Post Anurysum Clipping Side Affects

I had my clipping 18 years ago and unfortunately I still suffer from headaches which my doctor has called migranous attacks and cranial pain. The cranial pain often occurs when it is cold and also with bright lights, I have to wear a hat in the cold weather and have worn tinted glasses ever since it happened which has helped. I am on medication to reduce the number of attacks I get, so I have gone from having 1 per week to 1 every 4 weeks or so. I do still find I get tired easily as well. I have learnt to live with this now and just get on with my day to day life as well as I can knowing that it could have been all so different.

Hi Gerry! If that is really you playing that beautiful fuitar, keep it up and realize (Im sure you do) music heals most pain and answers most questions.

My story is not a positive one, so I wont bother you with specifics. The pain, anxiety, exhaustion and loss of filters and self-confidence can be frustrating.

But know- you are still a newbie at this and things will get better! Stay positive, mark the small positives with celebrations. Keep a journal and keep listening to music that makes you happy and strong!
Keep your lovelight on and we will survive!
Mel

Ok, ok GUITAR. Its aphasia with a stylus. …

Gerry, I had daily headaches for ages after my clipping - can't remember quite how long for, it was 5 years ago and I was pretty confused! But gradually they backed off, and the good newsx was that I no longer suffered from the crippling migraines which had plagued me since adolescence. Small mercies! I also suffered from a constant roaring in my ears (tinnitus?) and 'swimmy' vision; both of these eventually faded, but by then the bleeding into the backs of my eyes, caused by the rupture, had caused cataracts to form in both eyes and I was gradually losing my sight - I could just make out big shapes and bright colours, could not read or watch TV, or walk anywhere alone without tripping and falling. I had four eye ops, to clean out the blood, and to replace the lenses in both eyes with plastic prescription ones - bionic woman! I have also, mortifyingly, suffered urinary incontinence ever since coming out of hospital - exercises haven't helped and I am awaiting surgery to correct this. Then there's the anxiety, depression and loss of confidence ... they say it's post-traumatic stress - but I've had CBT and I'm working on that. My usual reply to anyone who asks how I'm doing is, "At least I'm still here here to bitch about it - it was a close thing!" So, yeah, as everyone will tell you, it's a slow old business, but the thing is to compare yourself with how you were when you were first hospitalised, not with how you were before the rupture! Good luck, and try to cultivate your patience as much as possible - trust me, it's not my strong suit, but I've had to do it.

Hi Gerry. I had my clipping 13 months ago and have had difficulty with headaches. Just recently, I had such a bad migraine that I contacted my neurosurgeon. She prescribed a cocktail of Tramadol, Benadryl and Reglin. It works...but it is really hard to work while taking any of it. (I'm a music teacher at an elementary school...so full energy and enthusiasm is a must).

I was told before my surgery to expect nagging headaches for up to two years. I'm happy for you that your CT was clear. My follow up CT is in June.

I'm not sure where you live, but in Maryland, the barometric pressure change has greatly affected my headaches. Everyone in my Baltimore support group says the same thing.

Hi Gerry,

I had 2 clips, 2 coils from a rupture 5 years ago April and I hate to say but I still have horrible migraines. They are worse now than before the rupture. The dull headaches on top of the migraines I did have daily for almost a year after. I was told it was my skull healing.

Hi Gerry,

I also just passed my 6 month anniversary. I also experience dull headaches daily which are worse if I do too much during the day or stay late at work. They get me to the point of tears at times because the pain is just unbearable. I have occasional neck pain but it is not constant. My jaw pain is still very prevalent as well as not being able to open my mouth fully. I still cannot bite into a sandwich or burger! I had a CT done about 2 months ago as the surgeon wanted to make sure all the hardware was in place properly and that wasn’t the reason for the pain, which thankfully all came back great.

It seems we are pretty much experiencing the same symptoms and had our surgeries at just about the same time. Feel free to message me as I have a ton of questions myself!

-Cait

I had mine around 20 months ago. Headaches persisted for a while. Daily nagging dull headaches that would be right behind the eye. A lot of it has to do with the nerves as they regenerate on your skull. It’s a very slow process. The muscles were cut. The skull itself was drilled. So it takes a while. Every now and then I would have a severe headache and there would be nothing that would make it better other than to sleep it off. Thought these would persist forever but surprisingly they disappeared around the one year mark for me! No more daily headaches. Just maybe occasionally a dull one if I’m hungry or feeling dehydrated but otherwise nothing. So hang in there, continue to get the rest you need, eat well, exercise as tolerated, stay hydrated!, and get the much needed sleep. And everyone recovers a bit differently but I’m positive yours will go away too in due time.

I wanted to add - regarding the jaw soreness. The temporal muscle (the one that covers the side of the skull) is responsible for jaw movement. There are others as well but it plays a key role. That muscle is cut during a pterional craniotomy and then approximated back in place with sutures. Despite that, it does tend to atrophy a bit. So you might notice that imbalance between the right and left. That could cause jaw pain. I have that now. Jaw clicks often when chewing. My neurosurgeon recommended chewing gum to strengthen the muscle. Maybe try that?

