I had a brain bypass (with a clip). EC-IC surgery 2 years ago. I have a small hole in my skull where the vein goes down into my brain to supply blood to the brain that was cut off by the clip.
For the most part I have been well except for when under heavy stress i have a neurological reaction and become “drunk/vertigo” for about 1/2 hour.
For the past 2 weeks, I have been under heavier stress both emotionally (arguing with husband very badly) and with work (heavy work load). About 3 weeks ago, I had a stabbing pain for about 5 seconds on top of where I think the hole is above my ear. (while lying down). A week later it happened again. Then it has happened a few times more but for longer. Also my cheek and skull around my ear became numb. It was bad enough I thought I had an emergency a few days ago. I had 2 opinions over the phone, one a nurse and one a surgical resident who said those symptoms are not related to my bypass. The numbness and pain are gone again.
Any idea what could be?
Nerve pain? (I do have nerve pain issues in my bladder).
Sorry I can’t help on having the hole in your head. Do you mean you had a craniotomy and it hasn’t closed? I would have thought after a couple years the skull plate would’ve closed. Perhaps others who’ve had craniotomies can enlighten.
As for stress, try deep breathing. Some things are in your control, other things are not, it’s a bear learning to differentiate between the two but you can do it! Sorry your having issues with your husband. I have found men talk better when their hands are busy, try talking calmly when he’s doing something. You can try writing down all the issues and making goals to get over or around the issues. Some things are not worth the energy to argue over. Remember, You can only control your actions and reactions
Originally, blood comes up your brainstem to supply your brain, There is a second supply coming up the outside of your neck to supply your skin. In my case, they closed off the blood supply to part of my brain with a clip. The vein that had the aneurysm was big enough that they needed to continue supplying blood to the brain (if they are small enough they will just clip and not worry about supplying more blood). So they created a small hole in my skull (in addition to the very large one to do surgery). This hole is just big enough that it won’t seal itself back. I think it’s about size of pencil eraser but I’m not sure. Then take a vein out of my skin, attach it to my carotid artery in front of my ear, and send it down through the hole just above my ear. So now instead of receiving blood from inside my brain, that part of my brain receives blood from the outside going in. Some people say they can hear their heartbeat with this surgery, but luckily not me, that would drive me crazy!
I am so sorry!Its so hard when dealing with multiple pains and stresses. I have had BA’s,clipping,craniotomy. When I get stressed
out I have sharp pain in head. Also have bone pain it’s been one year in December. I think don’t give up on finding the right Doctor for you.
I was able to ask a doctor to review my case. I sent my records. He did it free!Some take a few cases a year for no cost. But I do understand what your feeling.Just being able to talk about how much pain. I do try to distract myself with things I love. It relaxes me. I really hope you find answers. Good wishes!
I am walking in a similar pair of shoes. I had a clip w/bypass surgery on a non-ruptured 13mm in Nov 2006. It sounds like you are getting ice pick headaches. Stress is a big cause. When I get these headaches, it is usually in my temporal region close to one of my surgical sites. I tend to get these every once in a while. There is a medication that you can take if they are becoming more frequent. Plus Biofeedback can be helpful when you feel the stress levels getting out of control.
I haven’t met anyone who had a keyhole craniotomy, since it’s a relatively new procedure for an aneurysm. You are a pioneer patient! It sounds like you have a leak of cerebrospinal fluid, which is one of the rare complications of any type of brain surgery. In my experience, neurosurgeons aren’t that interested in the effects like pain and numbness. They consider it a success if you leave the operating room alive! I’d have had more help about pain from my neurologist, since she deals with the after-effects of surgery. The numbness happens anytime you cut through a nerve. This was temporary for me, but during healing it can come and go. I had tingling as well as numbness. Most people who have had brain surgery have on-and-off pain. You shouldn’t hesitate to report significant pain. The stress you are under adds to the burden of brain surgery recovery, which takes place over months and not days. I am not sure of your work situation, but if you think they would want to help you, I would discuss the pain you are having during very stressful periods. Perhaps they can get you some temporary help, or assign some of your workload to someone else. Not all bosses would respond well, I understand. As for your husband, I think you have an absolute right to insist on the time and space to recover without extra demands from him. This is new territory for all us, so maybe he doesn’t know how long it takes to recover from brain surgery. If you can get a counselor who will do a FaceTime session with both of you, that might help. (My niece had someone do this with her husband, who had moved away.) You need the help of your boss and husband, because you are still healing.
Really great insight Kate3 thanks! My neurologist is an MS specialist (I don’t have that), but I have three clients who all have MS and see him. we have come to the consensus he prescribes the same thing to everyone. I am thinking I need to find a doctor who really knows about after-surgery effects. Wow, great thinking about the CS leak. I will more into that.
PS. It’s not actually a keyhole. They actually made about 6" diameter cut of the skull to do the brain surgery, but then just left a hole in that piece so the blood vessel could go down. It’s called an EC-IC bypass.
I can only suggest you seek a second opinion. Are you able to see your original surgeon?
