I had an ruptured 4 cm aneurysm at the end of July but it took doctors 3 weeks to recognise it after an MRA confirmed it. I was immediately sent for a coil embolisation of ruptured right A1/A2 junction aneurysm. Immediately post op I felt fantastic - no headache for the first time in weeks! Then after a few hours I saw flashing lights but the docs were not concerned so I was fine with it. I was discharged home after 36 hours feeling tired but great. Within 48 hours I experienced my first visual migraine lasting 30 mins which led to a headache getting increasingly worse.mi contacted the ward who said if it got worse to come back, but it stayed at about a 6 so I didn’t and after 3 days went. Since then I have had back to back debilitating visual migraines which I have never had before, lasting up to 5 days. Doc said said take tramadol but I hate it as it makes me feel very sick on top of feeling nauseous. I have now been prescribed propanalol 80mg daily which does seem to have eased them though so far I have only gone 4 days without one! I also suffer from a numb left foot when tired but can live with that. Help please how long will these headaches go on?
Hi Susan...I was told by my surgeons after coiling...headaches can last and be bad for about 6 months...mine lasted about 3 months and I had to take feriocet for the really bad days ... not to mention I am on the propranolol ... for headaches and high Bp...anyways...they did subside, but I now get a monthly migraine...I never experienced before my coiling...it is my "new normal"...I hope yours will get better...the propranolol should really help a lot...along with rest...hope today is a better one...~ Colleen
Thanks Colleen that’s good to hear as I don’t want to have to take meds if I don’t need to. Today’s been a good day!
Hello Susan
I had very occasional visual migraine symptoms for about 10 years before aneurysm diagnosis. I never had the headache. In fact I'd never been a headachey person. After coiling I immediate head pain which lasted pretty continuously and needing regular painkillers (including dihydrocodeine) for about 3 months until I started amitriptyline. I had nerve irritation pain post coiling too, but also now get migraine like headaches. Always with pain on the same side as the aneurysm. Always after a busy day or two and usually waking me from sleep at about 3 am. Other than immediately after each angiogram I've had no more visual disturbance, though of course I may be a sleep when they come! I'm now nearly 2 years post coiling and now get migraine like headaches about once a fortnight. Amitriptyline worked really well for the nerve pain and probably reduces frequency of the migraine like pain. Though I never have an entirely pain free day it no longer interferes with life much. I am just, yet again, having an attempt to get off the amitriptyline as I'm not too keen on the sedation and bowel effects. I'm getting niggly pains a bit more often, so I'm not sure I'll manage to get off. It is 5 days now.
Poor you that sounds awful. My headaches are on the same side as the aneurysm too. Infact just starting a migraine as I type this so off to bed. I wasn't happy to try amitriptyline because of the side effects to have bought feverfew plants and hope that the neurologist will let me try them when I have had a month on propanaolol as I don't want to get landed on a drug for life!! It has been so great to hear from people who have gone thought the same thing as me as I thought I was going mad. The docs in the UK don't give much info and make you feel like a hypochondriac so its been good to know that headaches seem to be one of the things associated with coiling. In fact one of the migraines I had 2 weeks ago landed me back in hospital as they thought I had ruptured it was so bad with vomiting etc. Anyway thats about me and thank you once again. I do hope you get off the amitriptyline soon.