Caroline32669 Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I have read posts from others about that feeling of fullness in your head, but can anyone explain why this happens? My headaches went away, then my back pain went almost completely away, but now I wake up feeling hungover every morning...like I have been on a drinking binge. and my head feels big. Like my sinuses are full. Does anyone know what makes this happen? Too much salt? Not enough water? Brain swelling? If it went away, something must have happened to make it return? Just wondering if anyone has answers. I have an appt with my neurosurgeon in a couple of days and I will ask him then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Hey hun No I don't have the answer but would love to know so when you ask be sure to let us all know. I still wake sometimes with a "full head" and feeling really lethargic. Maybe it is the lack of fluids as I'm not so regimented about 2 to 3 litres a day as I used to be. Would be very interesting to know to what your neurosurgeon thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayKay Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Hmm I hope the surgeon can shed some light. I have (and have had for 20 years) more the feeling of my head being in a pressure cooker. My hearing goes muffled. I thought it had stopped since my SAH but nope, it still happens occasionally. When I had the SAH, I didn't so much feel like I'd been hit over the head with a bat, my head felt like it was really badly in a pressure cooker and I couldn't move my neck. I have no idea it it's linked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandi K Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Hi Caroline! Your neuro will be able to explain it best. My neuro told me that the blood mixes with the cerebral fluid which creates a chemical toxicity that irritates the brain and causes all the symptoms. Why it comes and goes I don't know. I'm at 6.5 months now and I still get what I call 'tight head' and sinus pain but there is more time in between these feelings so I get some relief. I remember in the earlier months the whole front of my face from my upper teeth through to eyes hurt constantly. And of course the elastic band was around my head all the time. Now when I get it I think 'oh yeah, this again'. I'm looking forward hearing your neuro's thoughts on this. Sandi K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Hi there Yes the nuro or GP might be better to ask.... but your liquid intake could help to drink more. I tend to have that hungover feeling a lot dont drink much now at all because I know I will be a lot worse.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I used to have it a lot in my early recovery months and nearly every day, but thankfully it's not so frequent now .... but it can still feature every few weeks and I'm nearly 6 years on. It's coincidence that this thread was started, as I was woken up at 5.00am again this morning (have just adopted a rescue cat and it's like having a baby in the house, as in v.little sleep) I've had rubbish sleep since Sunday and it's taking it's toll and the fatigue has kicked in big time. I'm sure that it's all linked .... and also woke up with very dry eyes again, so I had to use some eye drops to lubricate. Feels as though your head is being blown up with a bicycle pump ... I also get quite bad dizzy spells when this happens and generally feel like the pits + headache lurking in the background. My aneurysm hasn't been totally occluded. I'm still being monitored, so I don't want anybody to compare me with their own situation .... as in terms of time scale etc., as we are all very different, even though recovery symptoms are similar. xx If any of you guys can find the magic answer, then please let me know.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracy Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Hi there I have been fine these last few months, but this last week my weird head feeling started up again. Im 11 months post SAH now and always had a like pressure feeling in my head up until a few months ago. i can sit or lay nice and rested but when i stand up hav t wait a few seconds before moving as ifeel strange. I also have the pressure in head like my head is blowing up some days. Its usually at the back of my head just behind my ears especially on the left side. I also feel like theres cotton wool in my head while i walk around. I think some of mine is anxiety though. Please tell us if you find out though as i would love to know why it stops and starts. Traci S xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline32669 Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Well, at least others know what I am talking about. I will try my best to get answers. I have a feeling it may be due to dehydration (which is what happens when you drink too much) or low sodium, which I had in the hospital due to cerebral salt wasting. But that is supposed to resolve within 1-2 weeks. So i will ask and let you all know! Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliette Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 I get this as well - good description! I'm about 5 and half months post SAH and luckily don't really many get headaches at the moment, but do get the exact feeling you described. Have MRA tomorrow, then seeing my consultant in a couple of weeks. Will try and remember to ask why it happens and let you all know. Juliette x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Shall look forward to any answers from the Professionals! .... but still alive and kicking at nearly 6 years on and have experienced the fullness in the head pretty frequently in those 6 years.... would be good to have some answers as to why it happens! xx Good luck with your MRA Juliette! