Hello
I have been very down and teary post embolization and I wondered if this is normal? I had three connected davfs embolized 4 weeks ago. After all the worry and drama I thought I would feel great, but I don’t. I feel anxious about my job, very sensitive - and teary. I wonder if anyone can reassure me this will pass!
Welcome! I was a Gamma Knife patient, so quite different but can speak in some generalities of course. After my bleed I experienced emotion, tearfulness, that I could not control and was a totally new phenomena for me. This subsided over a period of a few weeks. After GK I did not experience the same but certainly felt some anxiety. In my very non medical opinion, and treatment to the brain can be similar to any type of trauma, and one common symptom is emotions. I imagine some folks will join in, but 4 weeks post treatment is not a lot of time in our world. Time is our friend in healing, particularly with the brain as little seems to happen quickly. Take Care, John.
Hi @Samk
I had a single DAVF embolized 8½ years ago and I was equally surprised by how impactful the embolization was. It seems like a very uninvasive way to have neurovascular surgery but I think it’s much more impactful than we give it credit for.
John’s experience sounds relevant to your particular experience, so it is good to have that closer reflection. I can’t say that I was especially emotional post op but I was surprised by having headaches for some time post op, of having a massive pulse noise and dizziness. I also found myself having scintillating scotomas (which are visual illusions more akin to migraine aura) for a few weeks post op, so I think part of your consideration is that four weeks post op is VERY EARLY. Honestly it is.
Come to think of it, it is possible to get emotional effects as part of migraine, so it could be a bit similar to the provocation of scotomas that I had, just having a different effect on you because your DAVFs are in a different place from mine.
Did your interventional radiologist / neurosurgeon tell you that your AVM is fully closed off as a result of your operation or are you expecting to have a further trip round the x-ray theatre? Mine told me that he might do two visits but after the first told me that he thought he’d occluded it 100% first time. I assume you’ve got a review angiogram in a month’s time?
Don’t panic, it’s early days yet.
Very best wishes,
Richard
Welcome Sam!
You’re in the best hands here in terms of support and information.
I haven’t had an embolization so I don’t know if how you feel is a result of that. All I can say is I’m sorry you’re hurting in this way. I don’t want to hazard any guesses, but perhaps one of the reasons you’re feeling down is having to deal with an AVM and the treatments you’ve been getting. A problem like an AVM, how rare it is and the damage it causes, is something I think has an impact on us emotionally, sometimes or always.
My two cent worth, please be patient with yourself, give yourself the space and the permission to feel however you want to (I know no one wants to feel down, but it is ok to feel that way) and be kind to yourself.
It will pass, I’m sure it will, but you just had surgery and anaesthesia can have an effect as well. And perhaps be prepared that you will feel like this again, and it’s ok then too. If you’re open to the idea, talking to a psychologist may be helpful. Talk therapy does help. And if it’s not for you, that’s why we’re here 
Please feel free to reach out anytime, even if it’s just to rant.
I hope you feel better soon.
Suraya
xx