Hello my name is Bill. I recently had a ruptured brain aneurysm about a month ago. I have been extremely lucky in many ways. I made it to the hospital in time and underwent a endovascular surgery which saved me. I made it through the vasospasm period and have been sent home. I been doing extremely well in my recovery. I going back to the doctor next week and have already been told I will need another endovascular surgery to correct an issue with WEB device utilized in my initial surgery. I am struggling with fatigue and my short term memory seems foggy at times. I’m also a still wrapping my head around the near death experience. Was hoping to get some insight from others who have had a similar experience to me. I am very happy I found this group and look forward to being a part of the community
Hello @wsmit311!
We are so very lucky to have you here with us, and welcome to our family!
Like you, I am a survivor of a rupture and endovascular surgeries, although I do not have a WEB (fyi, I am 2+ years out).
Recovery for me took about 1 1/2 years, but I did have some related conditions pop up, so for sure if you notice anything unusual, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your medical team. Of course, we are here for you, too!
Fatigue is a fairly common issue with those of us who have had a brain injury, myself included, even 2 years out. Don’t quote me, but I recall reading the other day that our brain is only 2-3% of our weight, but it uses up something like 20-30% of our energy: it is just an energy hog! An injury just seems to make things worse anecdotally.
Life post-rupture for me is learning how to better balance my energy levels in this go-do norm of our Western society v. stay-rest as my brain requires. Work, events, activities - all of it for me is a calculation of what my energy levels are/will be, what the task/event will do, and how I can recharge to get through the day. I have also learned how to say no, so I don’t sap my energy too much! 
You have been through a very traumatic experience, and recovery for us is in terms of months and years, not days and weeks. Fatigue can also be so random, too, but just give yourself the grace you need to heal.
I bet over time, you will be able to adjust to stimulating events: e.g., the first time going to a grocery store was exhausting with the lights, noise, stimulation, people, etc. Over time, it is not nearly as draining as at first.
I also had some short-term memory loss post-rupture. It is still not back to what it was, but over time, mine has gotten soooo much better. Does your foggy memory place you in danger (forgetting to turn off the stove), or is it more in terms of forgetting words and names?
You are doing fabulous to have made it this far. You’ve got this!!
Fin Whale Fan 
I’ll officially welcome you Sunday Bill, but welcome! I’m in the same group but mine was back in 2013, we have members who go back much farther than I do. Check with your team on how much protein you need and hydration. I have a Neuroform Atlas Stent that was installed in Dec 2020. So my recovery is in terms of years, slow and steady seems to be working very well for me, I just have to learn to do both.
Everyone is different and we can pull similarities from each other but I’ve yet to read where any member is on the same timeframe as another. We all co e out with differing levels of abilities and issues we need to learn to overcome. The biggest is the fatigue, I do believe we all share that one! So rest as needed, hydrate, eat protein, hydrate some more and repeat.
When you go to your appointment, have a list of questions. Talk it over with people whom you trust to help with the list. I learned to send in questions and my Neurosurgeon would go over them with me, but the NP who taught me will often times write the answers back to me. It sure beats the initial way I was doing it and either writing them on paper, or my phone because I couldn’t keep up with my Neurosurgeon’s answers.
Hello FinWhaleFan,
My foggy memory does not place me in any danger it’s more I struggle to remember names and order of events nothing to worry about. I go back to the doctor tomorrow. It will be my first visit since getting out of hospital I really looking forward to it. I feel like my life is on hold so getting so more answers will be great. Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for all the good advice. I have my first doctor appointment tomorrow and I have my list of questions. That has helped reduce my anxiety for sure.
Glad to hear that tomorrow is the big day! I am glad you have all your thoughts together already, as that helps a great deal so s/he can guide you on the next steps. As @Moltroub noted, although we all share so much, everyone’s journey is unique which is so fascinating about brain injuries.
You may be interested in an older post, where we talked about fatigue. Our friends across the Pond posted some information about fatigue and brain injuries.
They also have a pdf version (same title) that is a little more detailed that may also be of interest, as it also talks about triggers, how to manage, etc.:
Fatigue After Brain Injury (pdf version)
Sending good thoughts your way!
Fin Whale Fan
Hi Bill - Glad you’re here! I had my rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage at the end of November. I feel/felt like you - extremely lucky. I was in neuro-ICU for almost 4 weeks.
