Clipping surgery

[katram2]

Hi, I had a brain aneurysm clipped 7 weeks ago and have a question. I lost my sense of smell and taste and am wondering if anyone has experienced this and if so about how long did it last. My doctor said it should come back in 3-6 months, hoping that is true. Also my vision in my right eye is not the same, again doctor said this is due to the swelling in my brain and should clear up.

I do feel like we go through this life changing surgery and then just left on our own to deal with all of the weird symptoms. It is nice to hear from other people that have gone through this and know that we arent going crazy. With that being said, does anyone else have weird feelings in their head, like pain/pulling/pressure, not sure how to describe it, I experience this on the right side (clipped side) all throughout the day. I have no patience now and feel like I want to just run away from everything and be alone.

I had the annie on my left side coiled two years ago and did not experience any of this.

Thanks for listening.

Kat

[cat3]

Hi Kat. Slightly different circumstances for me. I had a bleed coiled 6 years ago leaving me with issues such as short term memory loss, fatigue, limited mobility and emotional instability. Most people here would empathise with the stark contrast between the amazing hospital care then the sudden feeling of abandonment once discharged, but it's possible to re-access the system via your GP if you feel you need more support.

The taste & smell issues started just prior to the haemorrhage for me and continued afterwards. But mine is the one (troposmia) where the senses still work but are corrupted, so that favourite smells & tastes are now unpleasant. It seems to be a lottery whether it corrects itself or not ; mine has continued but I've learned to manage it to the point where it's much less intrusive.

My eyesight has also deteriorated significantly and I'm still seeing my optician and ophthalmologist ; distance is ok but reading is still a strain even with reading glasses.

But 7 weeks is very recent Kat so I'd expect after-effects to be pretty dominant for many weeks/months yet. The sensations in the head I don't identify with, but I hear that issue from others every so often.

I hope you'll get the hang of these left-over symptoms and that they abate a little with time.

Best wishes, Cat x

[katram2 in reply to cat3]

Thank you, I am going to start seeing a therapist to help deal with everything that brain surgery brings.

Quick question, was your sleep pattern affected?

[cat3 in reply to katram2]

It certainly was ! But I attributed that to mostly to the disruption of hospitalisation for two months................. rather than a neurological one. For months after returning home I woke up in the night wondering 'Why is there a wall where the ward door should be ?' and where's Chris's (other lady in the ward) bed gone ?'

So it was more of a psychologically confused episode than brain injury, but I did have many sleepless & disturbed nights ! It settled around the 12 month mark and I can only assume it was so imprinted because of the vulnerability of my 'repaired' brain.

Are you having trouble sleeping Kat ?

[katram2]

I am, its hit or miss, I either cant go to sleep and end up staying up until 3-4am and then sleeping for 10 hours or I get to sleep by 10p but then I am up at 4-5am for the day.

I'm sure it will straighten out with time its just another thing to deal with.

I just have to be patient with all the changes I am dealing with, the coiling surgery recovery was so much easier for me.

[cat3]

I've got into the habit of staying up 'til 3am and waking around 9. Otherwise. like you. I'll wake anyway around 3 or 4 and stay awake 'til morning ; at least I get SOME sleep this way ! x

[maya72]

Hi Katram21 I had my elective surgery in 2017. Sadly but I am still didn't recover. Mine was started with the smell from the nose and gradually I feel tightness in my throat .I was asking my neurologists to do EEG they do just 20 minutes and its all right and just you stressed . . I go up and down telling the doctors I am not feeling all right please help they refer to psychotherapist. Psychotherapist said you are absolutely fine again back to neurologist begging to do EEG 24 hours finally they found some sharp brain waves and put me on lamotrigine which I have horrible effect. My life completely change and unfortunately I cant do anything about this I have to struggle on my own. It s my story. However I want to reassure you as I did a lot of research I think it is ok to lost smell a lot of people experience this and its gradually come back. Pain in your side of craniotomy its normal as takes at least 1 year . All the best to you and you will be all right . I am really regret that I did clipping and unfortunately you cant do anything about it.