Author Topic: Really Frustrated and in Severe Pain  (Read 7004 times)

HeadCase2

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Re: Really Frustrated and in Severe Pain
« Reply #15 on: June 15, 2011, 11:26:04 am »
Hello PMof3,
  I'm sorry to hear that you have bad headaches.   From your note above it sounds like you had GK to treat AN.  GK, and radiosurgery in general, can cause inflammation and swelling for some time after treatment.  The symptoms you mentioned, extreme headaches and nausea, can also be symptoms for high intercranial pressure.  Some AN patients end up with a shunt to help lower intercranial pressure.  I would ask the neuro nurse about the possibility of high intercranial pressure, and that may help get the appointment moved up, since high intercranial pressure can be potentially serious.  Note that I'm not a doctor, and make no claim of expertise in this area. 
Regards,
  Rob
1.5 X 1.0 cm AN- left side
Retrosigmoid 2/9/06
Duke Univ. Hospital

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mk

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Re: Really Frustrated and in Severe Pain
« Reply #16 on: June 15, 2011, 11:41:42 am »
Rob actually had a great suggestion. Intense headaches and nausea are indeed indications of increased intercranial pressure, which can be very dangerous. Headaches in the morning, or that wake you up at night, are usual in this case. Not to freak you out, but if you do a search under "hydrocephalus" on the forum you will see some of the representative symptoms. Increased intercranial pressure is considered an emergency, and every doctor in their right mind would investigate it promptly.

Marianna
GK on April 23rd 2008 for 2.9 cm AN at Toronto Western Hospital. Subsequent MRIs showed darkening initially, then growth. Retrosigmoid surgery on April 26th, 2011 with Drs. Akagami and Westerberg at Vancouver General Hospital. Graduallly lost hearing after GK and now SSD but no other issues.

cin605

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Re: Really Frustrated and in Severe Pain
« Reply #17 on: June 15, 2011, 01:57:20 pm »
I agree a nerve med may be in order...Neurontin did wonders for me.
2cm removed retrosig 6/26/08
DartmouthHitchcock medical center lebanon,N.H.
43yrs old

Denise S

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Re: Really Frustrated and in Severe Pain
« Reply #18 on: June 15, 2011, 05:35:04 pm »
Well, I honestly don't know anything about GK surgery.  Now that is the radiation, where they don't actually go in and cut your skull, right??  I had the regular 'cutting open' surgery and have suffered some issues since.  Although I had some issues before going into my surgery that just have gotten aggravated and much more severe.  The pain sounds close to yours.

Anyways, you mention your stomach issue.  Be sure to try to take something like Zantac or something for your stomach to help protect it if it bothers you!!  I prefer ibuprofen over the tylenol stuff.  I take 4 at a time sometimes, multiple times a day AND have had to go to ER multiple times due to my pain until I started seeing a neurologist and pain specialist.

I find a gel ice pack seems to work the best, compared to other ice types.   I also have what is called a Bed Buddy which a heat pack type thing that I think is made with rice or something.  Nice thing about those 2 things I mentioned is they can 'mold' more to where you want to apply them.     

Have you ever been diagnosed with TMJ?  Pains can be in that similar area too.   

Hope you find some relief. (I know I'm working on mine.....STILL)  :(

Denise (MI)     
W&W 2 yrs. (due to watching other brain tumor: it's stable)
Left AN:  1.2 cm (kept growing during 2 yr.)MIDDLE FOSSA  11/9/09;  Michigan Ear Institute Dr. Zappia & Pieper
SSD, mild tinnitus, delayed onset of facial paralysis lasting 3-4 weeks, no tears AN side
BAHA surgery 10/2/12 Dr Daniels G.R.,MI