After my CT scan in January I started having headaches. Before this I have never had a headache. Or VERY rarely, and not bad ones.
Now I have them daily. They come and go. They seem to be in different places. Back of head, right side top of head with burning sensation. I have been told by the surgeon and an ER Dr that there are NO symptoms from unruptured aneurysms. Yet I read this:
“Sentinel” or warning headaches may result from an aneurysm that leaks for days to weeks prior to rupture. Only a minority of individuals have a sentinel headache prior to aneurysm rupture."
Is this referring to only large aneurysms? (my two are both 2mm)
I have been writing off these headaches to anxiety although I have never had headaches as part of anxiety before.
Thank you!!
There ARE signs of unruptured aneursyms, leaking aneursyms and about to rupture aneursyms. I would request an angiogram to be sure.
Why did you have a CT Scan on January? Have you had your annies already treated?
You should ask your neurosurgeon to check your CT Scan results to make sure all is good.
Deal with the root of your anxieties until you are at peace, those headaches might go away.
Dear July:
I had sentinel headaches before I knew that I had an aneurysm, in fact those headaches made me go to a doctor and request a CT scan as soon as possible. Sentinel headaches are very different from strong headaches. I would say they are unexpected and very sharp, it is like somebody with a baseball bat hit your head, they are unexpected and strong, I felt also like inside one of the arteries was going to explode in a minute, I felt the vibrations inside and I had to stop whatever I was doing and almost breath very slowly. I do not know if I bleed because my CT scan was done about 3 weeks after the headaches so if I bleed by that time it did not appear in the CT scan. I had those headaches like in 5 different days, 3 of them during exercise. At the time I was under stress, and had high blood pressure
It seems that unruptured aneurysm almost always do not present symptoms if they are small, but sentinel headaches are one of those rare cases. I had them and my aneurysm was 3 mm, and because of them I discovered my aneurysm.
You have to control your blood pressure imperative, be careful doing exercises and during sex. Your headaches as you describe them seems strong but not like a sentinel headache. A sentinel headache makes you stop, freeze until they pass, and you feel like you are going to die at the moment.
In my case after I learnt I had an aneurysm I was more aware of my head, symptoms, and headaches for a year before I decided to do a Pipeline embolization procedure.
I had dreadful headaches for 2 weeks before my aneurysm ruptured. My doctor put it down to a sinus infection since my headaches were one-sided, down the right side of my face and the right yes and nose in particular. Aneurysm ruptured on the right side. I am absolutely fine, so after effects whatsoever, but I could have died. So it can be harmless e.g. sinus infection, but it can also be deadly, and I'm one of the lucky ones.
So glad to know that I’m not going crazy. I had my 13 x 8 mm unruptured aneurysm coiled at the end of November 2014 and now have exactly same headaches as described and was told that it is just my imagination.
ONLY in retrospect did I start to think that my headaches in the weeks prior to my rupture were probably"sentinel headaches." They occurred in the few weeks just prior to my very small aneurysm rupturing. I bet it was leaking a bit and I didn’t even know.
When they discovered my aneurysm they first described it has having a sentinel bleed. It was a Giant Aneurysm that was weeping blood out rather then bursting. What led me to the Dr. was a stiff neck, headaches and general ill feeling all over with slightly blurred vision. I can still recall that I had just never felt that way ever. My first Dr. in the clinic thought it was a case of West Nile Virus so he sent me to the ER for a spinal tap to check for blood in the spinal fluid. The ER Dr. said a CT scan was normal protocol before performing a spinal tap and then they saw the Giant aneurysm and another 4mm aneurysm that was un-ruptured. The rest of the story is a long journey of three coilings and finally a clipping with a ECIC bypass around the Giant Aneurysm.
There was a discussion just today on Fox News Channel about aneurysms which was very interesting and I am sure it brought up a lot of awareness since one in fifty in America are at risk for an aneurysm.