After I got home, I did A LOT of sleeping, which I think was good medicine. I returned to work only very gradually after a few months. I’m now almost at full-time, but not quite. Even though I feel 100% much of the time, I do need more rest. Remember that our brains were injured, and they’ll take a long time to heal.
I’m also still wrapping my head around what happened - doesn’t seem real after 6+ months out.
Best,
Caroline
I hope the doctor appointment goes well tomorrow, Bill. I’m glad you are here.
Hey it’s Craig from Canada - Hang in there. Always be glass 1/2 full. I won’t get into details on my experience but it was a major rupture that nobody expected me to survive. It was a scary ****** up life experience that actually took about 6 years to get to where I am 20 years later and I am a different person. I am the same as before rupture with little deficits that everyone, family freinds and associates pay no attention to but it does create some awesome self deprecating humour for me. It’s just automatic now. When I’m searching for a word desperately it’s like automatic that my close freinds and family fill it in for me or I will automatically gesture something with a nod or appropriate point. Often they know what word I’m searching for because they are use to me.
I have no sense of direction and a terrible memory - No memories of raising my kids before the ages of around 10 and 18. They are now 30 and 45 aprox. I remember my birthday and for some obscure reason just my brother’s birthday out of 5 siblings. Doesn’t make sense but you learn to work what you are left with.
I truly hope you are as content on how I learned to be. Good Luck to you Bill. If you have any questions make sure you have a good rapport with your doctor. Very fortunately for me I settled into a great relationship with my Neuro Interventologist. He basically only does coilings only and all types. He must of grown fond of me since he ended up going in a about a dozen times over the years to try and stunt growth. During those 5 years we discussed in detail options we would try. I made it clear I wanted aggressive treatment. He was cooperative in most ways.
We were both worried about the last treatment. I think he was doing a “bridge with more stents”. He was with the stretcher walking it to recovery. He never does that. He stopped the ensemble on the way. He was hovering over me and playing with my left leg. “do you feel this? Can you move your leg” - I knew him as a freind almost and replied " Of course I fucking can" angrily. A broad smile crossed his face and replied “of course you fucking can”
There had been issues during the procedure. He thought he might of damaged the left side of my body!
A decision was made at follow up that it would be the last procedure. “go live your life - it’s as good as it’s ever going to be”
Be glass 1/2 full - I’m a great example that Annies do not always ruin your life. Again, Good Luck Bill
I love this advice, Craig. Thank you for popping on to share.
I couldn’t agree more with all the replies. Recovery takes time, but we survivors are all so lucky, especially to have this group. I am nine years out from my rupture and surgeries, I had a lot of fatigue when I was discharged from hospital after seven and a half months, but today I am not so bad. I still need lots of sleep, but I am able to work out and cycle (on my trike) my balance is still not good so I can’t ride a bike or walk well, running is out, but I can swim so all in and given what I have been through I count myself lucky,. I wish you a good continued recovery.
Good AM Bill, and welcome back from the “other side” and to this group. My Annie ruptured in 1998 and I have been on the upswing ever since.
Fatigue is definitely a challenge, some days are better than others.
Ask your doctors about this, it could be due to your meds. I was put on Dilantin in the beginning, and I was zoned out, just slept most of the time. I was taken off that and put on Keppra and it is way better. I have more energy, but if I go with too little sleep I’m tired. ;( I am so fortunate to be alive, as my aneurism was very large, and it took me almost two years to recover and get back to my new normal. Be thankful that you’re alive, find your new normal and embrace it. Reinventing ourselves can be interesting. After my rupture and recovery I got back to work, got a divorce and joined a rock band. Check me out post rupture at ConnQuest performing barracuda 4/19/23 @ gratiot pub
Enjoy,
Connie
Hi Bill! Congratulations on being a fellow survivor! I suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurism Nov 2017. I was Lucky enough to have knowledgeable EMTs a good ER doc who had a neurosurgeon colleague that took one look at me and had me in surgery in no time. It has been a long haul but over time and daily medications I am doing better: exercising, sewing going on shopping trips. my short term memory makes me feel like I have dementia. that makes me understand how those with forms of dementia feel and encourages me to work on some memory exercises to help. a computer program I was referred to is luminosity.com. my husband sees a difference on the days I use it. best of luck, Cheryl