Dear Gerry

Hang in there! I too had headaches for a long time. Clipping is just the more invasive and dramatic treatment... but then it's done and you're set for the rest of your life. I was 53 when my aneurysm ruptured and I had clipping surgery. I am now 64 and enjoying my life. I haven't had any symptoms going back to the surgery for many years. When it first happened I actually ended up with 4 craniotomies in 8 months because the bone-flap wouldn't heal and was eventually replaced with a steel-plate. Even with these complications my life pretty much returned to normal after about two years. The brain heals slowly, they tell us, and who wants to hear that? But I think it's true... and I am so thankful you and I and all the others here survived and get a chance at our lives, even though it's such a struggle for a long time. I'm glad your CT-scan came back ok, and here's to you keeping on keeping on!

Gerry, I had a clipping of my left ophthalmic artery and my left carotid. Sounds pretty textbook to me. I can actually say, even though I returned to work after 3 months, I did not feel like myself for a good year and a half. My jaw is still numb and probably always will be since they had to cut through nerves to get to my carotid. I'm on meds for my headaches, my balance is a bit off and bending down sometimes does me in. Mental fatigue, let's not even go there :) You are healing as expected but if there is anything you are not comfortable with, call your doctor. Carol

Hi, I'm over a decade on clipping now and those various encumbrances (for a better word) that you've mentioned along with sinus issues, as well as vision and hearing at times have happened throughout the past decade for me. But as you mention everyone is different and has different side effects. As a survivor some days are very hard to explain with all that stuff going on as I'm sure many will attest. I'm grateful to just be alive and yesterday I enjoyed my grandson catching his first fish. So even after a decade I'm having many of the issues you mention. My suggestion is find those things that sooth your soul and your heart and mind will follow. Thanks for your post... God Bless !

Hi gerry. Glad youre doing well. My rupture was clipped two and a half years ago. Had vasospasm eight days later. I was In the hospital 15 days. Had daily headaches for three months after the surgery. Now, I rarely get one of "those headaches". I went back to work after being off for three months. I still have that numb forehead thing. No jaw pain. A slight case of expressive Aphasia. But althogether, we're very blessed

Hi Gerry, my aneurysm ruptured when I was 16 in 1970. Never had a headache before the rupture and craniotomy for the clipping, but I still get bad migraine type headaches ever since. The jaw pain goes away after a while, but I've given up hoping the headaches will disappear! Reading up the odds on survival post rupture, I can live with them! I guess having a shunted hydrocephalus now adds to the headaches anyway. Great news about the CT scan and hang in there...you're a survivor. Things will improve over time. I'm 46 years post rupture this October so have faith!! God bless! X

I had clipping done in 2013 and have successfully completely recovered.

I do sleep a lot more than I use to.

My neurologist said I am still healing. I think it is because I am retired and just can sleep more.

I had one eye that would not open for a few months but that resolved itself. Saw a specialist and he said give it time. I get slight headaches once in awhile but nothing like the migraines I had my whole life. I know I am lucky to have survived the ruptured aneurysm.

Hi Gerry,
5 months post the same surgery as you I have the same jaw issue. It is sooo uncomfortable and sometimes I wonder where the pressure/ ache comes from - the head or jaw. The entire muscle was cut and restitched - I wonder if it is scar tissue forming? My neuro suggested to see a dentist and have a nighttime splint made - I’m in that process now and I hear you and sympathise. Being unable to open my jaw fully is not right and I think I need to address it before it remains that way forever,
It does help to know that others out there are feeling ( sometimes alarming!) symptoms. It is such a rough recovery - I had no idea. I’m

Gerry-
It’s been almost 3 years since my clipping. Headaches, neck/shoulder pain, scar pain, but with yoga and meditation I can handle it, I just take it one day at a time. Don’t forget to breathe and smile. Your pains sound very normal and at the same time if you are wondering I encourage you to reach out to your doctor. Take it easy!

Hi Gerry, it’s been about fourteen months for me and I still have headaches, my Neuro doc said that they are normal, and to avoid extreme cold. I have a appointment to go to a headache specialist, I had two clipped by open crainiotomy. Acetaminophen seems to help with the pain and headaches.

Hi Gerry.
I had my Rupture and clipping on November 17. And then a shunt put in on December 14. I still have headaches and neck pain. As well as fatigue. I was also wondering if this is all part of the recovery process. Night time and first thing in the morning are the worst for me. I can’t find a pillow or a comfortable position at night for my neck. I just joined this support group and I’m still learning how to navigate through it. I also have muscle aches in my left leg and right arm. It’s very strange. Does anyone else have this?

Hi Gerry, I had my rupture and aneurysm clipped 10 months ago and I still get headaches quite often. They are small piercing headaches where I had my surgery, I’ve been told it is common. My jaw is fine but I suffered peripheral vision loss which has not come back, still hoping at least some of it will come back one day. The headaches can get bad and sometimes jolt me awake, they also can make me very dizzy and make me feel like I’m going to pass out. So in some sense I know where you’re coming from and I’ve been told my headaches are not typical but they are somewhat common to my condition. For having lived through the rupture and surgery I’d say we are very lucky. Hope the headaches get better and All the best!