Updated: What to expect post surgery - recovery - subdural hemorrhage?

[Xshot]

Wednesday the 19th I had emergency surgery due to a brain hemorrhage that came out of nowhere. After 6 days in ICU I was sent home and resting comfortably. I won't see the brain surgeon for another 5 days for followup CT scan and examination.

Don't know what to expect, so I thought to post here to see if anyone that has been through can share their experience.

Specifics:

68 years old
6' 2" height
historically BP and pulse normal and still good
I take zero medications, except they have me on an anti-seizure for now

 

[Waorani]

No experience but all the best to you going forward.

 

[Xshot]

No experience but all the best to you going forward.

Thanks for the kind words. Never saw this coming, but my guardian angel stepped up once again.. The brain surgeon that saved my life is a conservative and 2A patriot. How lucky is that!

 

[19Scout77]

Ask your doctor...internet inquiry will likely cause immediate recurrence...

 

[MarinePMI]

Obviously, follow your Dr.'s advice.

As to what to expect. Expect to sleep. A lot. A healing brain takes the energy out of you. I didn't have a hemorrhage, but did recently under go a 14 hour surgery to remove a tumor. So, I can relate (as ArmyJerry did for me when I was going through everything). You'll likely get tired easily, but over time a full recovery should be expected. I have a coworker that recently fell, and suffered a hemmorage. Knocked her on her butt for a couple months, but she is perfectly fine now (though there was some memory loss between her fall, and them finding her unconscious, and getting her into surgery).

Just get lots of rest, eat well, and follow your Dr's instructions.

ETA: Just curious if you had to have a shunt implanted, or if the dura sealed itself?

 

[308Gunner]

Here’s to a speedy recovery and as noted get lots of rest

 

[Xshot]

Obviously, follow your Dr.'s advice.

As to what to expect. Expect to sleep. A lot. A healing brain takes the energy out of you. I didn't have a hemorrhage, but did recently under go a 14 hour surgery to remove a tumor. So, I can relate (as ArmyJerry did for me when I was going through everything). You'll likely get tired easily, but over time a full recovery should be expected. I have a coworker that recently fell, and suffered a hemmorage. Knocked her on her butt for a couple months, but she is perfectly fine now (though there was some memory loss between her fall, and them finding her unconscious, and getting her into surgery).

Just get lots of rest, eat well, and follow your Dr's instructions.

ETA: Just curious if you had to have a shunt implanted, or if the dura sealed itself?

Thank for the reply. I can attest to the surgery knocking the crap out of me. Balance and mobility are good, but I tire easily. Besides being bored stiff I'm doing well.

No shunt implanted during the surgery and the following 6 CT scans didn't show fresh bleeds. I'm hoping this Wednesday the CT scan will confirm this.

 

[MarinePMI]

The stamina will come with time. My balance was jacked the first few weeks, and I was so weak I had to have a stool to sit on in the shower (couldn’t stand up long). It just took time.

As for being bored,I listened to a pant load of books on Audible. Podcasts too.

Hang in there, and get plenty of rest.

 

[clcustom1911]

All brain stuff takes a while to fully recover as nerve tissue is generally the slowest to heal in the body. Based on your cognitive abilities (creating a thread, sentence structure, grammar, etc) you're well on your way to recovery and my prognosis is very positive you're not turning into a democrat ?

 

[19Scout77]

That would have required a lobotomy...

 

[Xshot]

The stamina will come with time. My balance was jacked the first few weeks, and I was so weak I had to have a stool to sit on in the shower (couldn’t stand up long). It just took time.

As for being bored,I listened to a pant load of books on Audible. Podcasts too.

Hang in there, and get plenty of rest.

Thanks for sharing you experience! Doing so provided me valuable insight. I was most concerned about my lack of stamina and general tiredness. I'm not one for just sitting around, but it appears I'll just have to accept it as part of the healing process.

Thanks again.

 

[powdahound76]

@Xshot

The boys are right. Rest. and follow Docs orders.

