Hello my name is Terri,

I had beginning in 2005 several seizures and finally the drs. during the later part of that year found an aniersms behind my right eye. Not rupted but diffinatley need attention. So some 4 months after they found it I had an operation to remove or coil the affected area.

The operation took 10 hours and I was out the hospital in 3 days(Insurance ran out) , at home to begin a long recovery. No one explained anything about the feelings and turmoil a brain surgery causes in your life. I thought wow, a couple months after opertion I should be fine again.....wrong. This past year I have just began to feel close to normal.

I filed for SS disabilties but they rejected me, however I still have a problem staying focused for a long period of time. depression sets in and I fight to keep busy, sometimes I win sometimes I don't..

I would just like to hear from others and professional that may lead me back to normal or best I can be....Thanks

Hi Terri,
I know the lack of information feeling and I have yet to live post op. I cant offer any words of advise on recovery except baby steps. I can draw on experience from past ops but not brain surgery.
Have u spoken to ur GP bout the depression n lack of concentration? Im in Australia and have no understanding of disability support outside Australia... I do know for here with ur GP's help u can get government help.. Where u at?
I hope something good comes ur way. Take care n smile, a little smile goes a long way when feelin blue.
Cass

Hi Terri

I am so sorry that you have had such a difficult time of things. It takes a long time for the body to recover from aneurysm surgery. I had an unruptured aneurysm clipped in 2004 - and it took a LONG time to feel 'normal' again.

Aside from the crushing fatigue, headaches and forgetfulness, your body/brain has been through a massive insult and it takes a lot of time to get back to right.

Remember, you have been through something that is physically, emotionally, and psychologically draining and things like fatigue, hair loss, depression, sensory overload/panic, confusion, memory loss and altered self image are completely normal.

It will happen - you will feel better - but unfortunately, others can't see what you are experiencing (like they would for example if you broke your leg) and because they don't understand what you have been through, they can't really sympathise or get it.

Depression is really common for aneurysm survivors - partly because of what you have been through, but also because someone has been mucking around in your brain - the essential part of you that makes you YOU.

Don't be afraid or self conscious about admitting that you are depressed. It happens to the best of us. I think you need to talk to your doctor about this. Maybe just knowing that others are out there that have been on a similar journey will help you as well.

Regards and thinking of you

Lyn

Cas Thanks so very much for your reply, if you want to talk more about this with me, just drop me a line and I will keep in touch with you.....god bless you. Terri

Hey Cas,

Thanks so very much for your reply to my string, you are very helpful, if you want ot talk more again on this subject, thanks and god bless you. Terri

Lynn,

First congradulations on your son's achievement in school. Thanks so very much for your reply to my string. God Bless you we will make it...won't we? LOL Do you like animals? I do they tend to help me make it through the day sometimes. Puppies, cows, horses and cats it really doesn't matter they seemed to be more understanding sometimes.

Lets please keep in touch, your letter really helped...god bless and have a wonderful day.

Terri

Hi Terri

Well!!! It appears to be a small world Unless I am very much mistaken, it seems that the degrees of separation are much closer than I first believed.

What you have to remember, is, that unless someone has been through the stuff you have, they can't possibly understand. It is something of an elite club that we are in, and for you, even more so because you have lasting deficits and and effects - whereas I seem to have made it out the other side (of the aneurysm thing anyway).

Funny that this is a global site and I have met you.

Please take care - I will be away for the next few weeks, but I would like to get together at sometime to discuss all of this.

Cheers

Lyn

PS the university offers come out tomorrow - I am sure Matt will get what he wants which is great.

Hi Terri. I also am dealing w what you and Lyn hv and are going through. I wish I had words of wisdom to impart but I am in the bottom of a sinking ship. What Lyn said in response to your post was very helpful. Sometimes it just seems like the road is too bumpy tho

Hi Lisa

I just caught your post on the MS forum, so I came back here and found this one.

It kinda sounds like you are having a hard time???? So, please tell me more about your story.

It is well after midnight in Australia now, and I am completely exhausted, but please get back to me and I will check the forum tomorrow.

Looking forward to getting to know you.

Cheers

Lyn