› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Depression after a craniotomy
- This topic has 6 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 4 months ago by
kylez.
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- December 17, 2011 at 8:48 pm
My husband had a craniotomy 2 1/2 weeks ago and (at least to me) it seems like he’s dropped into a deep depression. He is on a heavy dose of Keppra (anti-seizure drug) and Zelboraf, so I’m not sure if it’s because of all the meds or not. He’s sleeping most of the day, tossing and turning all night and when he’s awake, he’s just sitting on the couch watching TV or reading with a glassy look in his eyes. He doesn’t want to leave the house, but does get over stimulated with the sights and sounds whenever we go out.My husband had a craniotomy 2 1/2 weeks ago and (at least to me) it seems like he’s dropped into a deep depression. He is on a heavy dose of Keppra (anti-seizure drug) and Zelboraf, so I’m not sure if it’s because of all the meds or not. He’s sleeping most of the day, tossing and turning all night and when he’s awake, he’s just sitting on the couch watching TV or reading with a glassy look in his eyes. He doesn’t want to leave the house, but does get over stimulated with the sights and sounds whenever we go out. I’m really struggling with all of this…we have 3 children who need their Dad. He’s supposed to do gamma knife on Thursday and I know he’s worried about that. He’s been stage 4 since January, but has never been down like this. Has anyone else been through this? Any suggestions (other than anti depressants..he refuses to even consider it)?
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- December 17, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Hi my dad had a craniotomy about 6 months ago and although he was not on any medication, what you are describing sound similiar to my dads state. I took about a month before he really got back to being himself again. He too would just stare glazed eyed and was cranky a lot. I think it's related to surgery and pain actually. So hang in there Im sure things will improve over the next two weeks.
All the best
Nahmi from Melbourne
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- December 17, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Hi my dad had a craniotomy about 6 months ago and although he was not on any medication, what you are describing sound similiar to my dads state. I took about a month before he really got back to being himself again. He too would just stare glazed eyed and was cranky a lot. I think it's related to surgery and pain actually. So hang in there Im sure things will improve over the next two weeks.
All the best
Nahmi from Melbourne
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- December 17, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Hi my dad had a craniotomy about 6 months ago and although he was not on any medication, what you are describing sound similiar to my dads state. I took about a month before he really got back to being himself again. He too would just stare glazed eyed and was cranky a lot. I think it's related to surgery and pain actually. So hang in there Im sure things will improve over the next two weeks.
All the best
Nahmi from Melbourne
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- December 18, 2011 at 4:52 am
Everybody's case is individual and unique. But if the body says rest, I would say rest.
I don't know if I linked this before to you or someone else before but, from the National Brain Tumof Society, Brain Tumors and Fatigue, I've found this to be really good advice for myself: "Avoid competing with the person you once were or holding yourself to former standards. You now operate without the energy reserves you once had. Resist the pull to keep running on empty. Give yourself permission to take a rest or a break without feeling that you are “giving in to the tumor.” Long-term survivors who feel they have conquered fatigue say they did so by redefining “normal” and accepting the person they are now."
I've had two craniotomies and two SRS. Each craniotomy I needed several weeks of major down time. And then still going slower after that too. The second one took a little more out of me than the first. And you're right, the treatments do too (Zelboraf in your husband's case). On the other hand, the gamma knife may not be a big deal depending on how much radiation he needs.
But your husband is now two kinds of patients, a melanoma patient and a neurosurgery patient. I know I am. I wish you all the best.
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- December 18, 2011 at 4:52 am
Everybody's case is individual and unique. But if the body says rest, I would say rest.
I don't know if I linked this before to you or someone else before but, from the National Brain Tumof Society, Brain Tumors and Fatigue, I've found this to be really good advice for myself: "Avoid competing with the person you once were or holding yourself to former standards. You now operate without the energy reserves you once had. Resist the pull to keep running on empty. Give yourself permission to take a rest or a break without feeling that you are “giving in to the tumor.” Long-term survivors who feel they have conquered fatigue say they did so by redefining “normal” and accepting the person they are now."
I've had two craniotomies and two SRS. Each craniotomy I needed several weeks of major down time. And then still going slower after that too. The second one took a little more out of me than the first. And you're right, the treatments do too (Zelboraf in your husband's case). On the other hand, the gamma knife may not be a big deal depending on how much radiation he needs.
But your husband is now two kinds of patients, a melanoma patient and a neurosurgery patient. I know I am. I wish you all the best.
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- December 18, 2011 at 4:52 am
Everybody's case is individual and unique. But if the body says rest, I would say rest.
I don't know if I linked this before to you or someone else before but, from the National Brain Tumof Society, Brain Tumors and Fatigue, I've found this to be really good advice for myself: "Avoid competing with the person you once were or holding yourself to former standards. You now operate without the energy reserves you once had. Resist the pull to keep running on empty. Give yourself permission to take a rest or a break without feeling that you are “giving in to the tumor.” Long-term survivors who feel they have conquered fatigue say they did so by redefining “normal” and accepting the person they are now."
I've had two craniotomies and two SRS. Each craniotomy I needed several weeks of major down time. And then still going slower after that too. The second one took a little more out of me than the first. And you're right, the treatments do too (Zelboraf in your husband's case). On the other hand, the gamma knife may not be a big deal depending on how much radiation he needs.
But your husband is now two kinds of patients, a melanoma patient and a neurosurgery patient. I know I am. I wish you all the best.
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