Brain Aneurysm Stories
Of Blessings and Second Chances
Last October 5th, I sat down on the couch in my son's living room and experienced a rather strange headache. The entire top of my head was on fire and it felt like little pins and needles were poking me in the scalp, very much like a limb that’s fallen asleep and has awakened again. It was the oddest feeling I believe I've ever experienced. Shortly after declaring I had this strange headache, I realized I was going to be sick. My son quickly escorted me to the bathroom just off of the living room and I promptly "lost my cookies". Most undignified.
My hubby had to leave ever so briefly to meet with a friend and by the time he returned and checked on me, still holed up in the bathroom and fearful of leaving the room, he called out to our son to call the paramedics. I don't even recall them arriving ... I'm told they got to the house within 3-5 minutes and I was taken to Park View Hospital where they deemed I needed a Neurosurgeon. Somewhere in the middle of the night I was transported to Loma Linda Hospital where thankfully, their top Neurosurgeon was on hand, having been called in for someone else.
I apparently underwent an angiogram and it was determined I needed surgery to stop the bleed in my brain. Coiling was considered, but due to the location and size of my aneurysm, it was decided too dangerous and grabbing said Neurosurgeon to perform the surgery, a clip was placed, instead.
I have no real memories of this horrific event in my life and must rely on the eyewitness accounts of my hubby and son. I do recall visitors, namely my former parish priest and his wife (we moved out of state just over two years ago and had returned to visit our son). When I really became cognizant of my surroundings, I saw a myriad of cards and little gifts left by friends.
I do recall being scolded for not eating and told to fill out the menu so I'd be served something more to my liking. I lost five pounds! (This on the heels of having lost 70 pounds through Weight Watchers just over two years ago) I'm very glad I had the prescience to pick a goal weight about midway of my healthy weight range for my height and age. I'm 54 now. I gave myself a cushion of 14 pounds, having no clue my brain was poised to explode. But I did watch my grandmother nearly waste away after she'd had a stroke and that's what ran through my head when I determined to lose the unwanted fat. You just never know, right? For once in my life, I did myself a favor.
I spend all of October in the hospital and half of November in a rehabilitation center back in my new state. I got home just in time for Thanksgiving. I had in-home visitation by a nurse and a Physical Therapist. The Occupational Therapist was quick to note I did not need him. Thankfully.
I'm doing very well, thanks and praise be to God! I can walk without aid, talk fine until I grow tired and then I have to fight for my words and they didn't have to shave my head much to everyone's surprise. My sister-in-law even went out to purchase a couple of beautiful scarves for me, just in case.
I've been very blessed throughout this ordeal. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around what happened. I was even in denial that anything of the sort had occurred until I saw the stitches in my hairline -- then it became real.
I know God spared me because last year when I was also very sick with multiple kidney stones and a huge 8 centimeter cyst on my left ovary I was so afraid it was ovarian cancer, despite the favorable outcome of the CA125 blood test. I asked God to please allow me to live long enough to see grandchildren. Well, I've now got three due within the next six months! So, here I am.
And my latest CT scan came out excellent. I'm cleared to fly, which is good, since SC is way too far to walk to from here. Daughter is scheduled for a C-section this coming Thursday. No more aneurysms lurking in my head and no air on my brain. Its official I am not an "air head."
I couldn't understand for the longest time why everybody seemed so surprised at how well I'm doing until I finally got up the courage to do an internet search on aneurysms. I just kept joking about it. Didn't lose my sense of humor (another plus to be grateful for.) But as it happens, the things I was joking about could have been true, had God not stepped in. The swelling in my right eye went down and I could finally open it. No paralysis. After numerous rounds while in the hospital, I can walk without aid. My grip in both hands seemed adequate to the doctors in charge of my care. However, I wasn't keen on what I felt was a "trick question", asking me what day of the week it was when clearly I had no point of reference! I got a tad snarky and said, I knew what month it was, what year and that Obama was the president hoping to satisfy them in my inadequacy. Too sassy? Don't know. Maybe.
My biggest fears have been assuaged. I'm a writer and still can manage to put words on the page.
And here I am again, running off at the keyboard, when all I meant to do was say hi and introduce myself. Good grief, but can this girl chatter. LOL
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Nothing on this website should, in any way be considered medical advice. It is presented as general information only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any type of medical condition. I am not a doctor, nurse, or any other type of medical or health care professional. Nor am I an expert on Aneurysms. However, I am an expert on the experience of having suffered a ruptured Aneurysm and the subsequent treatment I received. This site should not be considered to be, nor is it intended to be, a definitive source of information regarding Aneurysms. I have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of any information presented here, but again, I am not a medical professional and my own interpretation of this information could be in error.