Bad day

[MaggieMay]

Hi all, I am pretty new to this site. I had my annie coiled almost two weeks ago. I was feeling pretty good...but today I feel like I am dying. I have never been so tired....I am a registered nurse and have taken a leave of absence. My annie didn't rupture....but it was emergency surgery to prevent that from happening. I also have two stents placed as it was a wide mouth annie and they had to stent it to keep the coils in. Don't know if this is normal or not...maybe I am doing too much and it caught up with me. Trouble is, I look fine so people don't understand. I am really depressed as this was a real shock. I have never been sick, never had surgery and was not on any medication. Sorry to be rambling on. I am 56 years old. I do not know the size of the annie but it was on the basilar artery. I also have another smaller one that he (the doc) said we will watch. omg my life sure has changed. Thanks for listening:(

[goldie411]

Hi MaggieMay, Sounds like you need some rest. It is normal to be tired after a coiling surgery..I still get tired to this day..but, it does get better. You are just fresh out of surgery, and it sounds like your body is saying slow down a little. I slept a lot after my surgeries, and I still nap now. If not then around dinner time, I'm so sleepy I can't hardly keep my eyes open. I hope you are feeling better soon. Take care Cin

[Ging]

Hi Maggie May, I have an aneurysm ot the basilar tip as well. Mine was stented but not coiled ,because the nureo rad. had to try three stents until he got the right one to fit the wide neck. My artery was disected and a clot formed, so no coils.I am still tired and it has been a year and a half. Depression goes with this. You will have good days and you will have emotional days, just remember your brain has been through the trauma of surgery. even if you don't have a scar or stitches. be kind to yourself and rest when your body tells you . These are wonderful people here and many stories. you are not alone in your feelings , so write when you have a bad day, we will listen and help if we can. Hugs from Florida, Ging

[Travelingdueo]

Two weeks is really early.. you need to rest and listen to your body..
My husband Ray was a nurse.. and was 49 when he had his clipped..
You said you're depressed.. talk to your Dr for something to help you get by or why you are depressed..
You also said maybe you were over doing? Rest REst Rest....
Glad you found this place.. there are lots who have had the coiling and can relate to what you are feeling..
Keep in touch with us.. it helps

[RUTHIE]

Hi Maggie May,
Fatigue is a big factor for almost all of us, clipping or coiling, so hang in there, it will get better in time. your brain has been through a trauma and it just has to heal, so go with it and rest. I had a rupture and clipping and it took a long time for the fatigue to get better. What is it with nurses and aneurysms? I am one too and there are lots of us on this board. Take care, Maggie,
Ruthie

[annie2105]

We all understand....fatigue is terrible part of recovery whether you rupture or not you still had brain surgery and it is exhausting. Take it easy and sleep when your body tells you too without guilt!!! Drink lots of water and enjoy your time off of work!!I am still exhausted somertimes three years later (mine ruptured). Blessings as you recover, Lisa

[ChrisC]

Hi Maggie - I am a nurse as well - 4.5 years ago I had my aneurysm coiled successfully after a failed clipping attempt. You are only 2 weeks out of surgery and it IS brain surgery. Please listen (as everyone else has said) to your body and rest. Don't push yourself to do things too soon. Everyone will tell you that you look wonderful, just tell them that your brain is just trying to catch up with the body and it does take time!

I totally agree with talking to your primary about the depression - this has been a life altering experience for you and alot to digest. There are medications, therapists, etc to help you over this hump. Not that you'll need them forever, because you won't, but you need to verbalize to the doctor what's going on inside your head. My best to you and my prayers are surely with you.

[MaggieMay]

Thank you so much for the support. After whining this morning....I spent most of the afternoon sleeping and I do feel better now. I will take your advise and talk to the doctor. I am seeing my primary tomorrow. Thanks again :)

[FireflyR7]

*bunch Welcome to the site sweetie!! I am so sorry to hear about your experiance!! You have found a very good site though! We will help you fill in all the blanks the surgeons didn't fill in for you!! :p This is a very supportive and caring group, there is a lot of good information too. If you look at the top of the post, you will see one that say's "Sticky". One of them has a title of "helpful sites".

