I tried the VNS . It didn’t work well for me. That doesn’t mean that it won’t work for you.

The Dr. will start you on the lowest setting . Then they will set the amount of time for the electric pulse to shoot up from the Vagus Nerve and into the brain. For awhile it will feels unusual . But your body will get use to it .

Every appt. your Dr. will check to see if it’s functioning right and may change the settings on it. He/she might make the electric pulse stronger, or may possibly change the timer for when the pulse will shoot up through your Vagus nerve.

The battery ( pacer like device ) will roughly work upto 5 yrs. when battery stops working, you will have to replace it with a new one.

I was having around 15 or more seizures a month so my neuro suggested a VNS. I've had a one since 2007 and it has helped me. I'm still having seizures, maybe 3 a month, and taking meds but not nearly as many as I was before.
How I refer to it is it's like a pace maker for your brain. It sends a jolt up every so often, what ever it's set to, to help stop seizures in general. When the magnet is used it will send a jolt up right then. If feel like I'm going to have a seizure, which I don't always do, I use the magnet and it usually stops the seizure. If I'm having a seizure and someone is with me they can use the magnet on me and it brings me out of the seizure. With the meds I was taking I was able to go down to a lower dosage and some even taken off of.

It does take a little time to figure out what the settings are on the VNS too. At first it might be at a higher setting then dropped down to a lower. My neruo checks mine at every appt and it usually stays the same or lowered. Really the only reason about changing the settings now are because I've gotten a new one in 2013. The only reason for that is because the battery died in the first and it can't be relapsed, you have to get a hole new one.

I've never had a problem with it hurting. When the settings are changed you will usually feel a tingling in your throat when the VNS sends that jolt. But once you get used to it, which probably won't take that long, only a few days for me. That will happen too if you use the magnet too.

I'm down from one gramdmal a week to 2 a year.
Came off a pill.
Also keto when I got VNS.
Nocturnals gone, absence seizures reduced.
If doctor says you are a candidate, don't be a dumbass like me and say, "No Thanx" for 3 years.
Regards, Jeff

I am about the same as you but i can never predict them. I have a ton of auras though..doctors say my brain is very active. I qualified for vns surgery and got it..when the raise the voltage it hurts like hell but you get used to it. Im doing fine so far. Ive felt off a few times whereas i have to sit down still. Its dizziness from my meds. So it doesnt cure all. Im waiting to see if they will lower my meds soon enough. They stopped at a dosage already bc i seem to be doing fine. I hope and pray this works..im only 2 months in

Hi, yes I have a VNS and it has helped for me. It has not stopped my seizures but just has reduced the severity and shortened the recovery time. Some people it can stop the seizures completely and others it does not. It is not a quick fix as the longer the device is on, the better the treatment is so you have to have a lot of patience.
I experience change in my voice, tingling sensations around the generator and sometimes involuntary muscle contractions as side effects but not everyone gets these. If there are other medications that you can try I would definitely do it. I see surgery as a last resort. I was drug resistant so I had nothing to lose by having the surgery.