I had a ruptured aneurysm on a Saturday and had coil surgery Sunday. This weekend has been 4 months. Didn’t know I had the aneurysm but they figured I had it for 4 or 5 years without knowing it.
The day after surgery they figured I was already doing better then 99% of people by that point. I know I was lucky we found it in time.
I am gonna be 43 next month. I traveled for work to different parts of the country. When I had off time I lived with my parents in upstate NY. Luckily I was home when it happened. I want to return to work but we are waiting until my 6 month follow up and then I’ll be working at the office. I have been reading about returning and not working on here. This is good insight when I meet with my bosses.
I have noticed that my basic math isn’t what it was. Sometimes I have forgotten simple tasks or answers to questions I’ve already asked. But for the most part as it’s finally spring I have been going for walks and getting out of the house which has helped me. Everyone I see has had questions but also telling me how glad they are to see me and how good I look for what happened. I now look at things different then before.
Two days ago I rode my mountain bike. And yesterday I was so sore and could hardly move. It was almost as bad as when I got out of the hospital. I have had problems going up and down stairs from time to time but I keep pushing myself when I can. But even today I am still soar from the bike ride. And it was nothing compared to what I would do in the past. It really brought me down yesterday. But today I am going to go see friends so that will help.
Will I ever be able to ride my bike or will my legs keep being in pain from it? Is that how the stairs will continue to be also?
I have so many other questions and thoughts but I’ll keep reading here when I have time.
I was googling something and this site came up linked from another one. I was so happy to find it and thank you!
I actually also wanted to add quick… I was a beer drinker liked to go to bars and social events. I have decided to switch to NA beers as I enjoyed the taste of beer. And there are a lot of good options now. Just about every restaurant and bar has something and stores do too. And if you like craft beer they make good NA IPAs and a bunch of different kinds. I have been impressed with Athletic Brewing. They only make NA beers and are widely distributed. I enjoy the taste but don’t miss not being able to drive or wasting a whole day or feeling like crap the next day. I can still be social and enjoy a beer. Plus they are all under 100 calories which is nice
Welcome Rick! You’re one lucky guy! Yes, you’ll be able to ride your bike and traverse stairs without pain. Remember when you first started riding? It takes awhile to build up those muscles again. The first time I walked down stairs after I ruptured we were in Atlanta with a nephew. The stairs ended but my brain didn’t register it and I kept stepping down. BH and nephew had to catch me. I think it took another ten or fifteen steps to get my brain to understand I was on flat ground.
. Who knew we would eventually buy a house that has stairs everywhere and I take them fine, took a bit for those muscles to build up. When we first bought the property, I ended up seeing my PCP as stairs and steep property caused a good bit of pain. She had an ultrasound done to rule out a hernia and told me to start with different stretches, they helped tremendously. I do have to practice putting my feet down correctly on the stairs and that’s getting better as well.
I would suggest you do some stretching before and after riding and do the easy trails until your muscles get accustomed to riding again. Just keep building up like you did when you first started. Remember to hydrate, it helps the cramping, don’t forget potassium (bananas, watermelon, etc) and some pineapple for the Bromelain which can help with pain and swelling.
I am old enough to remember when there was only one choice for N.A. beer😂. I’m going to tell a friend about Athletic Brewing! He has really bad knees and didn’t want knee surgery. He is also a bike rider. He’s quit drinking his beer and misses it but he has lost a good bit of weight. Thanks for the information!
I agree with Moltroub – you will be able to ride again, just pay attention to the new development. When my Annie burst I was in great shape, exercising 3 times a day (I was a student and had time then!). But after 10 days in a coma I had extreme muscle atrophy and lost most of my flexibility. I started simply with walking, stretching, swimming, etc. Now, years later, I have biked many miles both on-road and off-road, I have done numerous half-marathons, 2 full marathons, and a few triathlons. My recommendation: listen to your body, push yourself a bit more each time but not so much you need more than a day of recovery time. You know the drill. You just have to start from the “now” not from where you were before the surgery – a new beginning for your whole body. Good luck!
Thank you guys… I easily get discouraged as at 42 years old it’s hard to grasp starting over but that is something I need to just come to terms with.
My friends keep me positive and my mother is always worried about me being depressed and sad now. But the drs have said that it is normal based on what I have been through to have these types of thoughts. Everything just takes time.
