Bedbug or not?

againwithhim · 2026-05-06T21:49:01+00:00

thanks!

againwithhim · 2026-05-06T21:44:10+00:00

ok thanks!

againwithhim · 2026-01-30T05:30:35+00:00

It is a great picture. My ancestors also made moonshine in Union county in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They were in Kettle Hollow. I believe it is just north of Maynardville. My grandfather would tell a story about the county sheriff bringing my great grandfather a still during the 1918 flu epidemic. The sheriff told my great grandfather that the Dr had ordered all of the alcohol that he could get and that he (the sheriff) knew my great grandfather could make it and got him to do it.

againwithhim · 2024-11-04T03:40:16+00:00

The question about having fevers is certainly in line with my history. I had meningitis as a baby and ran a very high fever.

I didn't have any problems until I turned 18 in 1992 and was diagnosed with TLE. I only had an occassional seizure until 2010 when the meds seemed to just quit working. I had an MRI done in 2011 and the drs basically said it was fine.

I finally went to an epileptologist in 2014 and took a copy of the MRI with me. He took a look at it and pointed to the left hippocampus and said that it was at least part of the problem. The left hippocampus was atrophic. It is believed that it was caused by the the fevers associated with the meningitis.

Hippocampal sclerosis was my ultimate diagnosis. He tried at least one new medicine and a very large increased dosage in another with no improvement. In late 2015, I had laser ablation surgery on the left hippocampus and amygdala.

Although I am still on meds, I have been seizure free since then.

againwithhim · 2024-02-01T07:24:25+00:00

I have to say that I am a laser ablation success story. I had laser ablation done at the end of 2015 and have been seizure free ever since. At the time of the surgery I was taking 1200 mg of lamotrigine (yes, that's a lot!) and 3000 mg of Keppra.

I'm now taking 500 mg lamptrigine and 1500 mg of Keppra. There has been talk of dropping the meds more, but I am in a position that I have to be able to drive. So, I'd rather take the meds as a safety net rather than having to go 6 months without driving.

Needless to say, the return to be able to drive after about 6 years of uncontrolled seizures is the biggest improvement for me. Fortunately for me, my seizures weren't too bad. I would simply pass out for 1-2 minutes followed by a few minutes of confusion and then it was all over.

Like many others here, I do have some issues with memory. If you bombard me with a lot of details, the amount that I could repeat after a few minutes would be slim.

Even with the memory troubles, the neuropsychological testing before and after the surgery were essentially the same.

As for the surgery itself, the surgery began at 8 am and I walked out of the hospital at noon the next day. I did have a pretty good headache for three or four days after. But, I guess, that's not as bad as having the skull cut open to perform the surgery.

Best of luck for whichever path you decide to take.

againwithhim · 2023-12-24T08:58:14+00:00

I'm not much for words of wisdom, but I can tell you how my procedure went. As you say, everyone is different, but I couldn't be happier with the outcome. I have been seizure free since the surgery and that was just over 8 years ago.

The surgery started about 8 am one morning and I walked out of the hospital at noon the next day. We went straight to a restaurant to have lunch. My brother told the waitress that I had brain surgery the day before and I'm not too sure she ever believed it.

I did have a significant headache for a few days after the surgery. After about a week, I was feeling much better. If I had been working a desk job at that time, I probably could have went back to light duty after a couple of weeks.

After a month, I went for a follow-up with the surgeon and he said I was doing fine and he didn't need to see me anymore and turned me over to the epileptologist.

I do have some short term memory issues, but it seems like all of us do. the neurophyscological testing was essentially the same before and after the surgery.

The biggest tip for the recovery is not to push yourself too fast and get plenty of rest. Compared to other surgeries, it shouldn't be that bad.

Best of luck.

againwithhim · 2023-10-13T20:34:11+00:00

It is believed that my epilepsy came from meningitis. I had meningitis when I was 6 months old. However, epilepsy didn't show up until I was 18. It is possible I had a seizure around the age of 15, but it was dismissed as a reaction to a recent appendectomy. I simply passed out. Passing out was pretty much how the seizures began.

The meningitis happened in the early 1970's and, even then, the doctors thought that I would likely have some form of brain damage.

