My 17 year old daughter, Rene, had double bypass surgery in May, at Stanford, and is still having bad headaches.  I'm looking for other people who have debilitating headaches  after their surgery.  She has had headaches her whole life, but we were hopeful that the bypass would alleviate them to some extent.  Does anyone have ideas on the possible causes (new vessel growth, the brain trying to pull blood up, the way the blood flows, etc.)???  Has anyone found any treatments that have helped?  Any feedback would be so appreciated.

Thank you
Mary

Hi Mary,

Had STA-MCA Bypasses to both sides of my brain in 2001 and still get headaches. I used to get them most of my life and I put them down to other things like eye strain etc. but since the surgery only get them about once a month but they last 4 or 5 days. I try not to take anything for them for as long as possible until they become intolerable, but my surgeon has prescribed some heavy duty painkillers (Oxycodone, and Digesics) which I wouldn't recommend for ordinary use. I don't know why headaches occur after surgery, so I am sorry that I can't help you too much with your query
Moira

Mary,

My neuro always asks me if I get headaches since my surgery (May 27, 2005), but I tell him that I don't think so.  I believe I did a couple of times...but not anymore.  I do; however, still feel "pressure" on the side of my head the surgery was on (right)..and sometimes I feel like my hair is being "pulled"...even though I don't have any hair there.  Is this the same type of feelings you're getting?  The upper right side of my head also still feels a little "tight"...and I can't raise my right eyebrow.  

My neuro said that if I do get headaches, all I can take is Tylenol.

Hope your headaches get better in time...

Take care,
SFH :D

Hi Mary-
I had surgery last November (just one side).  Pre-surgery I had headaches daily.  It's been a trade-off since surgery because I'm down to about one a week but the intensity has increased to where I cannot really function.  I'm currently on Midrin but not having much success.  Unfortunately the cause has not been determined and therefore, I haven't found a successful treatment.  I know that wasn't much help!!  I'll be thinking of Rene and hoping she finds something to give her some relief.
Chelsie

I myself am new to this site. My husband had his surgery, first one on June 28, 2005 and the second on July 5th.

His only symptom was severe debilitating migraines. After his surgeries they did not let up at all until about 3 weeks ago. He was able to go 6 days the first time and 4 days twice. He then had 3 in a row. His are so debilitating he actually has to go to his doctor for an injection of pain medicine.

We to wish we knew what caused them but at the same time we feel extremely fortunate that this was and is his only symptom of MM.

He is a juvenile diabetic as well and so we are attributing his length of healing to be longer then most just due to his diabetes.

We feel positive though because they have at least gotten farther apart.

Please keep me posted of your situation. I am very interested because we have the same situation going on.

Terry

Mary

Hi!

I have had surgery on both sides of my brain and I too have this tightness  and it is still very uncomfortable to try to sleep on the sides of my head.

Do you think it will ever get any better? [smiley=huh.gif]

Linda

Hi
My son Joe(8) had indirect bypasses on both sides in May 2004, and for a year suffered bad migraines until our doctor perscribed Epilim for him.
He now takes 200mg at night before bed and in the last 3 months has only had one headache as opposed to 2 a week.
This works for him, i hope it is of some help to you

Michele

Mary,

My name is Bradley and I had an indirect by-pass dont dec 04 and I do am still expierence headachs... unfortuantly i dont have good news as they only thing I have been able to do for my headachs is take pain killers of all types to see what can control them other then that there is no telling for me what is the cause really or can get ride of headachs... sometimes I get minor ones that dont bother me and sometimes I have onces that have me in tears and theres not much for me to do. Mine i get almost everyday because my surgery wich was done on the left side has failed so my headachs are going to occur... I wish you and rene the best of luck as I have had these troubles as alot of people had...

Brad...it hurts my  [smiley=heart.gif] each time I hear/read that your surgery on your left side "failed."  :'(
Please...do send your films to other MM specialists, soon!

Take care,
Shan

Shan dont worry me and my mom are looking into sending are films to Dr. Steinberg.. As soon as this happens I will be shure to post his thoughts...

Brad,

I know you've heard this a bunch of times, but (as Mar suggested on another thread today), please get the opinion of an expert.  You mentioned that you're looking into an opinion from Dr. Steinberg, which is wonderful news!  If you need any help with a phone #, etc. for him, please let me know.  I'm happy to help in whatever way I can, and you'd know something within a week or so after you get the films in.

Hoping for some good news for you!

Jill

Brad...

BIG  [smiley=hug.gif] to you and your mom! I do want the best for you.  ;)

Take care,
Shan

Well yea I actually I could use some help my mom was looking into getting Dr. Steinbergs address to send him the films so if you have that it would be greatly appreciated and you might as well give me his numbers too... Thankyou for the help and support everyone... I feel so loved... [smiley=heart.gif]

Hi Brad,

Here's what you need to get in touch with Dr. Steinberg's office.  His nurse coordinator (and right arm) is Teresa Bell-Stephens.  (She's terrific and is back from vacation this week.)  I've listed mailing and phone info for her below.

Teresa Bell-Stephens, RN
Nurse Coordinator
Department of Neurosurgery
Stanford University Medical Cetner
300 Pasteur Drive, Room R200
Stanford, CA  94305-5327
(650) 723-5575

The person who usually answers the phone is Maria, who is also really nice.  Just let her know that you'd like to mail your scans for Dr. Steinberg's opinion, and they'll take it from there.

Good luck, and please let me know if I can do anything to help!  (Since we live close by, I'm up at Stanford pretty regularly seeing other MM patients, so would be happy to help you with whatever you need.)

Keep us posted, o.k.?

[smiley=hug.gif]from California,
Jill

We are back after a bit of time away from the keyboard.....
my wife, Dee, is doing GREAT after her MM surgery of this
past July. Her headaches are far less frequent and she is
told that those she gets are attributed to the pressure of
the occluded areas still trying to push blood through. The
bypass alleviated the stroke-like symptoms and the loss
of use of her left-arm and leg. She is back to walking, all-
beit with a cane. But, she is walking again. Her headaches
do come after a lengthy bout of walking to build her lost
strength back. It is an effort, but she is doing well with it.
She takes the pain as long as she can, but then takes her
prescribed Vicodin. They still work for her and she limits her
intake of them. Her main problem now is that her asthma
is acting up violently. Thus, she coughs and that gives her
headaches and worry of rupture of the bypass. So, back
in we go to see if we cannot alleviate the asthma attacks.