@Farmwife @Sarah_D
Welcome Farmwife! I had a rupture and surgery and it’s been a year and a bit. I can tell you that I still feel tired and headaches from everything (stress, plate, being overwhelmed). When I am overwhelmed, my body shuts down. It takes a long time for your brain to heal. It has to make new pathways and work hard at focusing. Of course, you will feel tired. I am still not back at work. No body knows your body better than you do.
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Thankyou so much for the feedback!! Makes me feel better I’m not alone
I am so glad I found this thread. While it sucks that other people are going through this, it’s also a comfort to know I am not alone in this. After my second aneurysm, I read articles online saying it was normal to tire easily, and that it would subside within 6 months to a year. Well, one year turned to two, two turned to three and now it has been nine years - nine! - and I still get so incredibly exhausted. I had hoped that when my headaches started becoming infrequent as they now are, the fatigue would follow suit, but no such luck. It is relentless. Not for lack of trying on my part. I have taken supplements such as bio strath and Xcel that claim to aid with fatigue. They did not. That is not to say that they do not work; they just did not make a dent for me. A neurosurgeon gave me vitamin B about four years ago, and it really helped, but now, I might as well have not taken anything. Does one up the dose in this instance? I have since learnt not to fight the fatigue, but to work around it instead. That, for me, means listening to my body (or brain) and taking naps whenever I can. If not, I will stop whatever it is I am doing and go for a walk. Sometimes, that means doing nothing at all, not even watching TV because, that, too, can be taxing. If I am too tired to meet up with a friend, I do not beat myself up about it. I simply postpone to a later date. I have also changed the way I talk to myself about the exhaustion. I am not lazy. Nor did I make up being fatigued or being anti-social, as many, including a psychologist, once accused. I have also stopped trying to explain myself because no one around me gets it.
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It’s been 9 years for me as well! It’s nice to see you back! When I get exhausted, my words and tremor are effected. We are trying to move into a new house and the gentleman and his wife whom we’ve hired to do the renovations can now tell immediately when I’ve done too much. They can tell faster than I can😂. Bless their hearts, they will step in and take over with the other trades when I get overwhelmed, then Mr. Curley tells me to go home and rest, he can be quite insistent.
I have to take Vitamin B and a B Complex for my autoimmune disorder, my Rheumatologist takes blood work on it every few months. She checks the folate level. So you might check with your doctor on how much to take.
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I kind of feel the same way. No one gets me either when I say I’m tired. That means I really need to lay down and everyone just kind of ignores it especially my husband does not understand at all.
Have him read this How You Can Help - Brain Aneurysm Foundation.
Or this What a Caregiver Needs to Know | Joe Niekro Foundation along with the others under Caregiver
Or maybe he’d take the plunge and join the wonderful Bee Foundation, the ladies who started this are simply amazing TBF Brain Aneurysm Support Hive - The Bee Foundation. This is a great article for all of us Brain Aneurysm - After Effects - The Bee Foundation
I tried to find something for caregivers after a loved one has had a craniotomy without a rupture and unfortunately couldn’t find anything. You may need to just have a talk with him when you’re feeling good and he’s tinkering. I find men can express their feelings better when their hands are busy.
Hi Pepza.
The brain fatigue is the worst. It affects everything physically & mentally.
19 months after my brain aneurysm rupture my husband was doing some research & stumbled upon an article about psilocybin and how it is being studied for the repair of neurological connections (repairing). He started researching more. The next day I ordered microdose “focus energy” microdose capsules. I waited a couple of weeks for delivery. I started taking 1 125mg microdose capsule 5 days a week. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE how much they helped me!!! After my first dose (1 capsule) I could feel the difference! My husband noticed the change as well & was astounded! Instantly the “brain fog” lifted & I had energy & was able to concentrate! I’m not 100% but I’d say I’m back to @ least 90%!
There are zero side effects. There is no high nor hallucinations. Psilocybin is the chemical compound in magic mushrooms.
Psilocybin has just been legalized in Colorado for therapeutic use. Here in Canada it is in end stage clinical trials for the treatment of depression, PTSD & traumatic brain injury.