I never knew about 'sentinel headaches' either but thats what I had. I've had years of bad headaches since the rupture but there are no more aneurysms. I guess its just one of those things I have to live with, could be much worse.
Re - sentinel bleeds
Around two years before my giant U ruptured aneurysm was found on an MRI, I had a sudden, painful headache. It was so bad that I finally went to the emergency ward. The doctor there said that if it kept up I would have to have an angiogram. I wonder now why he didn’t do a spinal tap. After the bad headache, which took weeks to go away, I was all right, and nothing happened until the aneurysm was discovered. I was having partial-complex seizures, but these were controlled by the drug Carbemazepine. At the time we didn’t have MRIs in our city. We have them now.
I never knew about sentinel headaches either! I had them too! I remember waking up one night before I had the rupture, in such pain, taking 2 aspirin and thinking "I could die tonight." Since I felt better in the morning I spoke about it to others but never called a doctor.
I had them for about a month and a half prior to my rupture. We only recognized what they were after my surgery, when we reflected on the weeks leading up to them.
I have 5 Annie’s the 1st ruptured, I’ve had migrains all my life. Since 4 brain opps. They r not so bad but driving at night with lights in my eyes bring them on. Also now have ringing in my ears. But I’m in gods grace to be still here
I have never heard of these but I’m glad that you’ve shared. I often get these strange headaches. I will be vigilante. Thank you.
July, I would suggest you speak to your Neurologist. Be frank with the Neurologist; discuss your concerns and even fears. I ruptured and developed another aneurysm and I get different types of headaches. Headaches can be caused by anything from allergies to stress and beyond. Some headaches have me calling my Neurosurgeon, some have me taking a different type of allergy pill and I let my Neurologist’s assistant know (it’s his rule if as a patient I take something or more of a prescription than he suggests). I would also suggest seeing a therapist if having aneurysms are impeding your life and lifestyle. Remember to breathe deep and slow all the time.
I had one ruptured 4 years ago, and for a month before I had one never ending headache. Since coiling I’ve had headaches that mostly show up with weather change, but I was told this is due to the pressure the leftover blood in my cerebral fluid is causing. Hope this helps. And I would speak to neurologist too.
I had the same after having an unruptured annie coiled. the headaches were everyday for about 6 months but I was told that after a coiling and stent, there is some swelling that can cause headaches and once the swelling goes away the headaches do too. good luck
Gisele said:
So glad to know that I'm not going crazy. I had my 13 x 8 mm unruptured aneurysm coiled at the end of November 2014 and now have exactly same headaches as described and was told that it is just my imagination.
This has me wondering and a little worried. Ron is two years post aneurism and the last two months he has been complaining of headaches. Sometimes from standing up or if he gets frustrated and is taxing his brain. He was left with severe brain damage . he sometimes says they are so sharp . sometimes shooting pain gone fast. and other times bad that last for awhile and he needs to rest. I have a group of tbi people on facebook and they all have headaches I'm not sure if I should be concerned
I also get headaches but the drs said that is a side effect just like back aches and sore neck. The ringing in my ears is deafening. I still get itchy scalp. I am supposed to wear an eye patch because i see double which causes my headaches. I got teased too much at halloween time so i dont wear it much. i am unable to drive so that maddens me because i have always been independent and i dont like asking favors. i am happy to be alive but life sure has changed.
OK, I have to tell you....I cannot read these replies! It's not you, it;s me! I get so much anxiety! And I am concerned that my BP will go up!
The headaches have been here for over 2 months (today almost none at all) so I am thinking tension. Would 'not very bad' headaches that come and go and sometimes are gone most of the day be from a 2mm annie? I'm thinking and praying no. But why is there so much contradicting info out there??!! It is so upsetting. It looks like annies can have very small leaks and symptoms of that...but the famous neurosurgeon says not!
Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to read all the replies! How do you guys keep from having huge anxiety over these dratted annies? I am so sorry ... thank you all for the replies!!
(July...from under the bed!)