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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Does having surgery affect CH ?
        
(Message started by: Lotus on May 17^th, 2007, 5:07am)

Title: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by Lotus on May 17^th, 2007, 5:07am

Hello everyone

I have tried to search for any information on this but there does not seem to be any published literature so I am turning to the experience of the Board, thank you in advance :)

Does having surgery affect CH in any way? Does it make it better? worse? Can it stop or start a cycle?

I remember a while ago someone posted that they woke up from general anaesthesia with an attack even while they were out of cycle? I cant seem to find that post again.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Painfree wishes to all

Annette

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by cynjeep89 on May 17^th, 2007, 6:12am

Annette,

Good morning!!

I've been thru a few surgeries with general anesthesia and am happy to report that no CHs were triggered.

I am an episodic and was not in cycle during the time that I had the surgeries.

Cyn

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by Karla on May 17^th, 2007, 7:57am

I have had 5 surgeries. The last one was the only one to effect me. It brought on a short cycle of 4 weeks and stopped as suddenly as it started.

The key is to communicate to the dr, nurse, and anastesiogist that you suffer from ch, what it is, and what meds you may need on hand.

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by midwestbeth on May 17^th, 2007, 8:06am

I had surgery during my high cycle time ( I was getting hit 3-5 times a day). Surgery was sopposed to be outpatient, but the nurses couldn't get me to wake up and I stayed the night. I think it was because of pure lack of sleep and the anaestesia allowed me to get some much needed rest. I did get hit a couple of times, but the anaestesia was more powerful than the ch.

Beth

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by Angie on May 17^th, 2007, 8:28am

Barry had Lazer eye lid surgery in December 2004.

His cluster side eyelid would not open anymore do to muscle damage in the eyelid.

He was in cycle when he had surgery and the hits came as normal. It was tough because his eyelid was full of sutures and swollen like a frog. So surgery did not change anything.

We were hoping the surgery would end his cycle but it did not.

Angie

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by Lotus on May 17^th, 2007, 2:00pm

Thank you very much Cyndi, Karla, Beth and Angie :-*

It appears that surgery and general anaesthetics dont really affect CH much, it didnt seem to help nor make it worse. I guess thats reassuring for those going into surgery.

I agree it is important to let the surgical team know about CH before getting onto that steel table :) . The problem is when they think they know it all ( thats its some form of bad headache , like migraine ! ) and dont listen thats annoying!

Thanks again everyone.

Annette

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by UN solved on May 17^th, 2007, 2:47pm

After my surgery for kidney stones ( thanks to Topamax ) .. I woke up in the recovery room freaking out with a MAJOR hit. After trying to scream " IMITREX " ... the nurses finally gave me a jab and I fell back to sleep. It was a short-lived but still major hit that I'm sure was do to the pre-op meds.

I had 2 other surgeries that went fine. No attacks in sight ! :)

Just be prepared, always !

PF Wishes

UNsolved

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by Lotus on May 18^th, 2007, 1:56am

Thanks Michael :)

Must have been awful coming out of general anaesthetic to feel the beast looming, and its hard to try to communicate at that time.

I am going to look a bit more into what chemicals are in the meds often given during surgery and see if they may have any effect on serotonin for example.

Annette

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by Redd on May 18^th, 2007, 7:31am

It was 12 years ago, but I came out from being under after my hysterectomy with (what I know now, didn't know then) was a major hit. I was trashing on the gurney, and they strapped me down afraid I would fall off, and they were sticking me every 15 minutes with morphine to no avail. After 1 hour or so (so they told me) the hit subsided and I slept for a few more hours.

At the time they convinced me it was a reaction to the annistetic. Strapping me down was to keep me from falling to protect the internal repairs they made. (part of my bladder had to be removed as well as the uterus)

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by Lotus on May 18^th, 2007, 4:54pm

Wow, Pegg, that must have been bad, to be strapped down while having a hit post op ! The ultimate nightmare !

Did you continue to have more attacks afterwards? Did the surgery seem to start a new cycle for you?

Thanks for sharing your experience, much appreciated.

Annette

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by michael on May 18^th, 2007, 5:48pm

I've had five operations under general aneasthetic, all thankfully out of cycle. And non have induced a hit

Mike

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by Lotus on May 18^th, 2007, 5:55pm

Thank you so much Michael, thats reassuring :)

So far from what people here shared, having surgery under general anaesthetic does not automatically induce CH attacks or starting a new cycle. However, there is still a risk that one can wake up from GA with an odd one so be prepared.

I guess also that if its elective surgery, its better to try to schedule it while in remission.

Thanks all for your reply.

Annette

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by horsegirl on Jun 25^th, 2007, 4:32pm

maybe it was me your talking about i woke up from what ever they give you to relax you for a colonastapy.with a ha only it was on my r side instead of usual left after a week the switched back to normal side.i will find out what they gave me it was 3 years ago one year earlier then the normal every three years but it was a shorter and milder cycle,i have had surgery before and had no problem.

Title: Re: Does having surgery affect CH ?
Post by taraann on Jun 25^th, 2007, 5:23pm

Didn't make a difference for moi' and I have had quite a few minor surgeries