I had a large aneurysm (11 mm) in my left ica that was treated with a flow-diversion stent. I was seeing double with my left eye (aneurysm was pressing on the optic nerve), which is why I had a CT scan in the first place. I’ve had terrible migraines ever since. I had migraines before the procedure, and they were getting worse over the months before the aneurysm was discovered, but this is now worse than anything I had before the procedure. Has anyone else had this problem, and has anything worked for you? The vision disruption is profound and a new symptom, and the migraine headache is as bad as it ever was. I am very grateful to the surgeon and his team. Everything went well, but something has changed in my head and I don’t know what to do.
Good Morning Susan and thank you for starting a new topic! How long ago did you have your procedure? I ask this because we require a few things ruptured or not and that’s to follow the mantra my neurosurgeon taught me hydrate, eat protein hydrate some more, rest and repeat. Some of us have lingering effects from the contrast dye and anesthesia, so it’s good to keep hydrated as it flushes everything out. Our brains are protein hogs and it’s good to feed them but there’s a fine balance there between what the brain needs and what too much protein can do.
When I was in NSICU, they sent a RDN student in her last year who told me I needed 90gm/day minimum. When I got out and a long while later, I read the Dietery Guidelines for the US was 90gm/day but the WHO was saying 120 gm/day. The DGAs changed recently and goes by weight 1.2-1.6 grams per kilogram of weight. I found this article Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030: Progress on added sugar, protein hype, saturated fat contradictions • The Nutrition Source which links to this one Protein • The Nutrition Source both of which I found interesting. WHO has changed as well Healthy diet . Personally I am sticking with the 90 gms, sometimes I have off days which we call bad brain days in our home and I have to up the protein and hydrate more. I love a good sirloin, it’s my favorite cut but if I’m out with friends for dinner, I always try to get salmon, which I love. We have to be particular in our semi rural area as good wild caught salmon is hard to find it seems.
For every angiogram I have had, my neurosurgeon has always recommended that I drink 3 of those 32 ounce Gatorades and twice that in water. I have to do this for several months as my body despises gadolinium and because I had brain surgery. When she put in my stent, I felt the best of any of the other procedures but still had to do the water Gatorade routine. There are many other sports drinks and electrolytes choices now then when I first ruptured.
Why did I focus my reply on diet, you may be asking. Simply put, our diet affects everything. Since you’ve had migraines in the past, have you a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)? I would strongly suggest touching base with one. I would also highly encourage you to reach out to your surgeon through your patient portal and let them know what’s going on. If you have a neurologist, I’d let them know as well. My PCP is extremely knowledgeable but doesn’t think she knows it all and will always recommend I reach out to one of my specialists unless it’s within her expertise. Headaches and migraines always means to bypass her and touch base with my neurologist’s NP. 9 times out of 10, he orders MRI/As as the neck of my aneurysm has never completely closed resulting in a small leak and it bothers him.
I wish you the best of luck! Please let us know what your surgeon says as it’s how we learn here.