I would LOVE to hear about your progress

General
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I have been 10.5 years since my rupture and clip and clamp. I have been back to all my normal activities. I just came back from a 10 day underwater photo workshop in Cozumel where I spent 7 of those days diving. I have also completed my Associates Degree where I graduated Cum Laude, and have enrolled to pursue a BA from the University of Houston. I have short term memory issues as well as memory recall, which is very frustrating since I am in school and it requires the use of both daily. I feel it has been the best "therapy" for me, it challenges me to find other avenues to memory as well as using long term memory. I believe in pushing myself to achieve my goal and not to fall back on the memory issue. I find another way. I use a lot of "brain games" to help improve memory and sharpness and I believe it helps along with the drive to overcome it.

I hope this helps and if you need any encouragement or insight contact me! I wish you all the best !

22

Hi Nate,

I agree with you the Doctor is just trying to be carefully optimistic and everyone is different. I had a ruptured aneurysm on Sept. 11, 2010- almost 4 years ago. It was clipped and I was in a coma for 3.5 days- only 40% chance of life.Spent almost a month in the hospital that time. They found 2 more annys, one "mirror" which they coiled in Feb, 2011. and one in the center of my head which was coiled thru my femoral artery (too dangerous to open me up).

The good news is everything is going well and my short term memory doesn't seem to have gotten worse over the past 1.5 years since the 2 year mark. I'm still battling exhaustion and my job didn't want me back so I have had to go on SSD. My personal issue is with a severe, chronic headache since the second surgery and the loss of my olfactory sense, but when you look at the big picture, I have to be positive that I am a walking angel. Give you wife hugs and stand by her,,, she too is a walking angel!

Sincerely,

Melissa

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Hi Nate. This is my first post. I had 4 aneurysms back in July 2007, I had them clipped. The one on my left side was done first and that night they had t

24

The one on the left side had issues and it started to bleed so they went back in (everything went ok). The next surgery was 3 days later on the right side and everything went fine. I went back to work 2.months later and had no problems. It has been 7 years and I am still doing ok. I have had headaches starting at year 5 but donā€™t have any aneurysms. I think you will do great in your wifeā€™s recovery. Just take it one day at a time. You can always contact me directly if you have more questions.

Lorene

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Hello Nate and Lisa,

My annie ruptured 2/13/2011, I spent 11 days in ICU, 4 at home and went back to work on the 28th and started to drive 3 days later. I have some short term issues, repeating what I want to remember helps. Post its and tablets are handy and we put up a large dry erase/magnetic message center. Something else that seems to help is exercise....it has been hard to get back into because I was told to keep my heart rate low so exercise didn't happen right away. A lot of what I think is annie related is actually age related(57).

Remember...if your Dr. hasn't had an aneurysm than he hasn't walked in your shoes and doesn't know that there is a new normal in town!

Stay positive!

Lynn

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Hi Nate I suffered a double brain aneurysm rupture in early sept. of 05 just going to work and it suddenly happened, I was in a coma for 6-7 weeks and then re-hab for another 6-7 weeks where they had to teach me how to walk and talk again the doctors at ma. general gave my family less than a 10% chance of survival and dr. Ogilvy had to take a large portion of my frontal lobe to save my life I had complete amnesia for about 2 1/2 years after I didn't even know my wife or children for the first 4 months had to get to know them every morning when I woke up to strangers..I know it sounds weird but that's what they're telling me...it seems like I'll never get back what happened from about early june of 05 to about april of 08 it's very hard to determine when I started to feel NORMAL again but I am it's a long journey home but I am grateful to have survived because their are so many more memories to live for it will take time Nate how much I don't know but be patient and loving, your wife is still in there and needs you more than ever before, and keep talking to these people when you're feeling down or confused they all helped me so much it's hard to explain what it meant and means to me now, today I feel that I'm back 100% best wishes to you and your family and keep talking!

