My son had a ruptured aneurysm when he was 9 years old. It was coiled, then re-coiled 6 months later. He made a pretty good recovery, got some excellent GCSE results last year and is in first year of sixth form.
However. He still struggled with awful headaches pretty much daily. His attendance at college hasn’t been good this year as many weeks he has a day off with severe head pain. His eye is affected as there was a palsy on the third nerve, and he has an interactive large pupil, double vision and pain in the eye. He also has processing speed issues. He has been under the excellent care of consultants since the aneurysm, who have tried every medication under the sun for his headaches, plus cranial nerve injections, a cefaly device, you name it. Nothing has helped much.
I just wanted to see whether anyone else who had an aneurysm us still suffering, this far down the line. He’s 17 now and a bit fed up with it!
I’m sorry. I don’t have any experience with this but I didn’t want to read and not respond. That is a lot to deal with for a long time for both of you and I’m sorry for all you’re dealing with! Wishing you the best of luck and sending virtual (((hugs)))
Thank you. It’s frustrating not knowing whether this is how his life will be; chronic headache most days is debilitating and impacts on his teenage life.
I’m not a medical professional – but in reading about the issues your son has with one eye what crossed my mind is wearing a patch over that eye. My non-medical self is thinking that if the “bad” eye is given a rest and/or shielded from constant stimulation maybe that would help?
I’m not saying wear a patch all the time, maybe when reading or attending class, those times when heavier concentration is needed and more visual cues are processed?
azurelle
Hello, I had my SAH in December 07. I have had the coiling in the brain stem and have had headaches almost daily since. My vision is skewed but I am fine until the second half of the day when it seems I tire out, that is when my vision drastically reduces and my headache increases as well. I also have type 2 diabetes to boot. So yes, I have headaches daily as well, some days extreme, but the only way I have gotten them to respond is to reduce drastically my stress…this has been my most productive way to lessen the headaches. I take several medications which help as well, but sometimes I simply suffer it out…I too get tired of them. I am now 53. I hope for the best every day. I hope this gives you some insight that it isn’t only he that is dealing with the headaches. Best of luck.
costagirl, Had my rupture five years ago and had excruciating headaches, not so much now. Last time I saw my doc, we went over the steps I take when I get them and she tells her husband the same (he’s never had brain surgery). She also said the aneurysm wouldn’t cause the headaches by now. So here’s my rules, hope he gets relief
-
hydrate I like water, when I want something hot, I drink green tea with honey or any decaffeinated tea. Caffeine can cause headaches. Water is free and here in the States they have dehydrated lemon juice in small sugar size packets that go great in a tumbler of water.
-
protein or what did you eat last or when was the last time you ate. Some foods, etc can produce migraines so maybe he can do a food diary that can help his doctors or more importantly him. Salt seems to be one of my triggers. Not eating can cause headaches, so make sure he takes some healthy mix of snacks with him
-
not sure if this will help, but I wear sunglasses every where inside or out, seems that I did better with the old incandescent bulbs than the LEDs. There is a place in Utah that believes the tinted lenses they developed helped with ocular migraines and headaches not otherwise specified. I get by in the house because we learned to use table lamps more than ceiling lights. Also and I’m not sure he can do this - limit time on computer, tablet, texting…and adjust the background lighting to see if he feels relief.
Thanks so much for your reply. I’m so sorry that you still suffer from these headaches too - it’s so debilitating. I read your message to my son - many thanks.
You’re very welcome.
I’d suggest getting a second opinion. Mayo Clinic is ranked #1 in neurosurgery. I have found you have to take your health into your own hands and seek a resolution. I have come to trust Mayo Clinic. Good luck, I hope he feels better soon.
Thank you for your reply. He had a terrible week last week with pain, nausea etc and was off school for the whole week. I even packed a hospital bag just in case! Still the same but not worse which I suppose suggests it’s nothing serious. Think I’ll ask to have next scan brought forward.
Hi Costagirl,
I had a ruptured aneurysm in brainstem (VA/PICA) almost 5 years ago. I can relate to your Son except instead of headaches, I suffer from chronic vertigo and vision issues due to vestibular issues which affects my eye movements. Unfortunately, my vision issues affects my reading comprehension (I can only read 2-3 mins at a time) and have severe eye strain while reading. So, I can really relate to your Son as it is challenging day to day.
For myself, I have seen many specialists but currently going to UC Berkeley School of Optometry which is providing me with vision therapy as well as prism glasses to correct the double vision as well as reading strategies. If you have access to University level optometry school, check to see if there is binocular vision care. It is not easy coming up the right prism glasses to address double vision. I went to several regular optometrist and they could not prescribe an effective prism glasses after numerous tries. They also taught me techniques in dealing with eye strain.
For headaches, it must be difficult. I am also taking medication for my vertigo. While it minimizes the vertigo, I have to live the side effects. And, it does not completely go away so I have worked on coping mechanisms for the vertigo. I know survivors who suffer from head aches. As medication minimizes the headaches, they develop coping mechanisms from meditation, tea, acupuncture to CBD products.
If you have further questions, please reach out to me. I can relate to many of his issues except that I have vertigo instead of headaches. Best of luck.
Thank you
My rupture was in August of ‘07. I deal with headaches, loss of balance, and a few others. Meditation and peppermint oil ease, just ease, some headaches. I find headaches worsened with rain or high humidity. Just try to prepare myself for these days.
As far as future goes, I am seriously considering trying cbd(?) oils as when they become legal, not that my doctors are going for this. For 12yrs I have tried it their way, but I’m the one in pain