My endocrinologist (who’s brother is a psychiatrist) has bought shares in psilocybin business startups. I am completely honest with all of my doctors / specialists with respect to my psilocybin use.
Help is on the way 
It’s really good you disclose everything to all your doctors. I would caution members to ask permission first rather than ask for forgiveness after the fact. There are many OTCs I am not permitted to take because of my prescribed medication.
Yes! Very good point. I also check with my doctors about all of my OTC medications as well, including vitamins and pain killers. In fact, I carry a printout of my prescription medications with handwritten additions of all other meds in my wallet.
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I keep an updated list in notes on my phone. I keep forgetting to update the one that the EMTs can access…I really need to do that! Your reply made me think of it, thanks!
I absolutely had exhaustion after the stent of my unruptured aneurysm as well. I was also made to believe that should not be the case, but learned that each person’s experience is unique and thankfully gained stamina back as time went on. Listening to my body was a lesson that I took a long time to learn. I wish you well.
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I also get dizziness, fatigue, and very exhausted for quite a long time after my angiograms. The docs seem very puzzled by this so I just push through and try to carry on as of everything is “normal”. I am very thankful for my doctor and my health but it is comforting to hear others are also having similar experiences. I’m sorry to hear that you are having this as well and wish you well in your healing.
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I would like to hear from anyone who has a positive story after their surgery for unruptured/or ruptured. I’m almost two years post unruptured brain aneurysm surgery. I still have days that I’m pushing myself through. Upon waking up some days I still have symptoms head feels inflammation on right side had it once on left. Neck pain on right when I turn my head.
Unfortunately it’s still difficult to make plans with family and friends. Have been to the ER several times and have had two CT scans that were fine. Am due for another Angiogram my last one I was laid up for a while before I was beginning to feel myself somewhat. Think I just started going out no matter what or how I looked. If a shower was too much I just changed my clothing and got out. It seems to help me some, feeling like depression is an issue my home life isn’t good partner doesn’t care to due much just eat, drink his beer and watch TV.
He is 78 years old an still works a full time job. I understand he’s tired, but it’s an unhealthy way too be for me. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought personal feelings up yet I felt it fit into my symptoms. Today my head feels inflammation on to right and neck feels sore also on right. Woke up feeling this way and not sure what to do.
Anyone with advise that would help I’m all ears. Thanks
After you were taken off asprin therapy you were diagnosed with an Iron deficiency! Why did they not diagnosis the Iron deficiency well you were on asprin?
The Iron supplement has cleared up your chronic fatigue? Hopefully your stamina is normal now. Interested please could you update.
Just want to mention that I am grateful for this thread; I have many of the same fatigue experiences.
I posted some solutions at the bottom of this thread
17 mm Aneurysm in Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA) Treated Endovascularly by Flow Diverter 10/13/22 - #22 by CharlesDWM .
I think if headaches keep up even after I quit blood thinners, I might try the phycobilin . . . . .
I also wanted to mention that getting enough protein and fat seems to help. I eat eggs a lot more than I used to . I get a craving for them. The brain is made of fat and protein . . . . Not sure, again, if the craving is not due to blood thinners. They changed my eating habits for sure.
I really think my story is positive for my ruptured aneurysm and the three following procedures. The last one with the Neuroform Atlas Stent has improved my abilities tremendously, it’s almost like night and day. I am extremely fortunate to have people in my life who support me and that counts the folks here! One of the things my Neurosurgeon said when we complained about me sleeping all the time between the second and third procedure was that I needed to stop taking naps during the day time so I could sleep at night. It was a bit of work but now I usually don’t need a nap, only when I’ve done too much. It’s a lot of little goal setting to get to the big one for me.
I don’t think it’s the fat, a dietician in the hospital when I ruptured told me how much protein I needed every day to help my brain heal. It’s also a mantra my Neurosurgeon uses “hydrate, protein, hydrate some more, rest as needed and hydrate”. I’ve got it memorized😂
We found out it was the dye that caused me issues.