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Congratulations to her that she survived at all! i, too suffered a ruptured aneurysm Feb. 2012. Another one was discovered that had not ruptured. Both were coiled. 38 days in the hospital and 2 months at home recovering i went back to work part time. I investigate unemployment claims. Now 2.5 yrs later i am back working full time. I still have some short term memory issues but I am 58 yrs old and have decided that not everything is worth remembering. I do a lot of "brain" games. Lumosity is a great sight. i know there are others on this site that had their aneuryms years ago. Hopefully someone else will respond.

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Hey Nate And Lisa,

Check it out..the bottom line is this: The Neurosurgeons, the NeuroRadioligists, The Neuroligists, any of the 'Neuro' ANYTHINGs, out there...they honestly cannot say for certain whats gonna' happen to any of us during any aneurysm rupture/bleed,sah, coilings, clippings, 6 annies, or whatever,--As you can see on the BAF, there are so many of us who shouldn't be alive and or walking/talking-at least thats according to The Book . Guess what, 'The Book' is wrong. it is very generalized to say the least.

I've had a clipping for a large annie in 1998...that one grew so fast it split my optic nerve in two....took 5 months to regain my sight, but otherwise i was still 'me'. Good to go..

2006 experienced a rupture--i was at work, next you know 6 weeks had gone by un noticed by me (coma/coil/trache/shunt/feeding tube) my husband was told that IF I came out of the coma...then i'd be living in a rehab facility for at least a year...

I walked out of that hospital within 1 week of 'coming to', i recovered at home, not a rehab...i had some right sided weakness, i worked thru all that ..i exersied my mind on the computer and played tri peaks solitaire til i could get my reaction time back.. Still me, still good to go.

3 years later (2010 )I had a clipping as my 2006 coils had collapsed, sending back into the hospital. I've been fine ever since, haven't been back to the hospital for anything...and just so you know, i still have my memory, i still have my memory lapses, but we all do i think (even you do, and you've never had an annie!) and yes, all of us are different in our recoveries...but the truth is, the doctors know about as as little as the rest of us do concerning long term outcomes, memory, the works. Don't buy into everything the doctors say. `Peace, Janet

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Hello Nate,

My aneurysm burst in my brain 5 years ago this November 26th. I truly believe that short term memory loss in my case does not improve. The good news is that everything I learned since that time is unaffected. I am different from where I was before the aneurysm. I like who I am today!

Dano

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My name is Emily and I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm when I was pregnant with my daughter three years ago (I am 26 years old). I spent about a month in the hospital and I have no memory of my daughter's first month of life.

To be totally honest, my short term memory has not improved that much. I still leave notes everywhere to remind myself of things that I need to do. In all that's a small price to pay for having an aneurysm. I can still drive and do things that I enjoy. I am not disabled and I lead a good life, I even went on to have another child.

Despite my memory loss, I have regained feeling and use of the right side of my body, the doctor's weren't sure that I would get that back or not. I made it out relatively unscathed. I hope your wife heals properly and she doesn't have any serious lasting effects. What is improving my memory is being active and challenging myself mentally. I think she is doing the best service to herself by going back to work and not letting this bring her down. Good luck!

31

Hi Nate, I'm so sorry to hear your wife had to go through this as well. I had a rupture 44 years ago October 29. I was left with various niggling problems and a shunted hydrocephalus. I have had short-term memory problems ever since which over the years has got gradually worse. However, I have been advised that this is also a long-term consequence of the hydrocephalus! So I guess really I am not sure if the memory problems would have improved or not. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Good luck to you and your wife. X

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Hi Nate, No matter how depressing it is for you, STAY POSITIVE! I believe it was the secret to my recovery. I was hospitalised for six months with a rupture in 2008 and I am continuing to improve. I am back at work in a stressful environment. Please take all the help your medical professionals offer, I was very sceptical when offered counciling etc but it all helps even 6 years on.