*cross We all share our experiances, knowledge, prayers & feelings, ask questions... together!! So you are not alone, and there are no silly questions!! The only sill question is the one that is not asked. ;) We really do understand how you feel!! We will all be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!! We hope you will come share your story and answers other post... Many of us have been one here for years! I have made some wonderful long term friends here and many are still on here. They certainly helped me through a lot!!!! :D

My name is Tricia, I am almost 3 years post stenting and coiling. I had a 4mm after ruptured, "wide mouth", aneurysm. I had no warning signs. Mine is on the left side next to my optical artery. It was kind of injury induced though. Long story! Anyway, I am still very fatigued all the time and I don't do much but, sleep now! :p I had severe fatigue the first year and had to go to sleep clinic. I am making up for lost time now!! I had some complications due to my rupture though. It is very important to get good deep sleep and stay well hydrated. Water and other healthy juices. Try to stay away from caffien and soda pop!!! Not good for the brain!! I drink decalf, I do sneak a caffien free, diet Dr. Pepper a couple times a week. :p

*smallrose You are still VERY soon out of the hospital!!!! ;) Like everyone said, you should be resting, sleeping and taking it very easy for a while!!! The brain heals slower than other organs. Your not supposed to be lifting more than a gallon of milk, straining of any kind or a lot of bending for a while. You should be letting people pamper you!! I hope you haven't been trying to do stuff already that you shouldn't??? If you have, please stop!!!

*doc Did your Dr. even tell you anything to exspect or watch for after the surgery?? Did he send you home with any instructions?? It seems like they sometimes forget little details like, what to do or don't do when you get home and symptoms to watch for...?????
The brain also needs "REM sleep to heal"!! If you are not sleeping well you should let your Dr. know. Fatigue is very common as you have hear already numerous times and will take a while to get over. You will still have brain swelling even if you didn't have a "crainiotomy", some of who have been coiled and / or stented take longer. Mostly ruptures though but, everyone is different!!! I don't think there are 2 people in the world exactly the same??
There a a bunch who have got it done and went back to work when the lifting or any other restrictions the Dr. reccomends are over. Generally you will hear, "listen to your body" a lot here!! You will learn too also!! :) You know when you are too tired to keep going, need a nap, it will usually really let you know if you really over do it!! I have slept for days after trying to do too much.
You are fortunate that you did not had a rupture, please don't push yourself. Please have patience and rest! I would definately talk to the Dr. about the depression, also a very common side effect from surgery. Many of us are on anti depressants. Try to keep your brain as active as possible, reading or playing games or that you enjoy doing. I write poetry, listen to music has helped me so much!! And having so many people who have been through this that understand!!
Do nice things for yourself!! Things you usually wouldn't normally do, like a massage, very, very good!!! :p My hubby got me a gift cert. for one for Christmas!!! :D You deserve it!!! You have been through a lot, just because you cant see anything, doesn't mean you don't need healing time sweetie!! It is still there and you need tome to heal. Do or get something you've always wanted but, would not normally buy!! You are a survivor and deserve what ever you want!! :D

:confused: If you don't mind me asking??? How did you find out you had one??
Were you having symptoms, like headaches or anything?? Did you have any post surgery symptoms besides the fatigue & depression?? I hope you will tell us a little more, it sounds like the surgery went well. You may just be doing to much? If you have any serious or strange symptoms, don't take a chance, call an ambulance. It is better to be safe than sorry sweetie! :o

Are you going to your regular Dr. for follow up?? You should be evaluated on at least a monthly basis after your healing just to have your bloodwork, blood pressuregive ya a good once over and will handle any med's you may need. Once the surgeons do their surgery and initial follow ups, they want you to go to your own Dr., unless you would have a complication. I found a "Family Practioner" with a lot of of "Vascular" experiance such as heart, strokes, us... He helped me more than some of the specialist I saw first. He is awesome and knowledgable about aneurysm's, very caring!!
It is normal to get your thyroid checked, homones, blood counts... It can cause many changes in our body's, the brain does make everthing function.

I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayer, please keep us posted. Welcome to a wonderul site!! Tricia / FrielfyR7

*cg20 God bless you MaggieMay. ;)