I have no idea of what is " normal" anymore. I’m 6 months down the track after 6 mm aneurysm was clipped. Mentally I am still myself yet I literally have to drag myself through the days. Fatigue is still paramount and a sense of dizziness - some days I cannot contemplate driving. Neck issues and jaw issues continue. I sometimes think I actually " feel" the clip in there. Head discomfort also. Pain behind right eye. I don’t think I am an anxious person but all these symptoms cause me to worry - after such a monumental surgery I sometimes think all worry is necessary but perhaps I am wrong. I just don’t seem to be improving as I would have hoped - I still don’t know what each day will bring. Occasionally there is a good one thrown in! I just wondered if anyone else felt like this. I live in Australia - there is no decent forum such as this here.
I would appreciate any thoughts on all this
Susan
Dearest Susan,
I too have issues with fatigue and headaches and on top of not being able to sleep well. I had subarrachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured aneurysm and doctors clip them last October. I still dont know whats my new normal, doctors said i may or may not be the same again but he assured it will get better. I have become anxious too hence my sleeping issues. Has anyone been experiencing anxiety and sleeping issues like waiting up at 3:30 and being able to sleep again.
Susan i hope we can be better!
Beverly
Opps some typos here.
Has anyone been experiencing anxiety and sleeping issues like waking up at 3:30 and not able to fall back to sleep. It is definitely distupting my life.
Susan i have read discussions here saying it will get better in time.
I guess we have to be perservere.
Beverly
Thankyou for your reply Beverly. It is so hard having way less energy than before. I hope this isn’t the new normal and time will improve. I think anxiety is how precarious one feels - I know I do.
As far as sleeping goes I take half a " simply sleep" at night - it’s a Tylenol brand if you live in the states ( my daughter sends them)
Nothing worse than not sleeping at night. They are harmless and work well.
I wish for you too to feel better
Susan
Hi Susan. I’m 4 months out from my rupture and 3 months out from my shunt surgery. I just woke up and am lying in bed depressed. I was thinking is this normal… I’m so tired and still so fatigued. I can’t make plans because I never know how I’m going to feel. I never know if I’m going to feel well enough to drive either. I still get headaches. And some days I don’t have the energy to do much. I have good days where I feel like myself. But I thought by now there would be more better days then bad. It’s so hard because people don’t understand. I’ve read we (aneurysm survivors) have to be patient. I’m trying I truly am. But this is so hard. I was such an active person before this. I have two young children. I want and need to get some of my old self back. Anyway reading your post helped. I know I’m not alone and that this is indeed normal. God bless us…
Reading your post helped me also Danielle!
I too, cannot make any plans for any day, rather if I feel ok I just start doing that huge list of what I am behind in and be grateful for these ok moments. I have 3 children who I think have become " numb" to their mother not feeling great - I didn’t used to be like this and I soo miss my usual energy. It’s 11.45 am and I could easily lie down and sleep. I too, thought there would be more " better days" by now. It was so nice to know I am not alone - I stay so close to home thesedays it’s ridiculous. I do hope for both our sakes that life improves over the next 6 months. My neuro said " the brain doesn’t like being exposed to air".
Thankyou for your reply - I very much appreciate it 
I was awake at said time last night, exhausted today, kind of manic since post surg although I do have bipolar so I think the manic stuff was triggered, after long rest I am feeling brain is settling, I hope, feel better
sunset said:
Opps some typos here.
Has anyone been experiencing anxiety and sleeping issues like waking up at 3:30 and not able to fall back to sleep. It is definitely distupting my life.
Susan i have read discussions here saying it will get better in time.
I guess we have to be perservere.
Beverly
YES, YES, YES!! I'm a little over two years out from my clipping surgery, and the better days come in waves. I can't say I'm "back to normal", and honestly, I've stopped trying for it. I'm looking at my new normal, seizing the non-headache days as best I can, and focusing on the little things. Easier said than done, I know, as life gets crazy busy and there's so much to do.
Susan - I'm a Mom too and the guilt that comes along with being a "low-energy" mom is terrible. My Dad was physically handicapped from his aneurysm, and while my childhood was a little boring, I certainly didn't resent his illness. I try to remember that; kids will see our mood, not our illness. Although being happy with a headache, that's quite a challenge!
