brainaneurysm and dreams

[doctorturkey]

I experienced a brain aneurysm located in the temporal area in 2004.  Since surgery/recovery, I have had nightly dreams which are very disturbing.  Is this a common side effect of this type of aneurysm/surgery or is it likely caused by medications (Lexapro 30mg daily)?

[Eddie1994]

Pre aneurysm burst she had occassional headaches about 10-12 years prior ( I now speculate that these were caused as a result of the aneurysm formation.  My wife and I were early high school sweethearts so I knew her health history early on at about age 13 and she did not have severe headaches until age 24.  The headaches lasted about two years then subsided until the thunderclap aneurysm burst at age 35.)  

She was on Dilantin for at least six months post-op as I recall.  An EEG cleared her to exit Dilantin.  As for the dreams and the other symptoms you may want to consider the following:

1) Migraines come in all flavors including pounding and silent - a neurologist could help you further with this.  I wouldn't rule this out as a cause however and there are some good medications to help.

2) With respect to the dreams, you didn't mention whether your wife had a cranitomy to resolve the blood clot.  If she did, then it would seem logical that some neuron pathways were disturbed in the surgery (it's impossible not to cause this disburbance simply because of how small neurons and nerve pathways are) and possibly the pathways are seeking to reestablish back to normalcy (For example, I had to tell my wife when she had enough to eat because she did not have the sensation of having had enough to eat - the brain stomach pathway was disrupted.  It eventually reconnected about 18 months later.)

3) My wife required a shunt to drain excess cerebal fluid for about five days following surgery.  Only your Neurosurgeon can elaborate on whether some residual fluid can be causing the chest pain and numbness.  A neurologist could test using a EMG or a more elaborate SSEP (somasensory evoked potential) which are nerve conduction tests.

I hope this information helps you.  Don't be afraid to consult a neurologist they have been very helpful for my wife and myself.

[johan_ugm]

Thanks for sharing, would ask further whether in the past your wife experiences some symptoms such as fainting feeling/sensation/light-headache/dizzy after surgery?

Recently in first week of march 2010, we went back to follow up second month, and told the neurosurgeon some symptoms still persist, such as often to have fainting feeling/sensation like light-headache/dizzy, stiff neck/shoulder, some time there slight chest pain move around different area of chest, slight numbness on leg/hand.

Then the doctor advice to take blood test of Dilantin which result remain 0.48 ug/ml, the MRI test might be later time.

Also given to resume medications other medication except Dilantin. Given Vitamin B-Complex, Vit C, Nootropil 800mg Piracetam, Cavinton Vinpocetine 5mg, Duxaril (Almitrine Raubasine). Somemore these medication being given for 3 months.

We will continue to follow up with our neurosurgeon, however would still appreciate to know about your sharing/opinion.

[Eddie1994]

Let me share my wife's experience since she couldn't witness it firsthand as I did.  For at least 4-5 years, my wife had no dreams at all.  This disturbed her greatly.  Fortunately her neuro-network found a way to remap itself.  She now dreams again.  The human body and especially the brain has a unique ability to heal.  I once watched a documentary film that photographed the brain of a Chinese woman who suffered a stroke.  The video (in time compression) was impressive in how the neuro-network was able to reconnect neuro pathways.

P.S.  I'm not a Doctor, but did earn a Advanced Degree in Engineering at the time my wife suffered her trumatic brain injury.  I was intimately involved in my wife's care from emergency room through surgery and rehab through today's date - what a strange ordeal it has been.  When her TBI occurred, I had the unique opportunity to access unfettered one of the World's leading Medical School library and I totally immersed myself in this subject area.  My knowledge is deep and extensive and this forum is personal to me so I will share with others all that I know because it is from a unique perspective - both scientific and socially.  I only recently discovered this web site and forum by accident (mainly due to not being a blogger but wanting detailed professional information and spending my time in those sites.)  

[johan_ugm]

hello,
I would share my wife experiences, as she recently had brain surgery to evacuated blood clot at right temporal lobe (but not due to aneurysm). but she also had similiar like you normally everytime sleep (day or night) also have many dreams, some time mixed up between her past experiences/events/people combine with current recent events/peoples/experiences. in fact she already stop medication. so we suspect could be because the temporal lobe area could trigger these kind of dreams. anycase, do you consult back the doctor? we went back to doctor and he did not that concern on this dreams, not sure whether it is normal case for this type of surgery or part of side affect surgery on temporal lobe.

Good to hear from you also. probably you could also share more your cases as noticed that you said surgery in 2004 and now already 2010, almost 5-6 years, beside this dream over years, any other symptoms and medication for 5-6 years?

I would share full story of my wife and seek your experiences/opinion to know better:

She diagnosed with right temporal lobe hematoma 2.3 x 2.5 x 2.1 cm.

Neurosurgeon evacuated about 3/4 of blood clot, and remain about 1/4 blood clot, because he did not search deep inside to remove blood clot that near to memory area of right temporal lobe, to minimize risk of deficit of surgery.
Then have medication such as Dilantin/Phenytoin (300 mg/day) and other brain-tonics.

3 weeks after surgery, blood test on Dilantin shown overdose (21.78 ug/ml, normal range 10-20 ug/ml), thus stop Dilantin, and also stop others medicines, she got slight better.

Now already had passed period of 2 mths since brain surgery, and 1 mth stop medication,

But she still feel symptoms of light headache (dizzy, could not walk/stand too long, stiff at neck, eye feel tired, sometime have chest slight pain move around different area), and recently got feel her eyeball keep move around and eye feel tired, also always have dreams as mentioned above.

Questions
1. Whether her condition/symptoms consider as normal after surgery, how about your experiences in the past?
2. How long normally those condition will getting better?
3. Then yesterday just went back to doctor and test the dilantin level already reduce to 0.48 ug/ml, and then he also give back other medication to resume for 3 months, such as Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Nootropil, Cavinton, Duxaril, how about your case in the past on medication?

Thanks for your sharing.