What Causes Severe Fatigue And Short Term Memory Post A Gamma Knife Surgery?

Posted on Thu, 31 Mar 2016

Question: I had a menengioma brain tumor (behind left ear to back of my head) removed 10/8/2014. I got tired very easily afterwards and had some cognition problems with numbers, short term memory and dealing with numbers, but it got better with time. Had Gamma Knife surgery 3/15/2015. Within a month after this procedure I noticed all the problems had returned and were worse than before!!! Today i am still having problems and get tired very easily it seems. Is this normal after a Gamma Knife procedure??? or have I just gotten lazy!?? I know that it involves a "shot of radiation" like a laser... is that what has caused the recurrence of my problems? Who do I need to see to treat this?

Answered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get investigated as advised

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.

Some memory problem, concentration problems may occur after any surgical intervention apart from seizure risk.

In view of easy fatiguability you need to be evaluated for metabolic disorder like diabetes, vitamin B-12 or vitamin D deficiency, hemoglobin, renal and liver function.

Any respiratory or cardiac problems?
Supplementation and correction of abnormal condition may lead to improvement.

I will suggest to get these investigations.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Do get back to me for further queries.

Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Neeraj Kumar (11 minutes later)

No to all- diabetes, vitamin deficiency, hemoglobin, renal, liver, respiratory, or cardiac. All those tests were done back in April 2015. Should I ask my general practitioner to run tests to cover these since I haven't had a full physical yet for 2016??
I have always been lucky to have very good health. Never any problems, low cholesterol, good blood work-up every year. Now I just feel like a car that is running out of gas! It is very frustrating! And I worked in payroll and human services and tax return preparation-this has really scared me that I can't do the work that I've done for years! Can't spell words correctly, can't add/subtract in my head, can't find words I want to speak.......... Ughhhhh!

Answered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Get investigated again if symptoms worsened in last year

Detailed Answer:
Hello, good to hear from you again.
You can upload some blood reports if available.
If symptoms have deteriorated much after April then repeat the blood tests.
Neurologist examination may be required to look for any presenile dementia.
Drugs for dementia may have to be started in such case.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr N Kumar

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar