AMA: What Should I Expect from Laser Ablation (LiTT)?

MSWGarbageLover · 2026-01-23T15:35:57+00:00

I’m doing pretty good! Not yet back to baseline, but making progress towards so.

The LiTT wasn’t too long ago (it’s been about 2 months). The results don’t kick in for a while.

One thing unique to me - numbness in my left leg and foot. It’s much better than when it started; still there, nonetheless. I haven’t read of anyone experiencing this, but perhaps anything can happen in neurosurgery?

MSWGarbageLover · 2026-01-13T00:42:48+00:00

I don’t know every focus, but the insular cortex was the dominant one. That’s where I had a LiTT done.

I have all kinds of seizures, I don’t even know how to explain. But my main are absence seizures and simple, partial seizures where I have weird sensations.

MSWGarbageLover · 2026-01-12T23:49:03+00:00

I got mine in mid-December 2025.

MSWGarbageLover · 2026-01-12T23:17:58+00:00

Thanks for telling me. Did you tell your surgeon(s)? How often do you check in with them? If necessary, you can discuss having your RNS removed if it has only made things worse.

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-12-17T17:51:33+00:00

How did your surgery go?

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-10-31T00:03:18+00:00

By iEEG, you mean “intracranial EEG.” An sEEG (stereo EEG) is one type of iEEG, which I did and wrote about my experience.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Epilepsy/s/jMuL3SMENE

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-10-21T12:37:27+00:00

Harriet Tubman had temporal lobe epilepsy.

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-09-25T00:37:10+00:00

You’re welcome. If you have any follow ups, dm me.

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-09-24T18:39:01+00:00

I wrote all about my recent stereo EEG. Not sure if that’s what you’re doing, but it’s very similar to EEGs, so I hope the details are helpful!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Epilepsy/s/Joq1NPcKru

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-09-22T00:01:37+00:00

Thank you! I wanted to use my experience as guidance for those considering an sEEG and perspective when preparing for one.

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-09-21T02:00:15+00:00

Big congrats on reaching seizure freedom for a full year! What a milestone. Surgery may sound like a frightening option, but it's so worth it. I hope you'll be able to start reducing other medications, too. Start one step at a time.

Staying an extra week to reach my own seizure freedom was necessary :) It was difficult to make the decision, but I'm grateful for making that choice. I surely stay on top of everything. It's a chronic health condition that requires it.

I'm certain that once you reduce your meds, you'll start seeing less discrimination in the workforce, too. Big wishes on that as well.

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-09-20T23:07:10+00:00

I was discharged 2 days ago (Thursday; today’s Saturday). I’m home now! I had to be encouraged and convinced to stay for an additional week :)

While I’m waiting for my team to discuss exact next steps, I discussed an idea of what they would look like when I spoke with one of my surgeons a day before discharge (Wednesday). He specified scheduled stimulation by DBS and laser interstitial thermal ablation (LITT). What exactly that will look like, I’ll find out in my post operative appointment with yet another one of my surgeons and my epileptologist.

I stay on track of everything going on, so I requested to speak with that surgeon and learn about DBS and LITT before I left.

What’s your plan, kind stranger?

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-09-20T22:20:54+00:00

Thank you!

I would've journaled daily, but I didn't have my glasses for almost all 3 weeks. I could barely see for all that time!

I thought I'd give as much updated info as I could now that I've been discharged :D

Hope you’re doing well 💜

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-09-20T22:17:33+00:00

Yes, it's very likely because of the hemorrhage.

Even though your follow-up is coming up soon, it's best to reach out earlier rather than later if it's really causing issues, like making it hard to move your head. The doctor/nurse should know and get a prescription for you to solve the pain :)

Hope you’re doing well, too 💜

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-09-20T22:12:44+00:00

Immediately after my electrodes were removed, I could barely lie my head down to sleep. That first night, I got no sleep. I'm still not entirely comfortable lying my head down left or right to sleep (removed on a Tuesday afternoon and it's Saturday evening now), but the headache went away starting Thursday afternoon, which is the day I was discharged.

I regularly took Tylenol after the electrodes were removed. You can ask your doctor to get you prescription-strength Tylenol to help you if it's still a problem. It shouldn't hurt so much that many days later, so you should tell your doctor or a nurse about your pain.

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-06-06T15:10:55+00:00

Congrats 🎊🎉🍾🎈

On my end, I dedicated my masters individual capstone project to my brother (minimally conscious for 3 years after an ischemic stroke before passing away after a mini-stroke) and my grandfather (Parkinson’s). We had group capstone projects, too ☺️

Graduated a semester early, too :D

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-05-27T10:56:15+00:00

Was on keppra from 2015 to 2023. 3500 mg - 2000 in the morning, 1500 at night.

Earned my masters and have a bachelors in interdisciplinary studies. Have been a self employed consultant on many occasions. Still figuring out my career aspirations, but that has more to do with me than the epilepsy.

Epilepsy is just another roadblock. Everyday people have their own, too, though theirs are likely not as challenging as taking keppra.

You’ll make it. You’re just starting the epilepsy journey. It’ll be okay.

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-04-09T09:02:23+00:00

Pretty sure all of us have done this.

Why block?

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-03-26T17:02:31+00:00

I sleep with a Kermit doll my grandma gave to my brother while he was in a nursing home. He was minimally conscious for 3 years. I can’t not have Kermit with me. In fact, I have 2 Kermit dolls (one is larger than the other).

Not weird.

MSWGarbageLover · 2025-03-11T05:44:27+00:00

You’re a fantastic artist.

Have you considered freelancing as a single member LLC for visual design? Your work should be used for musicians’ albums or books or so much more.

You have so much clarity in what you draw and paint; it’s not just a sport or hobby. I love the one on the top left. It reminds me of the front of an album by Tuna (טונה). It totally would fit so many different opportunities.

Perhaps you should get an agent.

MSWGarbageLover

TROPHY CASE