VNS stands for vagus nerve stimulator. We have decided to push for this because I have been put on and off five or six different types of medication and they don't all seem to be working. Lots of people use VNS to control their seizures.
The therapy is delivered by a generator which is similar to a pacemaker and a thin, flexible wire. This helps to send lots of impulses to the brain. There are side effects which tend to affect the voice and make it more hoarse.
A small generator is placed in the left chest area, and depending on the settings on the generator, a procedure is needed to replace the generator usually after between 3 to 8 years. This is done under local anaesthesia.
The generator is usually turned on after 2 weeks of the implant procedure.
The VNS magnet is used by briefly placing the implant over the generator to either shorten or stop the seizures. It can also decrease the intensity and reduce the recovery time.
I have been feeling a bit nervous about going under general anaesthesia. I've never done it before but I'm sure I'll be fine once I'm there. But I'm being referred now so it's all going ahead!
Mum also noticed a bit of my hair coming out recently. I haven't noticed anything and it didn't seem to be very bad, but the doctor said it may seem to be because of the repeated seizures that I had on holiday and the psychosis that I had. I thought that I had gotten over that, but she thinks it may be some shock of that happening.
So, fingers crossed that everything goes well!
The VNS Diagram
The Generator and Wire
The Magnet
No comments:
Post a Comment