A few quick questions.
Was this spontaneous or from a bump to the noggin? Even a seemingly mild bump a couple days prior can cause a subdural hematoma to form. Especially if you take aspirin or any other blood thinning medications. Also with age, the brain matter atrophies a bit and the bridging veins are stretched and can "bust" and bleed quite easy.
Did they say it was acute or acute on chronic?
Any mid line shift and how much?
Did you have any focal neuro deficits prior to OR and if so, were they resolved when you woke up?
Was it a full craniotomy or burr holes with a twist drill and a drain?

Also, what anticonvulsant are you on? Some like dilantin work well, but are level dependent and have side effects. Seems that Keppra or Vimpat are more popular options now due to lower side effects and dont have to monitor blood levels.

While I am another blather fool on the Hide, I have seen and done a couple things

Most people who follow directions recover fully and do quite well, usually in 6-8 weeks if all was uncomplicated and you are baseline pretty darn healthy. DONT overdue rehab work and make sure you follow Docs orders. Yes, I am repeating myself. Seen way too many guys and gals come back for a repeat craniotomy or burr holes due to less than stellar choices.

I will say if you shoot any big heavy recoiling calibers, I would talk to the neurosurgeon first. While we get to the point we dont mind and some enjoy the recoil, a big magnum can pack a lot of body jarring energy.

Sounds like your neurosurgeon is a good guy and should give you pretty good advice and a clear picture of what to expect.

Plan a shooting day with him, its cool to spend time with people who have saved your life. Having been on both sides of that, its a great feeling both ways.

Take care!

Elija

 

[Xshot]

@Xshot

The boys are right. Rest. and follow Docs orders.

A few quick questions.
Was this spontaneous or from a bump to the noggin? Even a seemingly mild bump a couple days prior can cause a subdural hematoma to form. Especially if you take aspirin or any other blood thinning medications. Also with age, the brain matter atrophies a bit and the bridging veins are stretched and can "bust" and bleed quite easy.
Did they say it was acute or acute on chronic?
Any mid line shift and how much?
Did you have any focal neuro deficits prior to OR and if so, were they resolved when you woke up?
Was it a full craniotomy or burr holes with a twist drill and a drain?

Also, what anticonvulsant are you on? Some like dilantin work well, but are level dependent and have side effects. Seems that Keppra or Vimpat are more popular options now due to lower side effects and dont have to monitor blood levels.

While I am another blather fool on the Hide, I have seen and done a couple things

Most people who follow directions recover fully and do quite well, usually in 6-8 weeks if all was uncomplicated and you are baseline pretty darn healthy. DONT overdue rehab work and make sure you follow Docs orders. Yes, I am repeating myself. Seen way too many guys and gals come back for a repeat craniotomy or burr holes due to less than stellar choices.

I will say if you shoot any big heavy recoiling calibers, I would talk to the neurosurgeon first. While we get to the point we dont mind and some enjoy the recoil, a big magnum can pack a lot of body jarring energy.

Sounds like your neurosurgeon is a good guy and should give you pretty good advice and a clear picture of what to expect.

Plan a shooting day with him, its cool to spend time with people who have saved your life. Having been on both sides of that, its a great feeling both ways.

Take care!

Elija

 

[Centuriator]

Wow, take care, man. The fact you are able to use a computer and ask a question here is a real blessing! Seems like the brain is functioning! Take it easy and God bless.

 

[Threadcutter308]

No specific experience with your particular malady. I can help with hip replacements, detached retinas and diverticulitis though.......

Best wishes for a full recovery !

 

[Xshot]

Thanks for the reply!

More spontaneous since I don't remember bumping my head prior to event.

I had been taking up to 3 low dose aspirin every 24 hours for years - not anymore!

I'm on 500mg of Keppra twice daily.

I had a 12mm mid line shift when admitted, but it advanced to 15mm prior to surgery.

There was no mention as to whether it was acute or acute on chronic , but I will ask when I see him.

All the doctors where amazed that I had zero neuro deficits prior to and following surgery.

Surgery was burr holes with drain. 200 cc's drained from skull post surgery - I kept track.

On the second day post surgery my surgeon stated I was 1 in a million as he walked out of ICU.

