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[Jamie33]

Hi, I just needed a place to ask some question and get advice. Two years ago this month my husband had a ruptured Triple A Aneurysm, the Aneurysm was 8cm. there were not alot of symtoms, the day it happend he had back pain and went to the Doctor, it was put off as a pulled muscle and he was sent home, in the night the pain was so bad I took him to the hospital and within a few hours they did a scan and relized he may not make it, they had to transfer him to another hospital and a Surgery Team was standing by there to do immediate surgery. His chances were 2% in making it to this Hospital & for Surgery his chances were not good.
Any-way he did make it the Surgery was Endo Graft, he was in intensive care for 4 days being kept sedated. We had a wonderful Surgeon and team of Doctors. It has been a long road, it's mandatory to have a scan of the Aneurysm every 6 months the first year and yearly after that, the last scan the Aneurysm had shrunk to 6cm, he's due next month for another.
Four weeks after his surgery he had a mild heart attack (he is 50),.
I realize this is life altering , the Surgeon explained alot od things to my kids and I, but, it's difficult he os not the same person he was before the surgery, moods, & his thinking has completely changed, it's like he doesn't really care. I try to understand what is going on. sorry for venting, I'm just really trying to understand this.

Jamie

[Ging]

Honey, he is depressed. I can say this because I saw the same thing with my husband when he found out he had prostate cancer, He is four years post colon cancer and he was just like you say. Just be patient with him and let him digest it all. He needs time. Don't let him think he is not a vital part of your life, and yes ,we all change with these awful annie's and what they bring with them, They are very life and thought changing . Best of luck to you and yours and love and prayers for a better day. Ging

[Janice Mc]

Hey Jamie. Just to let you know, all our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. This doesn't just affect your husband. Please seek help for all of you. Check to see if there is a BAF Support Group in your area. If not, there may be a Stroke Support Group. There are alot more of those available from what I hear. Hopefully, we can get that changed soon. Anyway, people with strokes from clots also suffer a lot of the same symptons because of the brain damage (from what I hear). I personally felt a lot of guilt for putting everyone's life out of their normal routine and causing so much anxiety and all. (Not to mention getting the heck scared out of you. It's a lot to digest. Journaling has been of great help also. God bless you, Jamie. Always, Janice

[Lyn]

Hi Jamie

My thoughts are with you both at the moment, this is certainly life changing and often depression comes with major surgery and life-and-death situations. All of a sudden you are not immortal, and that is hard to come to terms with for most of us. Plus there is the physical side of it too, and recovery can be a long, painful and traumatic process. It is probably time for you to seek some counselling for both of you and maybe even antidepressant medication.

For those of you who don't know this, a triple A aneurysm is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (please correct me if I am wrong about this). My dad had one too. Most of us on here have brain aneurysms, but they can also happen elsewhere.

Jamie, please know we are here and we will give you any support that we can.

Hugs

Lyn :)

[FireflyR7]

;) Welcome to the site! Most of us are brain anuerysm patients. But it is all pretty much the same mentally. :o I a so sorry about your husband!! My prayers will be with you! I know this is very hard on you too! I am almost 2 years post brain rupture, also shouldn't be here? But I know that God is the one who kept me here!! I am still in a long recovery, but I am going to do what it takes!! This is a very traumatic thing for everyone involved!
Is he on any anti-depressants? He should be treated for post traumatic stress and the adjusting to a new life!! It is normal to get depressed and have mood swings... the best thing you can do is show h im how much you love him and try to do fun things with him. Play cards or scrable, something to take his mind off ofit. If he is physically able, go fo rides or picinics, something to make him feel better! Does he like to fish?? Take him fishing or what ever he enjoys doing? Try to do it as much as you can! Does he have old friends that can hang out with him or take him out to make him laugh?? Love and laughter is the best thing. There is prob another site you can find for abdominal "annies" or heart attacks for a support group?? BAF has a lot of them, not just Brain. Look at the bottom of the page and next to the rainbow, click on all sites, should give you a list. He is welcome to come here and talk to us. We so have some men here!! If he won't do that will he go to counciling with you??

I use to be a firefighter and was use to saving lives, suddenly I am fighting for my own?? I miss my old life but, I am ready for what God wants me to do next? I just take it a day at a time for now. I am still pretty much homebound after 2 years from the complications of my rupture...

It sounds like he has beat all the odds!! God has him here for a reason!!He is just in a phase of understanding it all?? I hope he believes in God, even if he is mad at him right now?? :p It helps to have faith to lean on!! I know many of us are still searching for answers. I just had my almost 2 year angiogram check up and it came back good!! Just talking to people who know how you feel helps so much!!!! God bless you for all you have had to go through!! I know it is almost harder on the family than us sometimes?? We are here for you anytime you want to talk or vent!! It just takes a lot of patience, love and time to get through this. Just try to support him and show him how much you love him, good therapy!! I will be keeping you guys in my prayers. Keep us posted hun!! Love Tricia