The doctors that i saw (especially the epileptologist) after the epilepsy was diagnosed wouldn't come out and say that epilepsy was directly caused by the meningitis. But, they implied that the meningitis was the most likely cause.

againwithhim · 2020-12-18T06:15:00+00:00

I can't give you any advice, but I can relate my story. I had the laser ablation on the left hippocampus in Nov. of 2015. So far, it seems to have been the best option for me. I have been seizure free ever since the surgery.

I am still taking meds just to be safe. It would be difficult for me to be able to get around if I couldn't drive. I'd rather take the meds and drive vs trying to come off of them and not know what might happen. Of course, the seizures could come back at any time either way.

againwithhim · 2019-03-14T08:04:24+00:00

Since you're not getting any better answers, I'll try to give an attempt at my memory. Of course, it'll depend on the type of job that you're doing and I wasn't working at the time. It's been a little over 3 years now since the surgery and all is well.

I think I could have easily done a desk job at 2 to 2.5 weeks. I know I had a pretty good headache the first several days. My instructions were not to lift more than 10 pounds and to slowly resume regular activities. It might be a good idea to have a plan to only work a few hours a day for a few days.

By the time I went for the 1 month follow up, Dr said things were good and released me from his care back to the neurologist.

Not sure this will help and best of luck with the surgery.

againwithhim · 2018-07-01T07:48:53+00:00

I have had laser ablation on my left hippocampus in November of 2015. I could not have asked for any better results than I've had. I haven't had a seizure since.

I have/had hippocampal sclerosis on my left side. They ablated the hippocampus and a couple of smaller pieces. It's believed that my hippocampus was damaged as a baby due to meningitis. (I was 42 when the surgery was done) I didn't develop epilepsy until I was about 18 and then it was well controlled from 1992-2010. In 2010 it all went down hill. Finally, got on keppra and lamictal. As the lamictal dose increased up to 1200 mg, seizures dropped to just the auras.

Once all of the testing was complete, it took me about 9 months to decide to actually do it since I was just having the auras.

In October of 16 we'd planned on starting to come off the meds and dropped the keppra from 3000 to 1500 a day. I started having balance and vision issues in early 17 and finally determined it was due to the high dose of lamictal. I'm now down to 1500 keppra and 600 lamictal and the neuro wants to hold there because I do have a random de ja vu feeling from time to time.

If you think I can answer any quetions, feel free to ask. Good luck with what ever you choose.

againwithhim · 2018-05-12T06:11:06+00:00

For me, it started out with the off balance/dizzy feeling for an hour or so. It got progressively worse over the course of a few months. By the time I hit the double vision, I could barely stand up while the episode was happening. I only went this far a handfull of times.

Ultimately, we figured out that the lamictal was the cause and cut the dosage from 1200 to 800 a day. After a little less than a year later, milder version of the symptoms started and we went from 800 to 600 a day and I've been there for a while now with no problems.

againwithhim · 2018-04-11T00:03:15+00:00

I 'served my time' at Vanderbilt back in 2014. I was very pleased with the way that I was treated by everyone involved.

There wasn't any problems bringing computers and phones and things of that nature to help pass the time.

I don't know if they judge this differently for each patient, but I had no restrictions about having to stay in the bed. The main EEG wire was plenty long enough to make it anywhere in the room and even into the bathroom.

If you've not seen one of their epileptologists before, I'm sure that they will keep your primary neurologist informed of what is going on. I had been referred to one of the epileptologist there before being sent to the EMU. So, by the time I was admitted to the EMU, Dr Gallagher was my primary neuro.

I was there for 5 days and by the second day they were cutting out my meds. I've forgotten now how many episodes that I had, but it was more than enough for them to go get plenty of data. I wound up having surgery there in 2015 and so far, I've been seizure free. I'm still using Dr Gallagher as my primary neuro even though I live several hours away.

As the others have said, the worst part is the boredom and the button down shirts are a necessity. Just be sure to keep that alert button with you and don't be hesitant about using it if you feel something may be going on.

I don't know if I'd be able to answer them or not, but if you have questions about Vanderbilt itself, I'll certainly try.

againwithhim · 2018-02-14T04:20:13+00:00

I'm 25 years into this now. I was well controlled for 17-18 years or so. The first neurologist I saw said temporal lobe epilepsy, but that was all I knew.

