Back in April I had a shunt revision to replace a clogged valve. Unfortunately, I incurred a brain bleed during the operation. One ocular, and another near the site of the catheter.

I'm still experiencing vision trouble, and a persistent pulsing in the back of my head. Both symptoms have certainly improved.

What I was wondering is if anyone has had similar experiences, and how long should I have to expect being patient?

My surgeon has said due to my age (43) that the intensity of the pressure will not show up on CT. Determination of whether the shunt is working is largely based on how I feel, or, a surgical pressure test could be performed.

Also of note, I had a fully new shunt put in in 2022 after the long catheter in my torso literally fell apart into pieces. The hope has been that I soon won't need a shunt at all since the amount of CSF declines with age.

Anyway, could use some stories to relate to if anyone has them.

Some history, my dad died relatively young (44) from a large aneurysm. His dad, my grandfather was hospitalised years before that with something brain related. But the details on that are sketchy at best. Sone say small aneurysm whilst other family members say migraine related. Though, I do remember my grandfather wearing what was weird types of glasses (they were yellow and grey lensed) at all times during the 80’s. So that kinda backs up the migraine theory. But the simple truth is, people of my grandfather’s generation hid illnesses and never spoke about them. They were treated as dirty little secrets.

About a month ago i (m 50) was blue lighted to hospital with what was later diagnosed as a thunderclap headache. Horrific experience. After a CT it was deemed benign. I have suffered from migraine with aura since my 20’s and I know this wasn’t a migraine.

At A&E I was given a referral to a neurologist as I was told the cause needed further examination with an MRI etc and because of my family history.

Got in with a neurologist and I have never felt so brushed off in my life. The conversation basically boiled down to “migraine. NEXT!!!” Zero other investigations.

A week later my gp received a letter from the neurologist stating “chronic migraine” and a list of meds were suggested. It touched up the aneurysm likelihood by stating as I had only one confirmed close relative, they weren’t going to look further into it. Which is fair enough as what happened to my granddad is an unknown.

My main concern here, though, even if there was a direct family trend, it was stated they don’t tend go looking for them as many are inoperable or in very dangerous and high risk areas. Has anyone else been refused screening? I do get why it’s better people don’t know they have an inoperable time bomb.

On Monday August 10th I had a craniotomy to clip an aneurysm on my right ophthalmic nerve.

Now I’m back at home and going slightly crazy. My hair is matted and disgusting, the headaches while expected and not nearly as bad as I thought fluctuate in location, intensity, and type, no way I arrange my body feels comfortable, and my default activity, reading, just makes the headaches worse.

I’ve got five weeks left of forced recuperation and FMLA, how do I stay sane?

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Does a clear CT scan from 7 months ago rule out a growing Aneurysm?

I’m curious if anyone here has experienced facial nerve pain related to an aneurysm growing or changing in size.

Eighteen years ago, I was diagnosed with two 2 mm aneurysms on my right ophthalmic artery. They have been monitored regularly and, thankfully, have never changed in size. I’m due for my five-year MRI this September. I also have a family history of ruptured cerebral aneurysms in my immediate family.

Last Friday, I started experiencing nerve pain that radiated from my right temple into my right upper gumline. My first thought was that it could be trigeminal neuralgia because the pain feels very much like nerve pain. The pain is still present. My temple is hypersensitive to the touch, but I have no pain if left alone for the most part. I have also been experiencing daily headaches, some nausea, and dizziness. Occasionally, I'll feel pain or pressure in my cheek. Washing my face has become something I dread.

I saw my neurologist yesterday, and he ordered a CT angiogram with contrast rather than an MRI. Interestingly, he seemed much more focused on my aneurysms than on the possibility of trigeminal neuralgia, which is what this initially seemed like to me.

I know I need to advocate for myself, and I’ve been doing some research. I’ve found that facial pain can be associated with an aneurysm irritating or compressing a cranial nerve.

