Hi everybody,I’m on this support group to see if I can help my sister who has been diagnosed a brain aneurysm,which was ruptured. She did a angiography test a few days back and now is out of the hospital. She is quite depressed with her condition. How can I help her
Give her love and lots of patience!
I had mine ruptured and immediately coiled almost 4 years ago, and i’m still struggling withe depression. The best help I get is support from my sister. Just listen to her worries, understand them, and try to take her mind into other things. My sister is an ocean away, and what I miss most in those low moments is just a hug, lunch, just being together. So just be there 
Its really common to get depression after a rupture. I think part of it is just from the trauma to the brain and the brain just shutting down a bit while it heals (Im not a doctor though). how was it treated? has she spoken to her doctor about how she is feeling? meds can help but sometimes it just takes time. depression after any type of brain injury is really common so dont be alarmed by it.
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Dear Florinda,
When my younger brother was on his death-bed, he asked me to pray for him. And he claimed to be an atheist. I told him I would, and I hope it gave him some comfort. I still pray for him, after he passed on, and it certainly gives ME comfort.
David Andrus, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Dear sister: I am a surviver of four operations , one rupture n three not. I also am very depressed. I have been on depression pills since. What helps me the most is I talk with my sisters every day. So if you can, just keep in touch with her every day. Text her, or call her just to see how her day is going.
Mine didn't rupture but was treated with a PED procedure. I was on a heavy dose of sterioids afterwards and now have permanent vision loss in one eye. I have never been so depressed in my life. I would recommend getting a therapist who is experience with PTSD. This is what I had to do and this is most likely what she is going through. When you go though something so traumatic your mind actually checks itself out at the time its happening so it can cope and then afterwards, during recovery is when it comes back and says "what just happened?". The brain is constantly changing and can recover and move on but may never be or feel like it used to. The power of our brains is remarkable. This can be overcome and encouragement and constant support and patience to heal is what I needed the most to get through it. It's been a year and half and I'm really just starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Yes, this is very common and completely normal. I was diagnosed with PTSD after my rupture and prescribed depression medication and anti-anxiety pills (benzodiazepines). I was able to withdraw - very, very slowly - from the latter but am still on the Sertralina. I have also now been diagnosed with an under-active thyroid (perhaps because my pituitary gland was knocked about by the massive bleed) which causes depression, fatigue and weight gain - I am on medication for that also. When I was first discharged from hospital I would weep inconsolably for hours every day. This gradually improved over time. I had counselling which gave me some coping strategies, as I had never been depressed before and had no idea how to handle it. It didn't help that many "friends" disappeared from my life as soon as I fell ill. Now I have been referred for cognitive behaviour therapy, we will see how that goes. My confidence, which used to be good, has taken a huge knock. Really, my husband's love, support, reassurance and understanding has been the factor which has made me want to carry on. Tell your sister to ask for professional help, but the love and support of family and friends is what makes all the difference.
Anxiety and depression seem to go together for what we experienced. No one warned me about any of the things I am learning from this site. Tell your sister to find a counselor. After 5 yrs plus, I have a counselor and she has been a big help. It seems like anger at our selves, impatience for our not being back to our regular lives, sometimes always feeling sooo tired-these appear to occur to many of us. I wish I had someone explain that this was normal if we felt like this sooner. Too bad my computer was down and out and now I'm glad it is working. Meds can be prescribed to get over depression and or anxiety. It doesn't mean you will need any meds to continue all your life- some need to and others do not. It depends on many factors and how they were treated. I had an excellent surgeon and he saved my life- 3 wks in critical care and I in rehab. I am still here and I thank God every day!
I, too, was extremely depressed after my coiling. What helped me was finally getting off the blood pressure meds and the plavix. When I stopped them, things brightened up a bit. Some of the meds we take have these side effects. I'm three years out and still not 100% energy. What we have been through is a very big deal. It takes a long time for us to recover, and patience is sometimes very hard to come by. This group is so helpful. I had no idea that what I was experiencing was the "norm" for some of us. There is a you tube video about "flooding" which helped me a lot. I will try to find it.
Was her aneurysm surgically repaired? If not, She could be worried about another bleed. Offer her your love and support and hopefully she can get some more medical information to relieve her worries.
Anne Boychuk said:
Was her aneurysm surgically repaired? If not, She could be worried about another bleed. Offer her your love and support and hopefully she can get some more medical information to relieve her worries.
The case of second bleeding is very dangerous. I would suggest you to ask the doctor if he thinks it is safe
I also suffer d from a ruptured aneurysm and have had 2 surgeries. Therapy helps me to work toward improving cognitively. I also like to exercise and it helps to just forget. I am not going back to work for over a year so I bake, sew, and try to do small projects around the house. I suffer most because I must use a walker and now can’t drive. I constantly have to depend on others to drive me around which is tough but good friends to talk to really help. I focus on that I am alive. I should be dead and I lived to be here for my kids. Whether she has children or not, she needs to focus on her purpose for being here. Each day is a gift and on my sad days just a good cry with a friend really helps.
Hi Florinda,
I had 2 ruptures and coilings within 6 months (3 yrs ago) and was very depressed, the physical limitations as a result of the bleeds and the emotional damage to my daughters (12 and 16 at the time) whom witnessed my collapse in the kitchen and the paramedics etc. all of if was too much for me to handle emotionally in addition to the fear of a relapse, so I asked my Dr. and he put me on Prozac, I'm almost back to normal to the point that I forget to take it, so please talk to your sister about getting on meds.
Listen to her fears, but don't try to fix her! only those who have gone through it really understand the fear, the pressure and the damage to our brains. be patient with her, she's already ahead in this game, she survived!
Get her a iPad to keep her brain active, just listen to her. I still deal with depression. My anti depressants help, some days I just want to left alone, but most days I long to be active again. My horseback riding therapy has really helped. Love horses, helps with balance. It’s a very hard issue to deal with, and you can’t really understand unless you have been there. One day your fine, then you almost died!mi will pray for het!
I too joined this support group to see if I can help my husband. How long does the depression last? My husband had a brain aneurysm rupture in January of 2013. The could not coil it so it had to be clipped. He still gets depressed. He is not on any medication and will not take any medication for depression. I am very patient with him but it is taking a toll on me and our children.
its hard to tell how long it will last, maybe his doctors will help?
Vicky Mashburn said:
its hard to tell how long it will last, maybe his doctors will help?
He won't go to doctors. He thinks there is nothing wrong with himself. He doesn't have any physical limitations and is back at work so he thinks everything is the way it use to be. But its not.