If I had to name one thing you can do to persevere, I suggest seeing a post-stroke neurologist. I saw one at my one year mark, and she prescribed a medication that helped with concentration (Concerta) and while I'm not back to who I was, it is a game changer. My experience has been that my surgeon is not a post-recovery specialist, and as the patient, it's up to me to see out that doctor. My Doctor is Dr. Jodi Dodds at Duke Neuro in Raleigh, NC.
I’m sad for all going through this but THANK YOU for sharing. I’m two years out from three coilings. All the things you mention-Same.
Hoping for better days❤️
Sarge - I feel JUST the same! Great words of advice to seek out a post operative specialist - I agree, the surgeon - his job is done when he closes you up it seems, which is understandable. A specialist would be a wealth of info I’m sure.
I’ll take anything that is a " game changer" and I will def look into concerta - seems it’s a new one used for adhd which makes sense. Good tip!
Thanks for your outlook on parenting - that was helpful I don’t beat myself up over it rather than twinges of sadness when I’m less than what I would like to be. I’m guessing your aneurysm is likely genetic as you mentioned your father? My older sister also. Can I ask if you are worried it will return at some stage? I know, no point worrying.
I so appreciated your post - it was most reassuring - onwards and upwards!
H
Hi
Hi Susan… I’m also from Australia, I had my Annie fixed with a PED Stent in 2013 and still have days of tiredness & dizzy. I’m also soon to have a Craniotomy/Clipping for my 2nd Annie… Give yourself plenty of time to heal
Hi janine, I do so wish you well. Mine was a craniotomy. Was your second one always there or did it come up later? It is hard not being able to plan much of anything ahead - really hard. I lived in Sydney on the northern beaches - dr Assaad was my neuro - he was wonderful on all levels. Im am grateful in many ways but it is also good to hear from others with the frustrations we share. Thankyou for yours. It helps. Wishing you well - the apprehension is the tough part
Susan, my second one was always there, they were mirror image one behind each eye, the right was 7mm & fixed with stent and left is around 4mm but because I have other issues (FMD, vTOS & carotid dissection), my Neuro is going to clip this one…
I have a son living in Neutral Bay but we live in Central West NSW, I see Dr Rodney Allan @ RPA, I have heard of Dr Assaad…
It sounds as tho you are in great hands/ care at rpa Janine. I do hope all goes well with your procedure - it will be great to be beyond it! Will be sending good energy/ prayer your way. Take care
I really believe most of us are suffering from PTSD. I myself had a subarachnoid hemorrhage which was coiled 5 months ago. Every time I get a sharp head pain I pause to see if I am going to experience another one. For a long time not a day went by that I didn’t think about dying. What we all have gone throughout is life altering. The worse of it was thinking I was alone. Knowing that All of the wonderful people on this site have gone through similar experiences makes one realize that we aren’t imagining things. Our brains were mucked with and it is no wonder our lives are not the same. I find that if I can push myself to keep busy I don’t obsess as much and I have better days because of it. Please just hang in there. We are the fortunate ones because we lived! Weird headaches and other sensations, and having days that you just want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over your head are an unfortunate side affect that hopefully will diminish over time. You are NOT alone!
Wow gigs! You said that in a nutshell! All the thoughts that perhaps I was reluctant to voice out loud! I feel them all - just the same. Thankyou so much for sharing this - you don’t know just how helpful it is
Gigi
Absolutely, I do worry about the possibility of #2 or difficulties with my current clipping. Mine was not a berry aneurysm, so there are two clips, and there's a section that could not be secured. But I worry more about my daughter inheriting this dubious honor; but I take comfort in the fact that I will INSIST that she be scanned every couple of years, maybe she can avoid a rupture. Who knows. It seriously makes me giggle at my healthy friends who are OBSESSED with things like losing weight or not eating GMO's...I'm just over here hoping my brain doesn't explode again in this lifetime.
Susan said:
Sarge - I feel JUST the same! Great words of advice to seek out a post operative specialist - I agree, the surgeon - his job is done when he closes you up it seems, which is understandable. A specialist would be a wealth of info I'm sure.
I'll take anything that is a " game changer" and I will def look into concerta - seems it's a new one used for adhd which makes sense. Good tip!
Thanks for your outlook on parenting - that was helpful :) I don't beat myself up over it rather than twinges of sadness when I'm less than what I would like to be. I'm guessing your aneurysm is likely genetic as you mentioned your father? My older sister also. Can I ask if you are worried it will return at some stage? I know, no point worrying.
I so appreciated your post - it was most reassuring - onwards and upwards!