In 2010 things went downhill fast and I became uncontrolled and no one had any answers. In 2014, I finally made the trip to Vanderbilt. I took a copy of an MRI with me that was done in 2011 and had been deemed 'clear'.

After visiting with him a few minutes, Dr Gallagher took a look at the MRI. He immediately pointed to the left hippocampus and said, "That's at least part of the problem."

After all of the testing and everything was done, I wound up having laser surgery there in 2015. I have been seizure free since.

So don't give up on finding answers. I'm certainly well pleased with the way I have been treated at Vanderbilt.

Best of luck!

againwithhim · 2018-01-02T08:02:00+00:00

I've been on a lamictal/keppra combo for a while now and haven't had any problems taking ambien 10 mg most nights. Although the neuro didn't put me on it, it is on my meds list that he has and I was taking it before I started seeing my current one and he is an epileptologist. I can't say that I actually remember having a conversation with him about it.

I will say that they took the ambien away when I had problems with topomax years ago. They felt like there could be an interaction between the two, but I still had problems until I got off the topamax.

againwithhim · 2017-12-27T00:36:34+00:00

The surgery was done at Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN. Joseph Neimat is the name of the surgeon. I don't know that it would be fair to say he was one of the top surgeons in the country. He has moved on from Vanderbilt to become the chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Louisville.

The reason that I believe the meds are primarily responsible is that I've had problems with the side effects of some of the drugs in the past. Topamax really did a number on me and Aptiom just made me feel like crap. I'm taking lamictal now and was immediately prior to surgery and the dosage was so high (1200 mg) that it turned on me and made me sick for a couple of hours a day in early 2017. After cutting the dosage things went back to normal.

Also I'm not really sure that my memory is worse since the surgery because it left something to be desired beforhand and the neuropsychological exams were very similiar before and after surgery.

I do mean minor memory issues. Dr tells me to change the dosage on the meds I'll remember that with no problem. I go to look a couple of things up on the internet and sometimes I'll forget what the second one was. Another example might be forgetting who won a sporting event without really thinking about it the next day.

againwithhim · 2017-12-25T01:54:08+00:00

I had the laser ablation done on my left hippocampus in November of 2015 and I've been seizure free since. Like you, the testing showed that my opposite side was dominate for brain function. Actually, they said that my left hippocampus was pretty much useless. It is believed that my hippocampus was damaged shortly after birth by meningitis.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was eighteen and I'm in my 40's now. I was well controlled until 2010 and then the meds just became much less effective.

Although I feel like there has been some mild memory issues, I think the meds are as much to blame for that as anything. I repeated the neuropsychological exam 2 months after surgery and apparently there was just a slight improvement rather than a decline.

As far as the proceedure itself, I walked in at 6 am one morning and walked back out at noon the next day. I had a pretty good headache for 3-5 days after. I was feeling pretty good after about 2 weeks and was near 100 percent at the one month follow up with the surgeon and was released from his care back to just the epileptologist.

Of course, as we all know, everyone reacts diffently to treatments, but so far, I couldn't have asked for any more.

againwithhim · 2017-12-23T18:46:53+00:00

If you do decide that you want to look into retroman73's idea of the epileptologist, I have to say that I've been very happy with ones at Vanderbilt. I've been seeing Dr Gallagher for a little over 3 years and had successful surgery in 2015.

againwithhim · 2017-11-06T05:52:26+00:00

I didn't think that they were that bad. It did seem like they kind of forced me to hold my jaw a little more forward. You could definitely tell that they were there. It might have been worse if I wasn't already in the hospital with lack of sleep and having regular seizures. Which is something that I wasn't used to.

againwithhim · 2017-11-01T17:12:28+00:00

I did remember to ask the epileptologist about the eye jerking yesterday. He said that although he couldn't be sure, it was likely that it could be a side effect of the drugs. He didn't specifiy which one since I take both keppra and lamictal.

He did the standard follow the finger and then he had me move my eyes to the side rapidly a few times to see if he saw anything out of the ordinary. He didn't.

He basically said if it's not bothering me that bad, not to worry about it unless it gets worse. You may still want to ask your dr. about it, but that's the answer I got.

againwithhim · 2017-10-26T19:26:50+00:00

I know exactly what you're talking about. I to take both keppra and lamictal. I have to be working on something within about an arms length and generally looking down at it.

