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A MyEpilepsyTeam Member asked a question 💭
Roachdale, IN

What kind of seizures does VNS help reduce? What "requirements" must you meet to have it? I see my neurologist next week and I'm going to ask him about it. I thought I would get your opinions first.

July 24, 2015
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Answer Summary

Members shared their personal experiences with VNS (vagus nerve stimulator) in response to questions about eligibility and what types of... Read more

Members shared their personal experiences with VNS (vagus nerve stimulator) in response to questions about eligibility and what types of seizures it helps. Several members noted that doctors generally look for patients who have tried multiple medications without success, and that VNS can help with focal, partial, grand mal, and petit mal seizures, though it does not replace medication. A recurring theme was that results vary widely from person to person, with some members finding life-changing relief while others saw little benefit, making a conversation with a neurologist the most important next step.

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July 28, 2015
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member I’m seeing a lot of negative answers but I have to tell you, my VNS is the best thing I ever did! Not only has it decreased my number of seizures, my recovery time is SOOO much faster, and VERY little, if any, aphasia.
My dr said the only requirement is that you prove to be ‘drug resistant’… which means they’ve tried 2. It has really changed my life for the better! I hope it ends up being an option for you!

May 11, 2023
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

What Clark wrote is incorrect. As I wrote, I haven't had a grand mal or petit mal seizure since I had the VNS implant done 25 years ago. Back then, I was having four grand mal seizures per day every three months. The day before and the day after, I'd have four to eight simple partials. Over the past three years, I've only had three days with simple partials (I call them dizzy spells). And I have far fewer of them. I was out with a friend of mine two days ago and had one. That was it. Just that one. Prior to that, I have only had two other simple partials within the previous six months. In the two and half years before that, I hadn't had any. That's because I lost 140 pounds. But in the past six months, I regained about 20 pounds.

May 12, 2023
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

The first thing that happened to me was having the depth electrodes test. That was over three weeks long. The reason that happened is my Dr. wanted to know where my seizures were coming from in my brain, after getting those results my Dr. knew if some more options for more surgery were possible. Unfortunately more surgery is not possible. So the VNS was the only other thing to do along with taking medication. My VNS worked perfectly, slide the magnet 🧲 over the stimulator and it worked/turned on. The batteries 🪫 inside the one I have now are dead, so I have been told I will be getting a new model VNS in the future. I’m terribly sorry things did not work out correctly for some of You. Keep the faith-something good will come for all of us eventually!

April 21, 2023
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

Andrea I think that is something you would 🤔have to discuss with your doctor

April 24, 2025

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