Hello everyone, my name is Mayra and I had a ruptured blister aneurysm in January, just moments before leaving on a flight. Apparently this type of Annie is very rare and I was very lucky I didn’t take that plane!
Iam reaching out to you all for advise because after 9 months I still have headaches, sensitivity to the noise, I can’t bend over and lift my dog (4 pounds), I realize that whenever I have a few things to do I get so overwhelmed and stressed and anxious; then it comes what it feels like an emotional fatigue and you have to have a nap. Does this happen to you?
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Oh, yes. You will continue to heal, so symptoms that you have today may not be as frequent in the future. Your description of issues during recovery are very similar to others I have read about here. I am 14 years out from craniotomy for a ruptured posterior communicating aneurysm and I still find being in crowds or in loud and chaotic places overwhelming at times. Deep breathing and sensory protection can help me, like wearing sunglasses or ear plugs. I had headaches much more often in the early years, but I still have some pretty major ones when I fly or am very tired. I haven’t had trouble lifting a few pounds but I was advised to never pick up anything heavy because it adds stress to the arteries. Anxiety continues to be an issue for me, but I have learned to talk it through, so others can point out reality and show when my thinking is flawed. Insomnia is also an issue. So, you are not unique among aneurysm survivors and you may find ways to cope with these symptoms and they may get better as you continue to heal. Welcome here!
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Welcome Caperucita! Your symptoms sound pretty spot on to what we all go through after a rupture. Make sure you hydrate well and increase your protein. It takes a lot to heal the brain. Call your doctor to find out how much for you. I had to consume 90 grams a day as well as use a sports drink. But please contact your team either by phone or patient portal. I also found that an ice pack or slight pressure on my carotid in neck helped relieve some of the headaches. And as Kate mentioned - sunglasses and ear plugs. I only wear my prescription sunglasses since I ruptured and I use ISOtunes pro. They remove the higher pitches for me. Good luck! Hang around and share your journey…
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Thank you very much Kate3, yes as you can see Iam new here and I’ve been reading so much, this group is amazing! And you all are so resourceful and you all know so much, I feel I should start studying or something about aneurysm! I know what happen to me for what the dr but mostly my friends tell me happened but I have no memory of those 2 weeks at the hospital.
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Thank you Moltroub it is so nice to be able to talk to people that have gone through the same thing more or less than I did.
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Interesting , you just described me , headeches , can’t bend over , can’t stand being in the crowd , getting overwhelmed quickly when I need to make decision,of have multiply tasks . But my aneurysm is unraptured , on the watch …
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I’m in the exact same boat as you. I have these exact same symptoms too… And I’m still in the diagnosis phase…
Welcome Caperucita. It sounds like you have joined the right group. I float around and read a lot on the forum. It is informative and at times reminds me of just how lucky I have been.
I had a ruptured brain aneurysm and a subachranoid hemorrhage on Feb. 14th. I felt the headache and the next thing I remember was it was March and I was in ICU wondering why I was there and why all these strange people were telling me I was doing fine.
I have a headache every day in one of 3 locations. My neurosurgeon said it might go away and it might not. I am sensitive to noise and noise leads to my stress and anxiety. I am also sensitive to light. I stay overwhelmed because life is full of decisions from the time you wake up until you go to bed. Going grocery shopping is one of the most torturous things I have to do. My dog is a 140 lb. Pitbull so I don’t try to pick him up but leaning over to look for a particular piece of cookware is exhausting. But most things are. Almost everything I do earns a nap.
After the rupture and the hemorrhage/stroke I fell and broke my wrist in June about 2 weeks after my follow-up angiogram and I had surgery for the wrist in July. I have my next checkup for my wrist in October. I have another follow up for the aneurysm in January and another angiogram in February.
While I was in the hospital with the aneurysm they put me on a BiPap for sleep apnea. I think because the apnea and aneurysm were found at the same time I have a hard time separating or identifying what symptom is from the aneuysm, what is from the SAH, what is the OSA and what is from limited use of my hand.
I know that doesn’t sound like I feel lucky but I do. I hurt but as Miley says “there will always be another mountain”. My job is to do my part and keep on climbing. I have to leave the rest to the professionals. They’ve done a good job so far. I am sure there are times they wish I would take a nap instead of climb.
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Hello gk, you are not alone, we are all here, we all have something in common…
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Hello Berti and Mary … Iam sooooo Happy to have found this group! THANK YOU ALL for sharing your stories and experiences.
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I had the same blister aneurysm back in January. I do notice I get overwhelmed a lot but never connected it to the rupture? Assumed just stress from job but it might be more? As for the headaches have you tried Imitrex? Its the only thing that’s worked when I have a migraine or headache that comes on. I hope you heal well…
Sincerely,
Tracy
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This is the first time I’ve actually been in here and I’m so thankful I saw your question. I am the very same way and I didn’t connect it with my aneurysm. It is nice to be able to say I have a legitimate reason for this happening. Thanks for sharing!
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Hi
I had a ruptured aneurysm at 28 years I’m now 61. I have headaches daily but I distract myself and remind myself how lucky I am. I was pregnant 28 weeks pregnant and we both survived. I always wear sunglasses. I occasionally take endep if the headache is server. Just modify your lifestyle and enjoy living!
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This seems to happen to aneurysm surgery survivors. How long it will last is hard to predict. I think it is made worse by undiagnosed allergy to the contrast they inject into our cerebral blood vessels. As for the headache, I recommend you see a neurologist about it. I don’t recommend any medications to you, because you have a history of a ruptured aneurysm you should avoid medications that are known to cause blood pressure spikes. Again, seek out a good neurologist for your headaches. Your brain surgeon may not be the right source for information about safe medications for headaches.
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Hello Tracy, wow what are the odds, we had the same aneurysm the same month! I only take Tylenol sometimes for my headaches, trying to stay away from the other stuff. Iam really bad when it comes to take pills! Please keep in touch!
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Yup! 4 years out, and still get short term memory, cannot run nor jog, etc. Time heals slowly and you will improve!
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Hello Jean1234 welcome to the group, Iam fairly new here too. I found this is a very resourceful group, I hope you enjoy it as much as we all do!
I know actorveronica, this is a very slow process but we can’t get discouraged right?
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That is the way! Thank you for remind me that there is always a positive way of seeing things!
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I’m curious. What is a blister aneurysm?
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