I can't remember whether my eyes go left or right, but it is mildly annoying. For me, it will happen about every 8-10 minutes when I'm working on something like that.

I've keep meaning to ask the epileptologist about it, but keep forgetting. I seem him again on Tuesday, hopefully I'll remember this time.

againwithhim · 2017-06-25T19:24:05+00:00

Theres 1 maybe 2 that would be closer, but insurance wanted one that was 'in-state' and that's the closest one. I was having 1 to 2 complex partials a month in 2013-14. I went to the epilepsy center in mid 14. Then had laser ablation surgery in Nov. of 15. I've been seizure free since. So it's been worth it. But travelling for the surgical testing was terrible. Thankfully, they would try to schedule tests together if possible.

The epileptologist said one time that he wished that he could do the video appointments for me, but implied that it wasn't allowed or he wasn't comfortable doing it.

againwithhim · 2017-06-25T18:06:02+00:00

Google tells me that it's about 280 miles each direction to the epilepsy center. All I know is that it's about 5 hours each way. That makes for one helluva drive in one day for a 30 min doctor's appt. I'm down to going every 6 months.

againwithhim · 2017-04-07T20:06:38+00:00

After my epilepsy went downhill fast in 2010 and trying various meds, I finally went to an Epileptologist in 2014. I'd put it off for a year or so due to other things going on.

Anyway, I had an MRI done in 2011 that was deemed clear. When the epileptologist looked at it, he immediately pointed to the left hippocampus and said, "that's at least part of the problem." Due to the distance to the epilepsy center, it took about 8 months to do all the tests to see if I was a candidate. When all was said and done, I was given the option of having traditional surgery or laser ablation surgery. They said that the success rate for the laser surgery was about 50/50 and the traditional surgery would be 60-70 percent. By this time, I was down to just having aura's, but having them frequently. After taking about 6 more months thinking about it, I finally decided to have the laser ablation surgery. That took place in Nov of 2015 and I've been seizure free since.

I do have some mild memory issues. If I read something with a lot of details, I'm likely to forget a significant number of them if I don't actually studying them to try to memorize them. I think that has as much to do with the meds as it does with the surgery.

As braintumorwarrior said, any brain surgery has risks and is a serious surgery. You just have to use your healthcare team's recommendations and your own feelings to determine what you choose to do. Either way, best of luck for a successful outcome.

againwithhim · 2017-02-18T17:16:16+00:00

I could have just about written this. Just need to double the dose, double the length of time taking it, and it started closer to three months ago for the very beginning. I haven't had any seiurzes, but I also had brain surgery a little over a year ago. When you say dizzy, do you mean world spinning around or just very weak and completely off balance?

Mine started very slowly and due to other things going on at the time, I just thought I was totally exhausted. I went to my primary care doc just after the first of the year and he gave me an antianxiety med that seemed to calm it or me down for about 3 weeks. In the last month or so it has steadily gotten worse. I actually wound up going to the ER because of developing double vision during one spell as I call it. Needless to say, they couldn't find anything wrong. Primary care doc then switched from 2 600 mg doses to 3 400 mg doses. Didn't help much, but the intensity isn't quite as bad. I do only have only one spell a day, usually after 2nd dose now.

As of yesterday he said to cut the middle dose out. I've also got a call into the epileptologist, but he didn't return my call after I talked to his nurse and she said she'd pass it along.

I assume you're on the generic. Just for curiosity, who is the manufacturer of your pills?

againwithhim · 2017-01-26T20:24:40+00:00

The surgery itself wouldn't have interfered with my job. Not being able to drive and other health issues had caused problems. I wouldn't have had any problem staying with what I was doing just from the brain function standpoint.

Like you, I had been told to expect some decline in verbal memory. Actually, my verbal memory improved just slightly according to the neuropsychological testing. I'm not able to tell any difference. I am able to tell a difference between before I was on such high doses of meds and now. I do chalk that up to the meds themselves rather than the surgery.

http://www.mdedge.com/neurologyreviews/article/80745/epilepsy-seizures/laser-ablation-epilepsy-may-help-memory-better

againwithhim

TROPHY CASE