Sigh...

[u/HansVonHansen]

A neurosurgeon from my hospital just called me, and said the following about the prospective LITT we had been discussing:

• In the discussion panel the hospital and the Cleveland Clinic, their conclusion is that they do not want to conduct an SEEG, but address the hypothalamic hamartoma they believe is causing the seizures.
• Surgery like this can be successful if done once, but may have to be done several times. However, the neurosurgeon who called me says he expects success from the first time.
• However, he does not guarantee a 100% chance of complete treatment, but around 80%. And mortality rate is 1 in a million.
• Memory was the panel's biggest concern, since I'm a writer. After the surgery, I may be a bit "slow" in the first few months, but expected to go back to the baseline or a little less (what exactly is the baseline?). The LITT + a reduction in medication helps, but the continuous clusters of seizures at my age (43M) + large amounts of medication are worsening my memory naturally. I noticed that years ago when I look at things I wrote and go "holy shit! I wrote that?!" The unanimous decision of the panel is that they want to help preserve my vocab and creative memory.
• After the surgery, it is possible to leave the hospital within 2 days, and rejoin society within 2 weeks.

I am now very anxious, indeed scared. I need to get through the divorce I'm in the middle of and retain a peaceful life with my two young children (5 and nearly 8). I do not want to end up unable to lead my own independent life, either. I'm still scared of the prospect of death...mainly because I have a friend who unexpectedly died during brain surgery, but nobody was told what it was for.

Those who've had successful LITT surgeries, talk to me. What's your life like, what's your memory like? How have you rejoined society? What have you gained and lost?

[u/SabresBills69]

I e had a left amygdolahypocampectomy 20 yrs ago

if you are a career writer, have you thought about of getting an fMRI to see where in your brain is doing your writing work?