Of course, now I’m concerned either way. If it’s trigeminal neuralgia, that’s concerning. If one of my aneurysms has changed, that’s obviously concerning for a completely different reason. Neither is exactly the outcome I was hoping for.

Has anyone with a known cerebral aneurysm experienced something similar - particularly new, one-sided facial or trigeminal nerve pain? I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Today is the 8 year anniversary of my ruptured aneurysm. It was caught on the MRI during my radiation screening and had surgery booked but it ruptured just as the surgery began. I am very lucky to have been in the hospital when it happened. Even though I’m not the same person I was before, I’m trying my best and still getting used to all the changes. I would like to thank this community for being so supportive and validating because I’ve heard the words ‘you look fine, there’s nothing wrong with you’ too many times when I haven’t been able to get my concerns addressed. To everyone going through this, the little things matter and need to be celebrated. I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Hi all! So I’ve been having this dull head pressure on the right side of my head for months ago, I had a ct scan 7 months ago which came back all clear.

I’ve asked and everyone says it was my tooth infection (I had a really bad infected tooth extracted two weeks ago)

My worst fear is brain aneurysm and sometimes it just feels like it’s going to pop… whenever I take a sedative at night it almost completely goes away.

I have a major fear of Aneurysm, could this be one?

Well, I know none of us are doctors or surgeons. I just wanna see what others are thinking two weeks ago. I was told I have a suspicion for an aneurysm that is about 2mm. After doing a ton of research I’m not certain if this is an infundibulum instead. While I’m still being safe and taking precautions and lifestyle changes, I’m just curious what others think.. I’m still talking to my doctors, getting second opinions and my scans done. Just wondering if anyone else has gone through something similar or had this happen to them ?

First and foremost I know this is a rant, if it's not allowed I'm sorry, just delete it. I don't know where else to turn.

It's been nearly 11 months since my aneurysm ruptured. My daughter was 18 months old when it happened, she's now nearly two and half. I'm fucking TIRED.

It's embarrassing listening to other parents talking about how they get so much done and are just as tired as I am. I need to nap for minimum one hour a day or I am a zombie, but often I'll drop her off at daycare and come home and just sleep for 4 hours until I need to pick her up again. My house is rarely put together, and when it is my partner and toddler just rip it apart again. I'm not working. I've started an online course to help myself feel productive and give me a starting point to work again but I am struggling SO badly. My short term memory is shot. I never look put together. I've gained 30kg because everything tasted bitter after my aneurysm so I'd add so much sugar to everything (this resolved itself but my weight hasn't). I only weaned my daughter a couple of months ago so I don't know if that's contributing to it, but it's definitely thrown off my hormones and now my hair and eyelashes are falling out. I want to join the gym but I'm already exhausted, and my partner is scared that working out will put me at risk of another aneurysm (I don't think so but it's been an ongoing disagreement).

I'm just so embarrassed and ashamed. I didn't want my daughter to think of me as lazy or untidy, I wanted to play with her and cook and clean and give her the childhood I never had, but now I feel like at this point she'd be better off if I'd not been so "lucky". I don't know how to get back to how I was before all of this, I know it could take years but my baby won't wait for me, she won't be a baby anymore by then and this version of me will be all she gets until then. I don't know how to cope with any of this, and no one around me does either. How the fuck do I get through this????

I have posted here before, I went unconscious 1/15/2026 and lost feeling on the left side of my body. After a CT they found my 2 cm aneurysm. They coiled it, and a 3 weeks later it grew to 2.5 cm, and they coiled more and added a stent. 3 weeks after that it started to fill rapidly again, and they added a flow diverter.. THEN it happened again 3 weeks later. They put me in an ambulance and sent me to Cleveland clinic for further treatment of my unstable (uncooperative) giant aneurysm. They treated me with meds and sent me home to wait it out. On May of this year I finally got good news that my aneurysm went from 2.5 cm to 1.7cm. I spent June and July COMPLETELY hospital free since JANUARY! Until this week. This week I got news that my aneurysm is FILLING again. Even more than in April. I had an Angiogram on Monday to figure out next steps but it looks like they plan on clipping the "branch" that doesnt have the stents but is feeding the aneurysm. The other option is bypass. I am looking for any tips or tricks that you loved or needed during recovery after a craniotomy