My surgeon said to give things six months for time to heal and set in mentally also. Then we can go forward with more diagnosis
I was told once by my neurosurgeon who is oh, so wonderful in my opinion that my brain was as good as it was going to get. I told her she was wrong and shared Dr. Sperry’s research down in Texas…the brain continues to heal even years later. I couldn’t do basic math after I first ruptured, (I used to tutor algebra and statistics) tipped an electrician everything that was in my wallet and I couldn’t tell you why. But we learned for me not to keep a lot of cash and for the first time I relied on our credit card so we knew what I was spending😂
Yes that’s amazing… I am so grateful I found this site
Hi R1ck,
I too suffered from a ruptured aneurysm, and it definitely was a life changer. More so in the way it changed things. For example, pre-aneurysm I was sharp as a tack, was out all the time riding my motorcycle, playing basketball, competitive paintball and was always out and about. Nowadays, I am less active, although I don’t put that on the Aneurysm, but the fact that I’m slowing down as I am getting a little older (46 years old). I know, that’s not old at all, but the reality is, I am slowing down. My suggestion is to keep pushing on and understand that your body will go through some changes, that you might not be accustomed to, or used to. But it’s ok that it is, and you just have to listen to your body and trust what it’s telling you. That does not mean you can’t, or shouldn’t do all the things you used to do. But those things might not be the same (eg. you get more sore and recover slower than you did in the past), but keep on doing them. Don’t stop what you love to do, because the fact of the matter is that you are STILL here. I do hope things with you get better. You can always reply back to me if you ever want to chat. Sometimes talking about things, especially things that I too have suffered/experienced is helpful. Stay positive my friend.
-David
Thank you for the great feedback. I am understanding the recovery more and more as it goes on.
For three days I thought it had been four months since my surgery but yesterday at the drs as I was saying it my mother corrected me twice saying it had only been three months. I then realized I had been wrong and what mom was saying was right. It was a dumb thing for me to be depressed about but I realize I will make those mistakes. The only thing it really makes me nervous about is when I attempt to go back to work. They are on my side and want me to get well. I just hope that I don’t make mistakes and realize it was too much for me to do. But my drs think it’s ok for me to go back to work and I think it will be good for me. I am hoping to late summer early fall. In a couple weeks I’m going to meet with work and I think when that happens I will feel much better about it knowing how everyone is feeling about it
Awesome outlook R1ck. Going back to work, although possibly stressful is a good way to get back to some familiar things which is helpful in your recovery. I wish you the best, and remember, you’re not alone. Please shoot me a message and I will reply. I feel talking with someone who has gone through some similar things could be helpful. Have a great day, R1ck.
-David
Thank you David! I have been thinking about seeing a therapist for mental help. But as I have told others even talking to the drs and nurses, although great support and feedback they haven’t actually felt what we are feeling. I will keep that in mind! Thanks again
Good idea Rick, I spoke with a therapist (just for a couple sessions) and I felt it very helpful. Keep talking about your feelings and experiences with people on this site. We all have something in common, and there are lots of people on here with so much knowledge. I am perplexed by the amount of knowledge I have seen on here! I’m also available to offer whatever I can, so message me whenever you want.
You are doing great for where you are in your recovery. My aneurysm ruptured o. 02/09/2012. My husband and I were in a restaurant at the time. A fireman and paramedic were there,too. I was taken to the hospital where they told my husband and daughter I needed to be helicoptered to UT Southwestern in Dallas,Texas. The ruptured was fixed by endovascular coiling. Two more aneurysms were discovered. One was also coiled. The other was too small for treatment. I was in the hospital for 6 weeks. During that time I had a uti, stroke and heart attack. I don’t remember the first 3 weeks at all. I wasn’t in a coma. I talked to everyone that came in my room. I had trouble walking and had to use a walker. They had to do multiple eye surgeries to remove the blood that had gotten on my optic nerves. I was mostly blind until they did that. I did therapy to work on my walking and cognitive skills. After 6 weeks I was off work 3 months. Returned to part time work for 6 mos and returned to full time work after that. I worked full time for 5 more years before I retired in 2017. I started walking for exercise. Now I do water aerobics and Zumba. I also ride my bicycle all over the neighborhood. I read and do all sorts of trivia to help with memory issues. I have never been a big drinker of alcohol.I find I can have a margarita or mixed drink and I’m good. More than one and I’m about drunk. Keep hanging in there. Do what you feel like doing. Add a little as you feel like it. Congratulations on surviving what could have killed you!
Wow you have been through a lot! That is amazing what you had been through then what you were able to achieve after… thank you!