What helped you the most during your recovery?

General
1

I am fairly new to this Forum, but see there is so much wisdom and experience here. I am three months out from my coil/stent surgery and still recovering. I unfortunately believed the surgeons/literature that it would be a couple of weeks and I would be ready to go - my ignorance to the after effects of all of these procedures was startling. Life intervened. I"ve had a couple complications, including a concussion the night of my initial angiogram (long story, but I lst consciousness that night at 2AM) I am doing vestibular rehab, physical therapy for strength and have been prescribed anti-depressants to get rid of headaches and dizziness. I have been seeking any and all help from multiple doctors, practitioners and patents like us.

I am really interested in learning what worked for you? Wat helped you get over this “bump in the road” (that is what it as been called by others I know with similar circumstances). I am hoping that you will share any and everything that provided you relief, comfort or even a hearty laugh. Can be medicine, a website, a vitamin or a book. Whatever it is or was fir yiu, please share. I was fiercely independent 6 months ago before they found and began “treating” my aneurysm. I recognize that I am richly bessed that they found it unruptured. There is a reason we are still here - I am hoping to learn more to help on ths journey and hopefully help others who might read this post. There are many of us in need. Thanks in advance for your posts and have a blessed day…

2

I had family member take turns coming and staying with me and helping out with my family. Sleeping and resting as much as possible was huge. Friends would bring my family a meal or a goody basket. I loved getting cards from those too far away to visit. I think the thing that helped the most was this website and all the wonderful people here. They knew what I was going through. I was able to "talk" to people that have been there done that.

Terri

3

Hi Terri -

Thanks for your response Terri. I hope that you are doing well now....Great idea to coordinate family visits...My husband tried to do that for a while up front and we continue with it even today....I am just now getting started with the website and hope to connect with more folks over time. It is helpful to chat with folks that "know" what you've been through first hand. I am really enjoying the support group "Live" and have connected with some folks there....What a blessing though - I look forward to unlocking it - It is almost like a Christmas present ;-).....Thanks again for sharing and have a blessed 2014!

4

The best advice I can give you...is embrace a good day...by taking a walk even if it is just around the block...doing some things around the house...and then embrace a bad day, by resting, reading a book and/or watching a movie with a nice cup of tea...I found not dwelling on things, but working with them helped me to learn "acceptance" in my "new normal life"...and get stronger everyday...also, dumb as it seems lots of smiles and laughs help the healing...Happy New Year ~ To Better Health in 2014... ~ Colleen

5

Hi Lseejay

I read your post and thought I would drop you a line.

I am glad to hear that you had a successful coiling and stent and that you are recovering.

I had two similar proceedure,s done in March and June 2013, one was in the Basilar region and the other was right side ophthalmic, both procedure went well with no complications at all.

I still have 3 more of these little buggers, 2 are right side MCA's and one is a left side MCA, to fix these 3 would require 2 open brain surgeries.

The interesting thing is that I have absolutely no symptoms at all and never had any symptoms, they were found while having a scan for another reason!

I have 2 Consultant specialists looking after me, one is a Neuroradiologist who did the 2 coiling proceedure's and a Neurosurgeon.

It is interesting to note that the Neurosurgeon is keen to tackle the remaining 3 with open surgery, where as the Neuroradiologist is more cautious and in confidential discussions advised me to leave them alone and have a scan every 10 months or so.

Like me he is of the opinion that open surgery is high risk and that I will definitely come out of surgery worse for wear, considering that I have no symptoms at present.

So it leave one in a bit of a quandary, as to what to do.

I had a scan a few weeks ago and it showed that there was no growth over a 10 month period, so based on that I have decided not to have further open surgery, as I cannot get my head around a surgeon cutting two holes in my head and poking around in tiger country!

New coiling and stent proceedures are being developed on an on going basis and what is not possible today, may very well be possible in 6 months, based on this I am prepared to take a risk rather that face uncertain open surgery, perhaps I am just a coward?

The strange thing is that I have learned to live with these buggers, but I do think about them daily, but it seems to get easier as time goes by and I have known about them for a year now.

My story is just another perspective, based on multiple Aneurysm (5) and the choices we face when living with these things.

Kind Regards

Martin

6

what helped me was reading all the post and learning this is the new norm .

7

Hi Lauren. I read your post and wish to advise as follows.

Unfortunately I cannot offer you any suggestions on how to get over this bump, as in my case I have never had any adverse symptoms prior to my 2 x coiling and stent operations, or indeed after the operations.

In fact I still do not have any symptoms with the remaining 3, the only issue I have is knowing that they are there and that they could pop or with gods help don't pop.

I guess the biggest issue is knowing that you have them and there is an on going risk / uncertainty at all times.

For me, I have decided not to have them fixed until my hand is forced, by them getting bigger, at that stage my neuroradiologist will help me to make a decision on the way forward.

Until then I will just have to live with the uncertainty and manage it as best I can, I guess it is more a mental issue that one needs to manage as best one can.

Best Wishes

Martin