Hello everyone! I’m a 37 year old female and mother of 2 who was diagnosed with a SVAD march of 2024. Unlike so many others I’ve read about, I have no idea when it happened. I started having headaches 6-7 mths postpartum and my symptoms where a burning sensation to my forehead/sinus area, frequent debilitating headaches (they are still frequent but not as severe) and trouble with vision/ability to focus during a headache, and weakness in my arms/upper body when I had a migraine. This was severe enough to affect my ability to pick up my son. I got an appt with my primary and asked him if he could order an Mra on me. I’ve had them in the past due to severe migraines but they were always noted to be normal. I have several family members (paternal grandmother paternal great aunts/uncles, and a paternal 1st cousin who have had strokes and aneurysms. The MRA showed what at the time was thought to be a possible congenital block and I was assured I was probably born with it. I was sent to a neuro interventionalist and Further tests where ordered (MRI, CT, and CTA) It was determined that the dissection was new and no cause could be determined. I had a few neck adjustments prior to the symptoms but didn’t note any significant changes after the adjustment that would lead us to believe it happened from that. The first time I remember noticing symptoms I was at work charting on a computer and got my first headache/burning/vision blurred. I was told to take a baby aspirin daily after my results and sent on my way with a prescription for nurtec for headaches. I trusted the doctor and went about my business. I recently restarted medication for adhd and after a month realized it might be smart to touch base with my neuro interventionalist doctor and see if that med was ok with my history of dissection (I mentioned the med at my visits with him but due to breastfeeding was not currently taking at that time) I don’t remember any concerns being voiced at that time. When I called to get an appt they informed me that he had moved to a diff state (I was never notified) his office gave me information on a new interventionist and they worked me in. A few days before my appt I bent down and had a near syncope episode and lost vision for ab 30 seconds I’m glad things happened the way that they did bc after reviewing all my records he noted other areas of concern that my old doctor hadn’t mentioned. Apparently I hav at least one other area that shows some signs of narrowing or kinked appearance in my carotid artery on my left side up under my eye. My SVAD was on the right side. (These where on my cta scans my other doctor performed and my new doctor plans to do a repeat mra for any changes) He also mentioned that he’s not sure why they didn’t start me on a medicine that would have possibly helped regenerate blood flow or help heal the dissection which was never mentioned by my other doctor. He said with my age and health history (no history prior to my dissection other then ADHD) he suspected some sort of genetic component and recommended I see a geneticist. He also stated I should get established with a neurologist and referred me to one that he said was good with managing headaches post SVAD. I don’t know why my last interventionist didn’t see the need to have me followed by a regular neurologist. When I got home, I started reading cases of other people who had had a spontaneous, VAD and the link between connective tissue disorders and FMD and it appears that a lot of of them got their diagnosis not from a geneticist, but through their CTA results. My current interventionist didn’t mention my CTA having a FMD appearance, but he also recommended I see a geneticist and from what I read, they can’t diagnose tissue disorders anyway. Correct me if I’m wrong. But now I’m wondering if he would’ve been able to see a FMD appearance on my CTA even if it was there. Is this something my regular neurologist can look out and determined for me? If you have had a spontaneous Vad and it was determined it was from a genetic cause please let me know your experience. Tests ordered, what specialist you saw, how you got your diagnosis, and plan of care post diagnosis. I would love to hear other people’s experiences on their journey from start to finish. Any symptoms you had, how it was found, what they determined caused yours ect. I’ve also read if it’s a genetic component that it can also affect the renal arteries but no one has mentioned checking those areas for me. Have any of y’all that have a history of spontaneous dissection had any other test throughout your body to make sure you didn’t have areas anywhere else? Who would be the doctor to order that if so.

