Request for shared experience - brain abscess

[crestedbarbet]

I am recovering from a brain abscess and wonder if anyone would share what the recovery process was like for them if possible. I am tremendously tired and often have head pain and wonder if this is normal.

[StrawberryCream]

I had abscesses in my frontal brain at the same time as I had Bacterial Meningitis & Septiceamia plus had cerebritis and strokes. Recovery from any brain event, injury, infection, haemorrhage etc is similar and can cause the same sort of recovery problems with some differences related to the area of the brain that has caused the BI. Head pain and fatigue are problems commonly suffered. How far are you in your recovery?

[crestedbarbet in reply to StrawberryCream]

Hi Strawberry cream, thanks for the reply. I went into hospital on the 6th feb. It was only a small abscess and I only stayed in hospital for 3 weeks. I just wondered if someone had had the same thing and could put some sort of a timescale on the recovery and on how it affected them. Thank you very much.

[Hidden]

I am afraid that tiredness seems to be the normal! Sorry

[gabimou]

Hi have a look at my profile if it helps I had a brain abscess 2 years ago so welcome to the special breed club if you need to ask just send me a message but we are all different in how we recover and try and ask your Neuro Dr on things that worry you if they are understanding enough.

I had a lovely out patient Dr and I'm now seeing a neurologist who is really helpful in explaining things ,only young but willing to share his knowledge of how the brain can and doe's work which fascinates me how complex the brain is and how and what it does to you.

After 2 years recently as Jan had an EEG which showed abnormal activity on my right side temporal area the operation side .Since the op had some weird and strange feelings and now been diagnosed as right temporal partial seizures so have started taking Keppra but we are working on how to get correct dosage and to find out what can be causing the seizures apart from the obvious.

Regarding recovery and timescale that's something which is different for every individual ....no two people are the same and it all depends which part of the brain it is and what kind of op was carried out.......

Good Luck

Mandy

[crestedbarbet in reply to gabimou]

Thanks Mandy, Been spending time investigating the side effects of Keppra and think that, aside from the obvious healing process and trauma of what brain just been through, that it is just the reaction to the drug that making me so tired etc... I really appreciate you taking the time to reply as although my treatment in hospital was wonderful, I haven't got anyone to talk to about the months after the op. My mind is much more at rest - thank you.

[crestedbarbet in reply to gabimou]

Hi Mandy, your posts and the people who replied have been really helpful. Many thanks

[gabimou]

No problem and like yourself the hospital treatment cannot fault it was the not knowing after coming out and even nowdays I still get like it but going to the neurologist is helping me more.

Must admit I was fed up of people telling me not to get anxious,helloooooo if you don't know what to expect and no one really tells you, what are you going to do ,of course get anxious but nowdays accepting it more

[muzzyden]

Hi crestedbarbet I had several brain abscesses in November 2012 . I was in Kings College Hospital for nearly 2 months , I had to have a shunt fitted . I still get very tired and usually need an afternoon nap to recharge . I don't get any head pain though . I have had seizures since all this happened . I was nearly 2 years seizure free when I decided to apply for my driving licence back as I was regaining my confidence , when all of a sudden I had a seizure while at home alone , so bang goes licence now till next November all being well . So fingers crossed . I hope this bit of information helps you in some way . Take of yourself . x

[crestedbarbet in reply to muzzyden]

Thanks for the reply. Did you have the abscesses all at once? Do they know why you got them in the first place? Do you think abscesses are a one off or can reoccur? Sorry for the questions!

[muzzyden in reply to crestedbarbet]

Hi again , yes the abscesses were all at once . I got them because I had pneumonia and I believe that travelled up to my brain and caused the abscesses . My husband doesn't like to talk about this time and my daughter had only recently given birth , so I got my notes from both hospitals I was in . I was very seriously ill and twice my family were told to expect the worst . But thankfully I had this shunt fitted which will now stay with me for life , so I believe that drains anything that should reoccur . I hope this answers some of your questions x

[crestedbarbet in reply to muzzyden]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude, I'm just trying to make sense of everything. Thank you for replying.