lisac

Hi everyone, Three months ago, I had a laproscopic hysterectomy (leaving the ovaries). Surgery and recovery went well, except I can not seem to get my energy back to what it was before the surgery. I'm a runner and was cleared to start running 4 weeks after surgery. It has been 2 months of hitting walls while trying to exercise. Also, depression has come back with a vengeance - similar to what it was the year after my SAH and neurosurgery (4 years ago). I feel like I'm plummeting downhill fast. My surgeon checked my iron and thyroid - both are normal. I'm wondering if anyone else has had an unrelated surgery years after their stroke and had an unusually difficult time recovering. Perhaps our damaged brains take longer to heal from the trauma of surgery, even years later?? Of course, doctors are of very little help with this issue, so I thought I'd ask all of you. Thanks.

It has been almost 2 years since my SAH and I still haven't come to terms with the new me. I'm not dramatically different, but it seems like parts of my personality have become exaggerated from what they were before. I have a hard time finding anything positive about the changes. For me, the emotional and personal changes have been the most challenging thing to deal with. I don't understand the changes or what they mean which makes it frustrating for me and those around me. If you can't tell, I'm having a not-so-good day.

I would say my husband, my family, me and running is what kept me going. I know running sounds weird, but I was determined to get back to my pre-aneurysm level of fitness. I started running about 3 months after I got home from the hospital. It made me feel "normal" and hopeful. I remember the excitement and pride I felt when I finally ran a mile without stopping. It has now been almost 2 years since my SAH and I've run 2 half marathons and numerous 10Ks in that time. I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have that drive pushing me.

Hi Everyone, I'm about 18 months post annie. Memory seems to be my biggest cognitive issue. I have some short term memory loss, but the strangest thing is how I often don't remember or recognize familiar objects. It started last winter went I went skiing and took the wrong skis. I had bought new skis the year before, but passed them up in the garage because they didn't look familiar to me. Turns out the bindings were different and they wouldn't fit my boots. I finally figured out what I had done when a fellow skier pointed out the bindings didn't match the boots. Since then, things like this happen frequently. It seems to happen mostly with personal objects - like watches, shoes, clothing, etc and building or houses. I'll ask my spouse, "was that house always there?" In fact, it seems to be happening more often lately. I'm hoping that doesn't mean something is wrong. I also notice that when I'm under stress or duress, my memory gets very sketchy. We recently lost our beloved chihuahua. My husband said I kept asking the vet the same question every minute or so. I couldn't remember asking her or if I did, I couldn't remember what she said. The few weeks after this, i had quite a few episodes with not recognizing things. Does anyone else experience this? Thanks, Lisa

Hi Wem, your post really resonates with me. I'm about 18 months out also and thought I was past the worst of all the fatigue, brain fog, depression, etc. Boy, was I wrong! My husband and I went on a two week vacation in June to France. We spent 6 days of that cycling in Provence with a tour group. I consider myself in pretty good shape - I recently ran a half marathon and cycle pretty regularly so I thought I'd be ok. A few days after getting home everything hit me. I think it was like brain overload - the time change, not enough sleep, the physical exertion, the socializing, the stimulation of everything being new in a different country, etc. We've been home for over a month now and I'm STILL trying to get myself back to some sort of normal. I swear I spent hours just staring at the wall because my brain didn't want to work those first few weeks back. I don't fully understand why this happened - it has been a year and a half. Can I expect this to happen for the rest of my life everytime I challenge myself in some way? I was able to be kind to myself the first few weeks knowing I'd been through a lot of change, but it's getting depressing now. Anyway, I hope you come out of the fatigue and fog faster than I am.

I was clipped. Didn't have any problems post surgery - a text book SAH I was told. My surgeon said I could come back in 5 years for an angiogram if I wanted to. He said some people want to do it for peace of mind, but that it rarely shows anything. I think I'll pass.

Hi Doodles, Thank you! It took awhile to get feeling and looking better. Please feel free to msg me if you want to talk more about it. I know the scalp stuff can be rough and scary. After 1 1/2 years, I still get twinges of fear. I was running the other day in warm weather and my scalp tightened up and started giving me weird sensations. Freaked me out because I hadn't felt that feeling all winter. Once I remind myself, it's just my scalp and not my brain, I'm ok.