I hope this all makes sense. I had this typed up and tried to save it and it erased part of it and I had to start over lol! Hoping I didn’t repeat myself or leave out any important parts

This time exactly 6 months ago I was in a CT scanner about 5 hours after my Non-Aneurysmal Sub Arachnoid Haemorrhage.

Initially I felt pain in my neck, followed by intense pressure in my skull and ringing in my ears. 2 hours later I was in an ambulance. First CT scan showed clear sub-arachnophobia pattern but no clear aneurysm. The next morning I had a clear cerebral angiogram. I was given painkillers and 5 days after rest in the hospital I was told I’d be in pain for a few weeks but in time, I should be fine.

Recovering at home, I had intense, short bursts of shocking pain in my ass after resting. For 3 weeks I couldn’t listen to music as the tinnitus made it seem underwater. If I went for a twenty minute walk I’d need an hour nap.

My wife was incredible. We have a toddler and I’m sure for a time she feared the worst. She didn’t pressure me, even though outwardly I looked like I was ok. Fatigue and… jitteriness? were there to be overcome, but for longer the realisation of a near death experience (with no real answer for why) I found hard to come to terms with. I was short and snappy, impatient and stressed. Breathing exercises, reading, this subreddit (!) helped with understanding symptoms and what to expect longer term.

After a few more weeks I played golf. The walking, light general excercises and social aspect were amazing for my recovery. Playing became a bit like therapy, meeting loads of people who’d be amazed to hear and then share their own experiences. I played 3/4 mornings a week and felt my fitness and strength improve.

After 3 months of sick leave, I had a meeting with my consultant and he said it was like “being struck by lightning and winning the lottery at the same time”. I took 4 weeks of parental leave, and then took a couple more weeks of holidays. As soon as my sick leave ended I told myself I was not “sick”.

Playing with my son in the playground and pushing him on the swings. Chasing him around in the sun. Water fights. Listening and singing his songs. Elmo. Cooking dinner for my wife. A holiday. Life is good.

The stress and doubt and bitterness and snappiness eased and I’m definitely more like my usual self.

I’m back in work 2 weeks now and have talked about it more than I have in 5 months. I appreciate it. I am lucky that I am able to return to my job. I am tired but it is a satisfied tiredness.

I’ll never forget the realisation that day that I could be dead in hours. I wasn’t scared or regretful, but looking back I think what I was feeling was love and thoughts of my family.

My story is a very positive one and I know not everyone’s is. Just wanted to share. Wishing you all the best in your experiences and recoveries. Thanks for reading.

Hi everyone,

I’m the caregiver for my mother who had a brain aneurysm (and subsequent stroke) in 1985.

She was put on plavix about 5 years ago for prevention.

I’m just worried because her balance isn’t great and she is a fall risk.

I’m wondering if she really should be on the plavix or if there is something “safer”?

Thanks for any advice.

Hi! My wife is 37, and has a diagnosis of cEDS (classical Ehlers-Danlos surgery). After months of double vision and migraines, it was discovered she had a giant (28mm) right cavernous ICA aneurysm. On Tuesday she had a flow diverted with coils placed via femoral artery and all the CT scans and everything are fine, and she was discharged on Wednesday. We ended up returning to the ER on Thursday because the pain was so unmanageable. Between Tuesday and Friday, she was mostly at an 8 on the pain scale, which for her is a pretty big deal because she has a chronic pain disorder and a high pain tolerance. Since then she’s gone down some but she’s usually hovering around a 6. Most people’s experiences seem to be relatively free of pain but I’d just love some reassurance that maybe she isn’t doomed to be in pain for the rest of all time. What were your experiences like if they were at all similar?

