I was a very active 52 year old; healthy and in good shape. I've been married for 26 years to a musician. I had a ruptured brain aneurysm in my cerebellum on April 22, 2011. Apparently cerebellar aneurysms are rare. While in the hospital, among other issues, I had a vasospasm and suffered hydrocephalus for which I had a shunt installed. I knew it was serious and there were times I didn't think I'd make it, but I tried really hard to hang onto life. I spent six weeks in the hospital (3 weeks in the critical care unit) and I did not work for five months. For many months after release, I was very sick and experienced severe nausea. I returned to work a few hours a week in September 2011 and as of today, June 2012, I am still working part time. I have issues with walking, balance, endurance, numbness in various parts of my body and I continue to do physical therapy. I feel I'm doing well considering what the outcome could have been. My husband has been a huge reason why I've done as well as I have because he's provided so much support to me. We both enjoy life now more than ever.
Even though this was a very horrible experience, I feel many good things have come out of it. I had headaches every day since I was 14 years old and now those are gone. I had stomach issues because of the constant Excedrin I took and now that's gone. Plus I have these feelings of "joy" that wash over me from time to time. I'm not sure what that is but I'm going with it. There isn't a day that goes by where my husband and I don't think of my ordeal. I'm hopeful I'll be back to my pre-aneursym self one of these days.
Hi Martha and Welcome to BAF ...just wrote on your profile page... I think many of us Survivors feel blessed and see life in a whole new light...Have a Beautiful day ... ~ Cyber~continued Healing thoughts your way...~ Colleen
Your story and mine are quite similar. I was 54 when I had a subarachnoid haemorrhage and up to that day I had headaches everyday since I was about 10, now headaches are almost non existant.
I have double vision which is fixed with prescription glasses and the most annoying thing is my balance. If I could fix that I would be very happy.
Having a supportive partner like you have sure helps, it certainly helped with me.
Martha...welcome...so glad to know of your recovery... you are blessed w/the advances you have made...
I have encouraged many to research the cranial nerves / anatomy; there are 12 in each hemisphere... CN XIII is the vestibulocochlear nerve...the vestibulo portion relates to balance...if my memory is not failing as I type...
I went thru 14 months of vision therapy to correct numerous vision deficits; ironically, that truly helped my balance...there are cranial nerves that overlap/connect w/one another... There are numerous websites on the CN / anatomy...w/varying easy-to-read explanations...etc...
We all share so many issues that are not addressed on DC, and/or f/ups... the benefit of this site...
You may want to research to set up your questions for your MDs...about your symptoms / continuing issues.
Whether no disease, no surgery, other TBI, initial hearing tests are beneficial in the 50+ range to establish status for monitoring any potential aging changes...or therapies that may help reduce any identified...
It is great you have the continued PT...
Wishes and prayers for your continued recovery...and the joys you are experiencing...