I survived my ruptured aneurysm and SAH in December 2024. Then a VP shunt 3 months later for hydrocephalus, causing constant nausea and vomiting. Over a year and a half later, I still deal with many symptoms… constant exhaustion, tired, instability, weakness, I feel my left leg about to buckle and have to always be cautious walking and doing stairs, left side neuropathy, ice cold sensation in my left foot, vertigo especially if I tip my head or lay down, right eye vision loss from blood in my retinal fluid, some memory loss and mental fog, but the worst symptom I face is the constant loud tinnitus in my head. I don’t know if my symptoms will ever resolve, but despite all that, every single day I still have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. The odds were against all of us who lived through a ruptured aneurysm. Every day is a gift, even for those of us dealing with endless symptoms. Almost every survivor I’ve met feels grateful and wants to be a light for others who are suffering and scared. I am grateful to everywhere here who has shared their experience and insight. Please, continue to care for yourselves too….checkups, scans, rest, research, and practice gratitude. Special thank you to Dr Yamamoto and the neurosurgery team at Albany Medical Center in upstate NY. Bless you all. John
Welcome John! Great first post! You’re absolutely correct, in my opinion, that those of us who’ve survived all feel grateful and the need to pass it forward. Some of us get to that place a bit faster than others, but I think we all get there eventually. Gratitude is definitely needed for ourselves and for others.
The lingering side effects will eventually ease for the most part. Some of us have a harder road than others. In my early stages, I walked like a drunken sailor listing to my left, my brain wouldn’t acknowledge I’d finished walking down a flight of stairs, had zero affect and a few other things but I do better most days. I’m most fortunate to have regained my affect, living without emotions definitely had people treating me differently.
You’re more than welcome to post your surgeon and the hospital here Recommend Doctor or Clinic - Brain Aneurysm Support Community. It’s a great place for others to check regardless if they become a member or not.
Hello @John2 and I am so grateful for your post!
Yes, that is correct: you read between the lines correctly, in that I am a survivor as well. Gratitude is absolutely one gift that a ruptured aneurysm gave me, and I always say that even the bad days are good ones, as it is such a gift to be alive and breathing. O.k., o.k., some days it is harder to remember that, but when I remember what it was like, it definitely helps me reorient my attitude.
We also share a VP shunt in common as well! I ended up with meningitis after shunt #1 after a few months, so I am currently working on shunt #2. I definitely agree with the odd sensation when moving my head suddenly (it is more like dizziness/lightheadness to me when e.g., doing crunches), and I just presume that is because the CSF in the ventricles is being sloshed around differently than what it is used to.
All of my speech therapists were wonderful, but the one who made the most impact on me was a certified brain injury specialist (from the Brain Injury Association of America). To me, she felt like the first person who understood what it was like to have a brain injury - despite the fact she never had one herself! For example, one thing she helped me to learn how to navigate was how to manage fatigue, and basically learn how to pace myself throughout the day so that I don’t end up exhausted. Of course, it is not as extensive, but a great quick understanding is via a UK charity’s guide on fatigue:
I can no longer run the typical Western lifestyle of burning the candle at both ends, but let’s be honest, that is a GOOD thing! I better understand when I am getting tired, and how to pause and recharge, so that I am not constantly exhausted by the end of the day.
Thank you for joining us, and for being a survivor!!
Fin Whale Fan 
Thanks for sharing your experience and the site to review my medical care team. I’m glad your recovery has gone well. Continued health to you!
Thank you for your story and the resource for managing fatigue. It’s OK to slow down and show yourself patience and grace!
Hi John2,
I completely agree with you (and Moltrroub and FinWaleFan as well), after living with the repercussions of my rupture for the past ten and a half years, I am very grateful to the people who have helped me get this far, Surgeons , Doctors, Speech Therapists, Nurses, Physios and of course my wife – a retired nurse. I have enjoyed all the “problems” you put in your post, but I am still glad to be above the grass. life is a wonderful gift, and I am so grateful I got a second chance