Kia Kaha Mark

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Hi Nate...everyone is different...and Lisa is improving and doing good...and I think you both should look at that instead of what the surgeon told you...Positive energy will make a lot of improvements. I was coiled, but almost celebrating 4 years and I have issues, but those issues were afterwards from coiling...some have improved tremendously and continue to improve...

So glad you both donot have to go back for 2 years...I am overdo for my angiogram (was suppose to do in June)...will be doing in the next few months...~ Colleen

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Colleen I was coiled and am at the 6 month mark. I just had an MRA and do not see that too many others have. They all seem to have the angiogram instead so Iā€™m concerned. Plus you mention you still have issues due to coiling. Could you please share some of the issues? If you donā€™t feel you want to thatā€™s ok. I just like to be prepared if there is something I need to watch out for or more to ease my mind that what I might be experiencing is to be expected. Thanks for whatever you wish to share!

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But one thing I feel that has helped my memory issues is games the challenge my memory and cognitive skills and Iā€™m just hoping it will help in long run, but either way my husband has been very supportive and excepting of the change in responsibilities around the house such as paying bills and banking, those are the sneaky issues that have become complicated and Iā€™m thankful for his patients,

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Nate I apologize for not sharing my experience. I had a SAH and was coiled six months ago. My short term memory has improved greatly but Iā€™m still having issues. I hope I can share more about whatā€™s expected in the future once I meet with my doctor next week. As everyone keeps saying, each person is different in their healing. I think doctors are of the mind that once you reach a certain point in that healing process that it is unlikely you will improve further. Iā€™m not one that believes that entirely but even if that is the case I can live with what I have accomplished so far and itā€™s never going to stop me from trying to get even better. That is all you can do and be thankful your wife is doing as well as she is. Sure is a life changer isnā€™t it? I wish you both the best!

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Me too! Everyone close to me says I'm nicer and more relaxed. The "relaxation" was forced on me by the various brain traumas, but in the end, I'm actually a much happier person. I'm also lucky in that I don't have to work full-time; that strain could make the difference between actual contentedness and misery.

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Hello Nate, I had mine on Sept. 8, 2012, BA rupture with aSAH, near the VI nerve. I have memory issues and am no longer able to work. After a Case Nurse from the insurance company reviewed my records, she told me I had a catastrophic, life changing event. My life changed dramatically, but, I am alive. I recognize that these a very hard for the caregivers and family. The approach we have all taken is that we are thankful for what we can get. It what it is. My Doctors told me I may or may not get more back. I try not to dwell on it too much, it would be too frustrating for me. I have found survivors better off than me and some worse off than me. Every survivor is different, but we share the same issues. I wish you all well, and I pray God gives you patience to deal with your future.

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Hi Nate,
My annie ruptured 45 years ago. I had two surgeries to have it clipped. Like your wife, my recovery has been miraculous. I did not require any physical or occupational therapy and my memory has been pretty good. I completed my BS and MBA post rupture and had a long, successful, challenging and often stressful career. I went back to college 3 months after my surgery and have been going pretty much full stop since then.

Itā€™s hard for me to remember my pre-annie self, itā€™s been so long ago. But, what I notice now is that Iā€™m experiencing the same issues with memory as others who are of a simililar age. :slight_smile: I also have learned, since Iā€™ve been a member of BAF, that I did develop a number of coping skills that helped me through the few small diffculties that I had such as word finding and that I remembered better if I wrote things down. In the past, I seemed to tire more easily than others but these days, Iā€™m about equal to my peers. :slight_smile:

My suggestion to you and your wife, is what I try to live by and what Iā€™ve shared with others is: Donā€™t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow has enough problems of its own. Live life in the present and enjoy every moment.

May God continue to bless you and your family.

Take care.

Carole

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Hi Nate!

My dad had a ruptured aneurysm almost two years ago. We have heard from doctors what others have mentioned - that the brain will continue to get better indefinitely, but I guess the "bulk" of progress is generally made within the first two years or so. My dad's progress is slow but steady at almost two years. He is doing things in physical therapy that he couldn't do six months ago.

Best to you and your wife-

Sara