If someone has a blod clot on thier brain..

[charlietherednosedpussy]

..and they have to have a hole drilled in thier head to relieve the pressure what is the likely outcome?

[doormat]

seen this on the tv about an ozzy who this happened ti
he survived with no complications

[Donbean]

Depends on the extent of the clot. Size/location/if its operable.
Depends on the health of the person in the first place.
why do you ask?

[skinnycow]

my mum had a hole drilled after a brain haemorrhage (sp?) they didnt expect her to survive the ambulance journey let along the procedure. 2 days later she came out of her coma and was able to communicate with us (albeit very limited due to tracheotomy). The doctor said they felt the blood clot moved off which is why she regained consciousness. She did however die a week later of a further haemorrhage.

Why charlie? Is this happening to someone you know?

[charlietherednosedpussy]

75 year old fit as a fiddle up until yesterday...no idea about size etc.. just wondered whether this was the beginning of the end or whether he may walk out of hospital ok or whether he would need help, be brain damaged or what. Havent a clue myself, which is why I was asking.

[Donbean]

It would be impossible to predict an outcome. Heads/brain injuries are an unknown quantity. It really does depend on where the clot is etc.

[charlietherednosedpussy]

I did think that as I typed it DB but I had to ask IYKWIM..
Skinnycow for you and your mum.

[Furball]

I had a brain haemorrhage completely out the blue about 10 years ago. They opened my skull and 'clipped off' the bleed and then stuck me all back together again. The outcome for that operation is slim and to go on to have a 'normal' life again is even slimmer. The operation they do for it now is to clip it by entering the body via a main artery in the leg and feeding the clip up to the site of the bleed, so no need for open brain surgery so to speak.

As Donbean says each brain injury is different and the outcome varies vastly from person to person. I hope my story gives you a glimmer of hope.

[charlietherednosedpussy]

Furball..modern medicine is amazing isnt it? Are you ok now...do they know why you had a blood clot?

[charlietherednosedpussy]

heamoridge even...excuse my spelling..I think your is worse than a blood clot no? yes..dont know myself!

[skinnycow]

gosh furball didnt realise. How very frightening for you. but obviously great that you've made a recovery

My mum had a brain haemorrhage 6 years before her fatal one and made a complete recovery apart from loss of feeling in her little finger. NO surgery required. They did perform an angiogram which showed that there was blood present where it shouldnt have been but they couldnt find where the bleed actually came from.

One thing the surgeon did say to us after they performed the drilling was that as she was in her 67th year they didnt hold out much hope of recovery.

[Furball]

charlietherednosedpussy - Not sure between the differences as such between a haemorrhage, a stroke or a clot. They are all very similar. Mine was called an aneurysm which is where a weakness in the blood vessels suddenly burst. It can happen to anyone at anytime and is infact more common than you might think. Scary to think it just happens out of the blue. I am just one of the lucky ones.

[Furball]

skinnycow - really sorry to hear about your mum

[skinnycow]

thanks Furball

[kleist]

Furball, did you have any signs that this was coming on beforehand? How old were you? How did it manifest itself when it did? Could you have done anything to prevent it? Or to prevent another one happening?

Sorry, your story is so scary, I can't help asking ...

[Furball]

I was 29 and had just moved back in with my parents after living abroad for 3 1/2 years. One night at about 10pm I had a really intense cramp like pain in my head and everything went very distant. I knew instantly that something was really really wrong and went charging downstairs to tell my mum to ring an ambulance as I was going to die I also started vomitting as well. She bundled me in the car and drove straight to A & E. They thought I was either a) been taking drugs. b) had a virus or c) mennigitis. Luckily they did and MRI scan and the next thing I know I was being carted off to a specialist neurological unit and hours drive away. The next day they operated. It just happens out of the blue and unfortunately there is nothing you can do to stop it. Because mine clotted instantly, it literally saved my life. Really scary stuff.

[charlietherednosedpussy]

Furball, this man had been having headaches for about 3 weeks, but of course wouldnt go to the doctors. it was when he was eating slow and saying daft things that they rang the doctors.
He was ok ish till they put a catheter in and after that they had to sedate him as he keeps trying to yank it out. They have bandaged his hands up to stop him
A few days ago he was really really fine.

[Furball]

Sounds terrible, at least with mine the operation sorted it out. I suppose he doesn't know he's yanking it out, he's probably very confused as to whats going on etc.
Hopefully he'll be OK.

[hub2dee]

sounds worrying and sad, cc.

[charlietherednosedpussy]

Arrgghhh, now just heard that friend had to stop them giving his a diabetic injection, hes not diabetic and that they nearly wheeled the man in the next bed down for his scan....Aw man

[kleist]

It's very scary furball, and for your friend too, cc.

Do you ever worry about it happening again furball? Do you get any headaches etc. as a result?

[Furball]

Apparently, the chances of me having another one are slim. They checked my brain for weakness whilst they were there .

I've never been a one for headaches, before or after as such. But about 6 months ago I had a headache for about 3 weeks which scared me. The doctor told me I was being over anxious! Anyway, turned out to be my sinus'.

[kleist]

Well I have to say I get some awful headaches which go on and on for days sometimes and leave me feeling dizzy, disorientated, etc. and I've often feared the worst. I have actually had a head CT scan done and it looked ok so I try to tell myself not to worry. But when I hear a story like yours I realise how very frightening things CAN happen.