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline32669 Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 Well, I talked with the Neurosurgeon about the weird head feeling...he explained about the blood and all but he really couldn't say why it comes and goes! LOL. He said it would happen for a while but should go away. Not much help, I know. But it helps knowing there are others with the same symptoms and that it is to be expected. I did read somewhere that it can take 9 months for the blood to clear and it can show up on MRI for years. Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandi K Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Thanks for sharing Caroline! I have wondered how long it takes for the blood to clear. I guess I'm almost there. Now if we could just figure out how to ward off the fatigue or at least get better at guessing when it's coming!! Sandi K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfer34 Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I had a CT scan 5 days after my bleed and no remaining blood was detected. It had all been absorbed. Everything I have read says that the blood leaves pretty quickly (3-10 days). Hematomas can stay around for months though. My cousin had a remaining chunk of subdural blood that was pesent almost 6 months after a brain injury. However, I believe subarachnoid blood leaves quickly. Thats how we get the oh so pleasant back pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliette Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Saw my consultant Wednesday (got the all clear from my latest MRA -yay!!), and he pretty much said the same as yours Caroline about the different feelings in my head. Said he'd never heard it explained like i did though, said someone had once described the pressure as an elephant sat on their head - now that would hurt!!! Juliette x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Hi all I had those pains too and was told it was the blood being re absorbed and that depending on the grade of bleed the time taken to reabsorb would vary - mine took over a year so it varies a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz D Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Hi I was told it could take up to 3 months for the blood to be absorbed. I was told this when it was being explained to me why I needed to keep drinking fluids. The specialist nurse explained to me that the blood had to be processed by my kidneys and then expelled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 I was also told that it can take up to 3 months for the blood to dissipate down the spinal cord .... If I'd been given a lumbar puncture after my warning/sentinel bleed, 4 years prior to this SAH (I had a MRI scan 6 weeks after this bleed, which couldn't confirm whether or not I'd had a bleed) blood would have shown up in the cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) for up to 3 months and it would have confirmed a SAH, rather than have to have visited this medical situation twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Have a feeling mine took longer because of the 2cm blood clot surrounding the aneurysm - not treated with anything at all - it just got reabsorbed - thinking back surely that should have been monitored too:roll: but I was far more concerned with the anni being occluded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riane Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 I had some weird and concerning symptoms on Friday. My doctor was concerned about a re-bleed, so I was sent to the hospital for another CT scan and a lumbar puncture. Everything is fine, symptoms have gone away, CT scan and lumbar puncture were clear - no blood. That was 6 weeks exactly post SAH. So I have obviously processed my blood. On an interesting note, while they were warning about the possibility of headache from the LP (lumbar puncture) resulting from decreased CS fluid - I HAVE FOUND MY HEADACHE AND HIGH PRESSURE HEAD HAVE ALL BUT DISAPPEARED! Not that I'm advocating LP's to get rid of headaches (my resulting back ache sucks) but I sure find it interesting.... R:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandi K Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Riane, what a scare that must have been!! Sandi K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winb143 Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Just Think what we have all been through....hmmmmmm thinking ,,,,hmmmmm..darn cant remember,,,, j/k Gosh we are so brave and lucky...seriously though we are lucky to still be here...I for one am glad I can see my family and moan at them ..lol Hope we all have a great Day/Afternoon and evening Love to you all WinB143 xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericy Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Glad to hear all is well Riane. 2 weeks post bleed I ran errands for a few hours and even cut the grass today (riding mower) Feeling pretty good, mild HA on and off and still with "clogged head" and fatigue. Praying I did not over do it; just trying to listen to my body and slowly ease back into activities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.