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Anyone medical out there tonight? Need some advice.

5 replies

minxthemanx · 23/01/2012 19:39

Right, deep breath, here goes. DS1 had ruptured brain aneurysm exactly a year ago, touch and go for 3 days, successfully coiled. (Gt Ormond St.) In June they found it had reoccurred and more coiling done. All successful. Has been at school and doing sport since last Easter, tho does have a lot of headaches - initially on Gabapentin, now changed to Propanalol.

Last week had angiogram to check everything, results great. Was in GOSH for 3 days. DS never wants to leave, and had to be persuaded he was well enough to come home. Kept him off school for rest of week as very tired and pale, (it had been quite an emotional week.)

Got him back to school today - he lasted 2 hours. Has had a bad headache all day, which paracetamol and ibuprofen haven't made much difference to, he says.

My question is, how the bloody hell do you know how genuine this is? GOSH cannot find a reason for his headaches, as the aneurysm is fine. I cannot work out whether he genuinely in a lot of pain (and then rallies and plays on the Wii for a bit, seems ok?) or whether he has a bad headache when he remembers, but once distracted seems better. I'm finding it very difficult to know how tough to be with him. My instinct is to make him go to school tomorrow, but I'm sure the same thing will happen as today. Am at the end of my tether. any thoughts?

And yes, he has been having counselling!!

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 23/01/2012 19:45

Just a thought - could this be a different headache? I was just wondering if his eyesight has been checked, for example?

How are things at school generally?

Is there a pattern to the headaches that could point to a particular situation causing stress?

minxthemanx · 23/01/2012 20:10

Well GOSH are treating these headaches as separate to the aneurysm, now. I discussed it all with the neuro team last week, who told me to start propranalol (10mg dose for now.) We don't go back to see them till April, and have to keep a detailed headache diary in between.

I'm just frustrated because I don't know how selective these headaches are. EG, he managed to play cricket yesterday because he had a trial, and desperately wanted to do it, even tho he wasn't fully fit. Yet cannot manage 2 hours at school. The school are brilliant, and we have a protocol of how we deal with him. I just need to know whether he is exaggerating the pain, when he's bored, not stimulated. Or am I being hard on him?

OP posts:
heroutdoors · 23/01/2012 20:36

Hello Minx
Sorry ,I am not medical. However after just having read what your son has gone through ,not surprised that he is feeling low.
Try and imagine how insecure he must feel.
Very brave of him anyway to have all these procedures.
Can propanalol make you feel a little depressed?
Maybe the headaches are a -temporary- after effect of the treatment?
Plenty of TLC although you must feel like a piece of chewed string, I'm sure.

minxthemanx · 23/01/2012 21:03

Thanks, it's really hard knowing what the right approach is. I need to get him back into routine and moving forwards, but I can understand that he wants to be looked after. Oh well, try again tomorrow!

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 25/01/2012 15:11

I think the headache diary is the way to go. There may be things at school that cause stress and worry, and if he is already anxious and prone to headaches this can exascerbate things.

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