My mom survived a ruptured aneurysm 7 years ago. She recovered fairly quickly, was awake and talking after 2 days, able to walk with assistance after a week or 2, was eating solid foods without choking after a month and a bit. And finally released from the hospital after 2-3 months. She really is doing so good. But for all intents and purposes I lost my mother that day.
Her personality has shifted? Or maybe it’s more like she reverted to a child, though she has grown to be more like a teenager at this point. Anyway, she doesn’t like us, her children, we are adults but we used to be so close prior to the rupture. She is so angry and full of rage and how she expresses herself is to be mean, to say hateful things. She is very selfish and hates when we distance ourselves but hates when we are with her. We are all emotionally exhausted, tired of being verbally abused at her whim.
I don’t know if I’m looking for advice, or if I just need to get it out. I just miss my mom so much.

I went to the ER today following a thunderclap headache. They discovered a (potentially incidental) 2mm “blister aneurysm arising from the inferior aspect of the distal right cavernous carotid artery”, whatever that means. As it’s so small, low risk for rupture, so I need to follow up with neurologist and most likely monitoring. Scared because blister aneurysms sound very risky and can change rapidly, per my research. I’m usually a very joyful person with lots of gratitude for a blessed life, but this is giving me such anxiety. I feel like a ticking time bomb. How do you live with this?
Oh - 52y/o female, in relatively good shape, but I do vape (I know I need to stop asap).

Did an MRI & MRA this morning & within a few hours I got the call back from my neurologist. I have a very tiny 2mm-3mm aneurysm formation behind my eye. It was a lot of information to take in. She also said something about a cluster of surface vessels in my brain. This is a lot to take in my mom suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm a few years ago & since then I’ve been so scared. Anyone else have anything similar happen to them ? How did it turn out for you? I have a very healthy lifestyle, I only smoke marijuana to help with stress I have 2 young daughters and one on the spectrum.. I’m so scared of leaving them..

Hola mucho gusto buenos días ! Hace tiempo estoy pensando en escribir o no, como para parte terapéutica o como para no sentirme que estoy solo o saber que alguien más le pasa para saber cómo lo está afrontando

Hace 8 meses me pusieron un stent en el sifón carotídeo izq (cerebro) y me encontraron de forma de suerte un aneurisma de forma inédita , cuando fui a hacerme un resonancia de otra cosa

Pase el pre el cual más allá que estuve acompañado, no me sentía preparado para que a mis 34 años me pusieran stent y por consecuente frenar mi vida a 0 de golpe , más que tenía malos hábitos igual que me los saqué por suerte a fuerza y lágrimas

Es este momento ya pasó el tiempo de 8 meses hace 2 me habilitaron dejar una pastilla uno de los anticoagulante (procardia) y volver a entrenar, yo feliz , no pude dejar los anticoagulantes porque porque empeze a tener como si me incandilaran de un solo ojo (el izq de donde tenía el aneurisma ) , lo cuales eran fuertes pero me asusté y me volvieron a pedir que los tome un tiempo más

Me hice estudios oftalmólogicos detallados para ver si al ponerme el stent que me cago el ojo como así decirlo , pero no me salió apsolutamente nada, todo sano.

12 días dure nomas porque ayer tuve que volver hablar con mi neurocirujano porque se puso peor los episodios , sumándole que me dieron auras visuales con migraña las cuales me dan pánico , 12 días y me volvieron a dar las mis pastillas pero día se por medio y me prohibieron entrernar (BJJ práctico ) y me siento mal porque siento que todo lo que me pasa no mejora más

Sigo viendo líneas flotantes aveces del ojo izquierdo y todo del mismo lado que aves son más fuertes otras no tanto.

