Concerned partner

[Iman_Thomas]

Hi guys, my partner had a brain aneurysm, 3 times ruptured, 3 times operation on the same vein. Is anyone else experiencing dizziness and fatigue and headaches after napping long after the operation was done?

[cat3]

Hi Iman. My brain haemorrhage was 11 years ago and I had excellent care with titanium coiling, rehab and therapy.

But my surgeon advised me of the long term effects, possibly lifelong. My poor balance and frequent dizziness are lasting issues which do require precautions and altered lifestyle.

Headaches are common for most of us, but can be alleviated by something often neglected and very underrated- ---keeping our brains hydrated by drinking water regularly each day. And Co-Codamol helps for me but I keep them to a minimum.

The fatigue is a classic symptom, but it's best managed by pacing ourselves rather than pushing to achieve goals we took for granted pre-brain injury.

Best wishes, Cat, x

[Phoenix_Faith in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat - I just wanted to piggyback onto your reply to Iman. Hope neither of you mind! One of the main reasons I value this forum so much is because of your compassionate, practical and wise responses to those who post here. I have no doubt at all that you help so many people by sharing your experiences and your coping mechanisms.While I'm here I should also add that I too have chronic dizziness and balance issues, as well as nausea, since my SAH in November 2020. I tend to feel very alone with it, and it's so reassuring to know I'm not! I wouldn't wish these symptoms on anyone of course, but it helps to know I'm not alone ... and to know that just because it's been 3 years, that doesn't mean we should have 'got over it' by now. Clearly that is not the experience of so many people on this forum. All the best to you and to everyone who faces, and yes, sometimes really struggles to manage, our daily challenges. Faith x

[cat3 in reply to Phoenix_Faith]

Thank you Faith ; your words are really heartwarming. You've lifted my spirits on a freezing cold day in the NW !

Just a thought on the dizziness -- I was prescribed Stemetil (Prochlorperazine) tablets for the dizziness/nausea and they worked quickly, with no downsides, to control the awful symptoms for many years.

Sadly I had them withdrawn in 2014 owing to incompatibility with other essential meds. But maybe ask your GP about your suitability ? They were a massive game changer for me when no other therapy helped.

Hope, despite the cold, you've got the clear blue skies we have here today....

Take care m'love, Cat. x

[Phoenix_Faith in reply to cat3]

I hear you Cat, and thank you! It hasccertainly been cold here in North London today, but pretty clear and sunny, which did help to lift the spirits 😊. I did try prochlorperazine (prescribed by my GP) but it wasn't great for me. My neuro-otologist had diagnosed me with Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (aka PPPD, triple PD or 3PD), for which the only treatment seems to be physio plus distraction in the form of staying active and avoiding 'safety behaviours'. Prochlorperazine isn't considered helpful as it masks the symptoms rather than cures them. It would also block me from tracking the improvements made by the physio. Unfortunately PPPD is a chronic condition that may not be completely curable. However, I am assured that it can be managed better by doing the physio as frequently as possible. To be honest my psychological state isn't great so it's hard to be motivated: why would I want to trigger horrible symptoms by doing the physio, even though that's the whole point - so that I sort of train my brain to react less to stimuli that cause dizziness/nausea. The upshot is that I need to trust the experts' advice and do what I'm told, which is much easier said than done! Faith x

[cat3 in reply to Phoenix_Faith]

So something along the lines of Exposure Therapy ? I get it .....hard work I'm sure Faith.

Mine's BPPV and should respond to Brandt Daroff or Epley manoevers but hasn't over the years so I work around it.

It takes its toll doesn't it (bad day today as it entailed driving in the rush hour) but it just makes better days more precious !

Keep up the brain -training m'love. Cat x

[Alibongo60]

Hi Iman, I too had a ruptured aneurysm in 2017, and I still have the usual problems with poor memory , poor balance, fatigue, brain doesn’t work as well as it used to, but I just think it’s a small price to pay for surviving, enjoy the life you have love Alice xx

[Iman_Thomas]

Morning guys, thank you for all the feedback and encouragements. We have seen several doctors for the fatigue but as soon as they hear the history of the brain, then we are referred to a specialist or they diagnose it as pain and fatigue. Still not an answer, he wants to start working and we want to start a family but i can see he is very frustrated, hence me asking on the support group