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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Options on meds for agitation following TBI after neurosurgery
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Options on meds for agitation following TBI after neurosurgery
by Suzanne, Jan 07, 2001 12:00AM
Hi,
Hope you can point me in the right direction.
I am a 38 year old woman in basically good health who has had mild hydrocephalus for many years. I also had a large subarachoid cyst. 11 years ago a shunt was installed in the cyst and it collasped 40%. My cognitive and motor functioning which had started to decline, improved. About 2 years ago the same decline started to happen. It was not recognized. Finally it was proposed that the shunt had failed. Spring 1999 the failed shunt was removed and the cyst was also removed during a 4 hour neurosurgery. I have not gotten adequate neuro rehab (but we are working on getting it for me). Post-op problems still include eye difficulty, swallowing problems, agitation and depression, fine and gross motor difficulty (especially right side) and vestibular problems.
My questions are this:
What meds are commonly prescibed to help with the agitation and depression following such an "insult" to the brain from the neurosurgery?
How do I find someone to prescribe these meds? All the shrinks in town look at my behavior as a "choice" verus brain damage. Not a helpful strategy.
How common is this probems with overwhealming agitation and "flooding"?
Hope you can point me in the right direction.
I am a 38 year old woman in basically good health who has had mild hydrocephalus for many years. I also had a large subarachoid cyst. 11 years ago a shunt was installed in the cyst and it collasped 40%. My cognitive and motor functioning which had started to decline, improved. About 2 years ago the same decline started to happen. It was not recognized. Finally it was proposed that the shunt had failed. Spring 1999 the failed shunt was removed and the cyst was also removed during a 4 hour neurosurgery. I have not gotten adequate neuro rehab (but we are working on getting it for me). Post-op problems still include eye difficulty, swallowing problems, agitation and depression, fine and gross motor difficulty (especially right side) and vestibular problems.
My questions are this:
What meds are commonly prescibed to help with the agitation and depression following such an "insult" to the brain from the neurosurgery?
How do I find someone to prescribe these meds? All the shrinks in town look at my behavior as a "choice" verus brain damage. Not a helpful strategy.
How common is this probems with overwhealming agitation and "flooding"?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Jan 07, 2001 12:00AM
Dear Suzanne:
I am sorry to hear about your problems. Usually, these is not much in the way of neuro-rehab for a shunt placement unless the shunt has to be placed via an uncommon tract. We do not see much in the way of neurological changes with a shunt as you describe your changes. However, if the cyst has regrown or the shunt malfunctioned, then this is a different story. I cannot answer this question, but your neurosurgeon can. I would check with him/her about your questions and make sure the shunt is functioning okay and there isn't some other problem occurring.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
I am sorry to hear about your problems. Usually, these is not much in the way of neuro-rehab for a shunt placement unless the shunt has to be placed via an uncommon tract. We do not see much in the way of neurological changes with a shunt as you describe your changes. However, if the cyst has regrown or the shunt malfunctioned, then this is a different story. I cannot answer this question, but your neurosurgeon can. I would check with him/her about your questions and make sure the shunt is functioning okay and there isn't some other problem occurring.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