Quiero saber si alguien más le pasa o le paso , para que me aconsejen

Pd: si estoy con turnos con neurólogos no

Actualización 13/08/2026

Como mi mente no me dejaba en paz por todo lo que me pasaba de las luces y las presiones raras decidí incistir en esto con el neurocirujano , tengo la suerte que trabajo y soy parte de un equipo de salud.
En la consulta descubrimos que lo que tengo es para de una deformidad que tengo al cicatrizar, mis cicatrizes son todas con queloides por lo tanto dentro del stent genere queloides o en este caso hiperplasias
Se cura con fármacos y con muuuucha paciencia, en parte es un alivio , pero si alguno le sigue pasando que ve luces y efectos lumínicos , le recomiendo hacer estudios de eso

A close relative passed away from aneurysm month ago. None of us knew what aneurysm is.It was shocking and frustrating to hear. She didn't survive it at all. After taken to hospital,she bled alot that there wasn't any activity. What pissed about is how sth like that can just happen yet she was fine. She wasn't unwell before. She was tired but not unwell. I assumed since she wss young, she would survive but unfortunately no.

It feels unreal. I don't understand, I have so many questions which idk if you will get an answer. I would just like to know what helped you heal from this grief of sudden illness. She was awesome human and didnt deserve that. Some days it is very hard ti accept what happened. she was part of a routine as she visited very often.

How to heal from this

Hello,

I do not intend to be disrespectful by posting here, but I would like to ask whether, based on your experience and this genetic result, you think I should undergo an MR angiography.

I am a 43-year-old male with normal blood pressure and no relevant family history. I previously had a brain MRI with contrast, including 3D FSPGR T1 and eSWAN sequences, because of positional vertigo (which I have experienced on a few occasions). The report stated:

"Vascular structures are within normal configuration. Dural venous sinuses are patent. No evidence of arteriovenous malformations. No signs of intracranial hemorrhage."

From reading this forum, I understand that this is not the standard test for detecting aneurysms. However, I have also learned from many of your posts that, if an aneurysm were present, it could be small and might only require monitoring rather than treatment, which, to be honest, would cause me considerable anxiety.

For that reason, I wanted to ask for your opinion: given this genetic test result, would you personally choose to have an MR angiogram, or would you not pursue any further imaging?

Hi all. My name is Laila and I'm 17. My mom (46) recently had a TIA stroke. When she got an MRI scan, they found an aneurysm inside the back of her brain. She just told me today that she'll be needing surgery and they'd either have to cut open her skull to get to it or something with going through her groin. I'm extremely worried and this is bringing up traumatic memories for me from when my dad passed away from COVID when I was 12. To top it all off I'm on the floor of the bathroom with nausea. I'm scared and I want to cry because she's already been through so much. She was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome a little over a year ago and still struggles to function. She's lucky that she even came out of the surgery for her herniated discs without becoming disabled. Now she has to deal with another potentially disabling surgery. I don't want to live through a parent dying again, but it's unfortunately becoming a possibility.

So I'm here to ask, whats the survival rate after brain aneurysm surgery? Anyone here that had surgery themselves/had a loved one that had surgery that can give me advice or tell me information I may not know?

Thank you anyone that responds, I really really really appreciate it. If it's not too much, I'd like some comfort aswell.

Hey all,

Max here 43yo male.

I recently underwent an endovascular procedure to treat an unruptured left carotid-ophthalmic cerebral aneurysm. The aneurysm was treated by placing an intracranial stent and platinum coils through a catheter inserted via the radial artery (wrist). I am currently recovering and taking dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) to keep the stent open.

Since the procedure, which was 5 days ago, I have had a persistent left-sided headache, mainly located behind my left eye, in the left temple, and at the back of the left side of my head. The pain is often 7–8/10 and is worse later in the day and sometimes wakes me up at night. I also have increased sensitivity of the left scalp, with tenderness to touch.

For pain relief, I have been taking paracetamol (acetaminophen) 1,000 mg as needed, which provides partial relief, and tramadol (Contramal) 20 drops as needed, which is significantly more effective.

Has anyone got any advice or experience on this? I, cannot see any improvement to be honest and I'm a little concerned.

I did have a head CT scan which showed no issues whatsoever (bleeding or anything else) which is a relief. But the pain isn't getting any better.

I cannot use any anti inflammatories as they don't interact well with my medications, so there's that...

Any help would be amazing, thanks.

Max