Welding effects on the brain?

[BigBossMan]

Just a thought..

Last year I had an 'acute on chronic' sub dural haematoma which was very serious but a hole in the head and 30 staples later, speech therapy etc etc I'm back in the fight except for noticeable short term memory loss.

My question is this...when I'm grinding metal etc I wear a full face shield with no problems, but after a fairly short time of welding with my nicely fitting Miller helmet I find when I go back to the face shield it doesn't fit right, ie it's tighter and sometimes I can barely get it on my head and the side of my head (injured side) feels pressured or swollen without looking so but with a very slight headache.

Does welding do this anyway?...or maybe I am overtightening my Miller or something.

I seem to remember mobile phones causing intercranial problems if used for too long, ie overheating the brain tissue, but not sure if that's relevant.

 

[the snooper]

ive never had anything like that if you have a hand held welding screen try using that to find out if its the miller or the actual welding that is causing your trouble

 

[BigBossMan]

ive never had anything like that if you have a hand held welding screen try using that to find out if its the miller or the actual welding that is causing your trouble

Thanks for the reply,
thinking out loud I can't see the Miller hat being the problem as it tightens in the same place as my clear face shield which I can wear all day no problems.

Strange one this...

Perhaps it's just too early for me to be welding after my op. last August.
I haven't got a hand held screen, ...er I think

 

[the snooper]

if you cant find a handheld screen just hold the miller screen rather then wear it, i would think the headache could be related to the brightness of the arc

 

[tigler]

Might be a good idea to ask your doctors advice.

 

[the snooper]

Might be a good idea to ask your doctors advice.

i agree given the seriousness of you op a little advice doesnt hurt

 

[BigBossMan]

if you cant find a handheld screen just hold the miller screen rather then wear it, i would think the headache could be related to the brightness of the arc

Worth a try, thanks.
If it's better I'll adjust the screen settings and try that.
Perhaps a faster response and slightly darker might help?

 

[Shox Dr]

ISTR the heat felt from prolonged use of a mobile was put down to holding it your head for sometime. As in whatever you hold to your head, be it a Mobile or a CD case, will in time cause the area to heat up.

Same goes for feet; they heat up through the day, thus increasing in size. That's why your feet can be sore after a day in a tight fitting pair of shoes. So it's best to try new shoes on in the afternoon

 

[BigBossMan]

Might be a good idea to ask your doctors advice.

GP's don't give any advice but refer you to the Neuro-consultant who seems totally disinterested in questions made after discharge.
He is pretty much uncontactable and following 'the system' ie re-appointments takes flippin' ages...been there...t-shirt acquired, lesson learnt.

 

[BigBossMan]

ISTR the heat felt from prolonged use of a mobile was put down to holding it your head for sometime. As in whatever you hold to your head, be it a Mobile or a CD case, will in time cause the area to heat up.

Same goes for feet; they heat up through the day, thus increasing in size. That's why your feet can be sore after a day in a tight fitting pair of shoes. So it's best to try new shoes on in the afternoon

Thanks Dr.,
So it's new shoes I need then?
(see how my brain works now)

 

[tigler]

GP's don't give any advice but refer you to the Neuro-consultant who seems totally disinterested in questions made after discharge.
He is pretty much uncontactable and following 'the system' ie re-appointments takes flippin' ages...been there...t-shirt acquired, lesson learnt.

Thats outrageous ! That must be a regional thing, my doctors fall over themselves to help with any problem.

 

[BigBossMan]

Thats outrageous ! That must be a regional thing, my doctors fall over themselves to help with any problem.

Firstly I thought it was a personal thing 'til it was on the local news with people complaining also that upon their discharge, no recommendations or advice was given regarding following expected symptoms etc.
I wanted to know when I could come off the anti-seizure tablets as they were causing me dry skin etc, I asked GP then the 'system' started as stated...simple question...difficult to get an answer. I even had to be taken there by my wife so she could remember what he said plus I wasn't allowed to drive at the time and am still pushing to get my licence back now even though the DVLA say I can drive. Apparently they can't get a reply from the neuro consultant either

The reason I asked here first is so I could make up my own mind as to the cause (if there was one) by the experienced and wise. Afterall I couldn't expect even a neuro-surgeon to know about welding issues...they're not 'that' clever

I have heard of welders getting headaches after a days work so wondered if it was relevant to my situation.


Sorry for waffling on..


Thanks again,
Ian

 

[mike os]

are you sure its not just an adjustment thing mate.... seriously or just an "irritation/ inflammation" caused by the pressure of the headband on the injury site?... as you are new back to it

I often find when swapping lids back & to that one or the other feels wrong...tight, loose... just not right... without the stuff you have gone thorough.

keep at the docs for answers tho & good luck on your recovery

 

[penfold]

Thats outrageous ! That must be a regional thing, my doctors fall over themselves to help with any problem.

I have had similar from a consultant; the best way to get anything like a timely response was to write them a letter, phone up their secretary to 'confirm receipt', then phoning up twice a week until the secretary gets fed up and pesters them into replying; it still took 3 weeks to get a reply. The consultant is a nice chap, but mañana doesn't apply because it suggests an inappropriate sense of urgency...

 

[drjim]

When you had your craniotomy did they put the bone flap back, leave a defect or put a metal plate in? I have seen all three options done. you may be tightening the shield up a bit too much causing pressure on a gap, the edge of the bone defect, or even squashing your brain. That might move things enough that the other helmet feels different.

I would suggest putting loads of padding around your head and fitting the masks over that and see if it makes a difference.

Jim

 

[Shox Dr]

Thanks Dr.,
So it's new shoes I need then?
(see how my brain works now)

I would say if it's still too tight; try with the tongue out. But that joke doesn't work over the tinterweb

 

[BigBossMan]

When you had your craniotomy did they put the bone flap back, leave a defect or put a metal plate in? I have seen all three options done. you may be tightening the shield up a bit too much causing pressure on a gap, the edge of the bone defect, or even squashing your brain. That might move things enough that the other helmet feels different.

I would suggest putting loads of padding around your head and fitting the masks over that and see if it makes a difference.

Jim

Sorry didn't ask, Tbh, I was just glad to be alive.
The staples were so neat I thought of asking if the surgeon did upholstery too.
I'm pretty sure it was just flushed out and the bone put back.
I would say though I do get similar symptoms after a nap on the sofa with my head (damaged side) on the arm bit.
It's normally gone by the morning, yes..suggesting too much pressure in that area.

I will look into side padding as now I'm sure that's the problem and I'm glad there's no known effects from welding. Hopefully that'll sort it.

I'll let you know if it does.

Sorry if this has been a bit of a strange topic.

Thanks guys

 

[the snooper]

due to the fact you had staples it would suggest they put the bone back or there would be nothing to staple would there ?

 

[drjim]

The staples just close the skin - we use them on cut heads regularly. The bone is sometimes held with staple type things, or a wire is used as a suture to hold it in place.

 

[Fazed]

Back off the tension on your headband a couple of clicks, and look into getting some of these: http://www.engweld.co.uk/Protective...Weldas_Sweatsopad_Helmet_Comforter_Pack2.html
If weldequip is watching... you should stock these ^.