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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Subdural hematoma, flashbacks and depression
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Subdural hematoma, flashbacks and depression
by AndersP, Apr 11, 2006 12:00AM
In september 2005 I went through surgery for a subudural hematoma that had been going on for two months when it was detected by a CT scan. The hematoma was caused by a blow to my head when I fell to the floor in an epileptic seizure. Through the surgery a large part of the left side of my scull was taken off. The doctor told me before surgery that there were several subdural blood pools, older and more recent. The doctor told my wife, not me, before surgery that my chances of surviving was less than 50 per cent. I'm 60 years old. It's now more than six months since the surgery. Since then I'v been going through a consistent and ongoing depression that now seems to have switched to daily shorter spells of sadness and hopelessness. Something I have never experienced before. Recently I have also started to sense very intense, very short flashbacks of moments way way back in my life. Moments that I thought was forgotten and never really memorable. Could these effects be part of the subdural hematoma and the brain surgery? What are my chances for a recovery to a mental health state that I was in before the hematoma?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Apr 15, 2006 12:00AM
Depression can often be assocaited with both epilepsy and stressful life events such as your recent hospitalization. It may be reactive in terms of relation to stress or a more persistent major depression. In any case, you should see a psychiatrist if nto already as short or long term treatment may be very beneficial for you, and result in a retuirn to normal. Common symptoms of depression include feeling of hoplessness, loss of interest in activities, suicidal thoughts, and physical symptoms also, such as early morning awakening and poor sleep, loss of energy and appetite, and constipation.
Intense flashbacks depending on what they consist of may be either related to the psychological stress oyu experienced. Sometimes intense 'experiences' can come from epileptuc seizures from the temporal or posterior temporal region of the brain. I don't know if this fits with your type of epilepsy, but it may be something for your doctor to look into ie an EEG or recording one of these experiences on EEG.
Good luck
Intense flashbacks depending on what they consist of may be either related to the psychological stress oyu experienced. Sometimes intense 'experiences' can come from epileptuc seizures from the temporal or posterior temporal region of the brain. I don't know if this fits with your type of epilepsy, but it may be something for your doctor to look into ie an EEG or recording one of these experiences on EEG.
Good luck