I'm following docs orders religiously. I not taking any chances and fully aware I
dodged the reaper!

Thanks again.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Brain injuries and the needed remedy procedures SUCK, but are necessary. Follow your directives.

I know what it's like to be completely missing weeks in my life, and numerous months that are nothing but random snapshots. Or so's I'm told.

 

[Xshot]

Wow, take care, man. The fact you are able to use a computer and ask a question here is a real blessing! Seems like the brain is functioning! Take it easy and God bless.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[powdahound76]

@Xshot

Dang sir!!

Buy a lotto ticket.

Good news on the burr holes. Much easier to recoup from.

Glad you are doing well.

 

[tna9001]

I'm glad your ok Xshot. I had a hematoma drained via burr holes back in 2008 due to a TBI. The only thing I can add is to give yourself some time and don't be surprised if you have some after-effects from the surgery. After my surgery, I had to have speech therapy and I had significant mood changes for about 6 months. You won't really know what your end state looks like for a couple of years.

If you find you are having a hard time with things you used to not have to think about consider doing some cognitive rehab. Cogmed is the gold standard, that program specifically targets working memory which is the queue where your brain holds information for other parts of the brain to work on. If working memory is impaired so is everything else and if you improve working memory you improve other brain functions that might have been damaged.

 

[acudaowner]

good luck and best wishes going forward towards a speedy full recovery

 

[Xshot]

Today I went in for another CAT scan and met with my neurosurgeon. He stated that my recovery is progressing extremely well. He noted that I still had a bit of fluid in my skull and was not concerned. He scheduled me for another CAT scan and visit a month from today. His prognosis is full recovery. Likely to cut me loose after evaluation in April.

FYI - if you're older and taking any NSAIDs or blood thinners go to the ER right away if you get a severe headache. Doctor told me these brain hemorrhages are far more common than people are aware. I waited to long and squished the shit out of my brain. I'm just lucky SOB in my case.

DOC said I was "checking out" on the way to OR and I was giving him the 3rd degree (what medical school, was he in the military and did he get get a second opinion). He asked his team "who is this guy?" I told him I don't remember a thing, but it sounds like me.

Again my thanks for all the well wishes!

 

[clcustom1911]

Yup, NSAIDs in combination with pre-existing hypertension can cause a pipe to bust. Glad you're doing well. Modern medicine is amazing compared to even 20-30 years ago.

 

[ewoaf]

Take up hand sewing if you're looking for something constructive, cognitive, yet low impact.

 

[MarinePMI]

As @ewoaf mentions, taking up something low impact and cognitive helps. I found solitaire and other games on my tablet helpful to pass time, as well as to work on cognitive conditioning, when recovering.

Ironically, it (solitaire) highlighted changes from the surgery. Specifically (for me anyways) a shift in temporal perception, as well as pattern recognition. It took me longer to complete a game of solitaire (since it keeps score and time), but I tended to require less moves. And this happened with a totally different perception of time (as in "that took 3 mins to complete? That felt like a minute and thirty seconds!"). As it was explained to me, in my case the tumor had impinged the cerebral cortex (which controls motor function and other "primitive brain" functions), and with the removal of the tumor, the cortex was expanding back into it's normal position. In doing so, all the neural pathways I had adapted to using as the brain was squeezed by the growing tumor, had been disrupted, requiring me to re-learn/re-establish those heuristic functions and pathways, and then once established, re-learn to rely on them for efficiency purposes (the pattern recognition I mentioned).

It was strange initially, as I felt almost inebriated, but with out the buzz, just the impairment (foggy headed, confused). I had to really focus/stare at the cards to discern what was what. But over time, as I recovered and passed the time playing the game, my brain adapted/re-adapted to recognizing the card patterns (and associated odds of the remaining card's to be displayed) and that "intuitive" voice began to speak again, allowing me to speed up the game again, as well as "feel" how much time had passed without looking up at the timer.

The same with other puzzle games, like block puzzles and pattern matching games. It just took time, and the games helped recognize the changes, as well as recover/adapt to them quickly.

HTH...