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What Causes Severe Depression After Craniotomy?
Question: I had a craniotomy in 2005 for a cerebral spinal fluid leak. I changed dramatically afterword. I was once a happy person, became severely depressed after the surgery. Over the years I've lost a lot of jobs due to not being able to understand instructions as I was being trained. I wouldn't understand anything and make large costly mistakes. Where training would take a normal person only a week, I am still not understanding months later. I worked at a doctor's office and almost killed a man because I did not comprehend the doctor's instructions right. All these years I've thought I was dumb and horribly stupid. I would continue to ask God why he made me so dumb. I never shared these feelings with anybody because it's embarrassing. I finally opened up about it to my mom and to my shock, she told me that after the craniotomy her and my dad noticed right away my comprehension skills and memory was way off. I would look at them while they were talking but not getting what they were saying, asking the same questions over again. Could these problems have come from the craniotomy? I was a very intelligent woman before it, never had any of these problems. Now I can't even keep a job. I'm lost on what to do.
Brief Answer:
First,should understand what your real problem is,then,take action...
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
As I was going through your medical history, there are a few things I need to point out:
1. First, let me tell you that cerebral spinal fluid leak (CSFL) is when the cerebral spinal fluid (the fluid around the brain) starts leaking through a hole through the skull bone.
The origin of this fluid could be from the ear or from the nose as per the location of the damaged area of the skull bone.
2. The most common causes of the CSFL include head injury, but sometimes they are occurring for no reason.
Now, here I need to ask a few more questions:
- have you had any head injury prior to leakage appearance?
- any head or brain disease diagnosed so far?
- do you have the reports of tests done prior to craniotomy? what about the reports after the procedure?
All these data are very important to understand your case better.
Because I need to understand what happened that caused this leakage, so we can understand your behavior now.
3. Craniotomy could not have negative effects. But the primary cause of CSFL can explain your problems now.
So, I'd recommend to consult with neurologist first to understand at what stage your problems with brain damage are, so we can help restoring your normal function.
Next, psychological support can help you a lot. Psycho-therapy can help too.
Don't be frustrated from the idea of not understanding people. Look at the positive aspect: you are able to understand yourself that you cannot understand the others.
Here you need psychological and neurological support as advised above.
All the best and God bless.
Let me know if you have other concerns.
Dr.Albana
First,should understand what your real problem is,then,take action...
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
As I was going through your medical history, there are a few things I need to point out:
1. First, let me tell you that cerebral spinal fluid leak (CSFL) is when the cerebral spinal fluid (the fluid around the brain) starts leaking through a hole through the skull bone.
The origin of this fluid could be from the ear or from the nose as per the location of the damaged area of the skull bone.
2. The most common causes of the CSFL include head injury, but sometimes they are occurring for no reason.
Now, here I need to ask a few more questions:
- have you had any head injury prior to leakage appearance?
- any head or brain disease diagnosed so far?
- do you have the reports of tests done prior to craniotomy? what about the reports after the procedure?
All these data are very important to understand your case better.
Because I need to understand what happened that caused this leakage, so we can understand your behavior now.
3. Craniotomy could not have negative effects. But the primary cause of CSFL can explain your problems now.
So, I'd recommend to consult with neurologist first to understand at what stage your problems with brain damage are, so we can help restoring your normal function.
Next, psychological support can help you a lot. Psycho-therapy can help too.
Don't be frustrated from the idea of not understanding people. Look at the positive aspect: you are able to understand yourself that you cannot understand the others.
Here you need psychological and neurological support as advised above.
All the best and God bless.
Let me know if you have other concerns.
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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