 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 incisions 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 uncontrolled 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 composed 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.