looking for advice and reassurance as caretaker of my mother
 

Hi!
My name is Missy my mother had her surgery a week ago today. She had an unruptured anyeursim that was clipped. She was released on Thursday and has now been home for 3 days. I'm looking for advice and reassurance on her recovery process. So far we have had no complications that would require a hospital visit. However, it seems that yesterday evening that she was having problems thinking of the right words. I think she is trying to hard and may be over doing it a little. She was on the computer for short periods checking her email, read a little bit of the news paper, and the prior day had several vistors and wanted to chat alot, she also called my grandfather on her cell phone to let him know that she had the surgery and all was well. Then my brother came to v isShe didn't tell him ahead of time he is old and she didn't want to worry him. I'm assuming that her words a jumbled a bit because she was over tired. How long should I expect her have problems gathering her words? At times she is talking very normal. Should I be alarmed or is this normal? I have done research on line and am feeding her foods that are good for healing the brain. Today I am requiring her to rest and trying to limit her activivty a little better. I have been accused by her friends as being the Natzi Nurse but just want to make sure I am doing the right things for an excellent recovery. Also, she has lost use of her right arm. The doctor (Dr. Nanda) said that plaque came loose in one of her ateries during the CT anigiogram and eventually that the plaque that is lodged will dissolve and she will regain use. Has anyone else out there experienced this or something similar. She is concerned and I just keep reassuring her that it will be okay it's just going to take a little time. Any advice is welcome.

It is very hard to take it easy when you feel so happy that you came out of this surgery pretty good. Remember that the brain needs to rest, you are limiting her activities because you know she should rest and this is good. If weather permits, get her outside a little bit after 2 weeks and walking a little each day, but I hope that she is sleeping well and taking naps, this helps our brains rest and heal. I never heard of the plaque coming loose, but I am not a nurse, just a survivor. I had word blanks, or said the wrong word for something occasionally after both my July 08 procedure and the Jan 09 clipping. I think thats normal. Nancy

Thanks for responding Nancy. One question? She is already going outside a little to sit on her patio. She has a beautiful back yard kinda like a secret garden and it makes her happy to be out there. I'm making sure she stays out of the sun and sits under an umbrella. Is that okay at this time? She seems to be sleeping good. She is sleep napping about 4 hours during the day. Awake resting in her bed with her eyes closed about 3hours per day, and is sleeping good through the night. Also, I'm afraid to let her bend over is bending over okay after this surgery?:grouphug:

Dear Melissa: I asked my surgeon about that, he said it is an old wives tale, bending over is fine. Also sitting in the sun is great, she will get vitamin D, but keep a hat on, you can't let the sun get on the incision. It sounds like she is doing all of the right things. The brain needs rest, so napping during the day helps her heal. I found out the hard way that alot of reading is not good, it puts stress on the muscles and nerves that needed to be cut and take a longer time to heal. Of course I don't know where her incision is, mine was from the top front of my head down to my ear, and I still can't wear glasses with the stem that goes over your ear, so I go around with an old set minus one stem. I like to read and when I did my eye would start to water, so I had to read in short time periods. I was operated on Jan 27 and just went back to work with very short hair on one side that barely covers the incision, but people don't notice. I get tired about half way through the day but just take it easy and get a good nights sleep. I am 63 how old is your mother. Nancy

Missy she probably has limited shoert term memory loss due to her surgury .... the brain needs time to heal and sometimes the short term memory loss will just disappear.

Glenn

Hi Missy

First of all, you are doing a great job. Issues with short term memory are common for some time after surgery. Trouble with word-finding is common as well. If she likes that sort of thing, crosswords an word find puzzles are very useful. I can remember saying all sorts of dumb things in the first couple of months after my clipping surgery (like telling my kids to put their school bags in the fridge instead of in their bedrooms).

As has already been mentioned, it could take anywhere up to two years for her brain to heal fully - it's a long slow process, and if they have cut nerves they are incredibly slow re-growing. She will probably go through all sorts of strange things (like have a numb skull, feeling itchy particularly around her incision and not being able to scratch, getting crawly sensations on her head and other stuff like that).

It is easy to become overwhelmed with noise, lights and lots of movement too. So when she is better able to get around, don't be surprised if simple things like going to the supermarket become kind of scary and exhausting. Sensory overload is a really strange thing. You may also find that she is very emotional, and that she has some hair loss - but it should come back to normal over time.

Please take care, keep doing a great job and be patient - when someone has mucked around inside your brain there are lots of strange emotions and symptoms that happen.

Cheers

Lyn :)