Hi Doodles, I had a craniotomy about 1 1/2 ago for a SAH. The eyebrow/frozen face is absolutely normal. It will get worse before it gets better. They cut through nerves and muscles and some will die which might cause muscle atrophy which for me caused a slight dip on the outside of my eye. I also noticed that for a long time one eyebrow was higher than the other. That leveled out with time after the skin that was pulled up and stapled relaxed. For me, the constant changes and feelings in the scalp were scary after I got home from the hospital. Luckily, I found this site too and asked a lot of questions. I was also released with no instructions other than to contact them if the incision site looks red or infected. You might notice that as the weather warms up, your scalp will feel tight and that eyebrow will feel like it's being pulled up. Just remember it's normal and it will get better. Please keep asking questions if you're concerned. Also, the jaw pain is normal. As someone said, they cut the muscle and it will take some time to heal. For me, it's back to normal.

Hi Michelle, I had an EMG after my aneurysm. I developed frozen shoulders - a side effect of brain surgery. I had an EMG to determine if the issue was neurological. I found the test to be unpleasant. Many of the needles were uncomfortable, especially those in the neck and shoulders. A quick electrical impulse was then shot through some of the needles. I'm sure a lot of the experience depends upon the doctor doing the test and where the needles are inserted.

- exaggerated emotions and depression - fatigue - anxiety - tight scalp (around incision from surgery) - cognitive issues worse than usual I'm surprised that I was the only one who mentioned exaggerated emotions and depression. When I'm stressed, my emotions get so out of whack.

Rachel, So sorry to hear about your mom. I hope everyone's stories will help ease your mind. Before going unconscious, I had pressure in my head - not really painful, just pressure. I was in the ER about an hour before I went unconscious. I just remember looking at the clock, having double vision then I went out. No pain at any time.

This time last year, I had no clue what a subarachnoid hemorrhage was! I'm almost at my first year annie-versary - January 29th. It's been a long challenging year filled with crazy depression and lots of ups and downs. Physically, I'd say I'm about 90%. Not 100% because I still feel exhausted for a day or two after if I over-do it. Also, the incision in my scalp continues to feel tight most days and pulls across my forehead like a tension headache. Definitely things I can deal with though. Mentally, I'm feeling so much better after getting my hormones straightened out. The stress to my body from the SAH caused them to go a little haywire. I'd say I'm about a 90% there too. All in all pretty good (for now). Ask me in a month and it may be different!

Hi David, This may sound odd, but have you had your hormone levels checked since your SAH? I felt depressed, hopeless, emotionless and lack of well being for almost a year. Anti-d's didn't work. I even saw a neuropsychiatrist in Chicago. I ended up seeing a endocrinologist to have my hormone levels checked. My hubby is a family practice dr. and knew that sometimes our hormones get messed up with brain surgery or strokes. Sure enough... my body wasn't producing any DHEA which is the most abundant hormone in the body. It's converted to estrogen and testosterone. Within two weeks after taking dhea supplements my mood changed dramatically. I feel like my old self now. Energy levels are great too. It's just another thing the doctors don't tell us. According to studies online, 40% of people who have SAHs have pituitary/hormone problems afterward. You might want to check into it, it's just a blood test and could make you feel much better.

Hi Wem, I live in a remote area and was air lifted to a teaching hospital 500 miles from away for surgery when my bleed was found. I had a craniotomy and had to fly home 2 weeks after surgery. I didn't have any problems. I actually fell asleep before take off and slept through the whole thing! I hope you have a wonderful vacation - enjoy life.

Hi Donna, This might be a long shot, but have you been to an endocrinologist to have your hormone levels checked? I've recently learned that many SAH patients have pituitary and endocrine glands issues afterward. Hormones help regulate your blood pressure and low blood pressure can cause the symptoms your having. In my case, I had severe depression, fatigue, weight gain, etc. and through hormone testing discovered my adrenal glands weren't producing DHEA which is an important hormone. Within 2 weeks after taking a supplement, I had a complete turn around of my symptoms. Just a thought - might be something worth looking into.