Lucky to be here

[jammakins]

This is my first time posting, but wanted to thank you all because I've been reading alot since my 2 annies were coiled in November. I found I was comforted without even realizing how much I needed to be, that I was experiencing so many of the same symptoms that you all write about. It has really helped me.
My story began when I was on a safari in Africa! I had the worst headache, lost my balance. The safari camp thought I was dehydrated, the clinic doctor the next day thought I had menieres disease and treated me with antiinflammatorys...Somehow, I survived another week, never knowing that I had a bleeding aneurysm till I got home and the next day, was diagnosed and had a coiling procedure that ended up lasting 12 hours due to the finding of a second aneurysm. Both were coiled, I woke up in the ICU, had had a small stroke during the procedure so I had some very minor balance issues that are almost all better and am even back at work parttime now....I still struggle with what happened. I've always taken my health for granted, am very active and to have something so life changing, and to know how close I came to not even being here...it still blows me away. From this website, I understand a little better....how others still have trouble reading. multiple conversations are hard., crowded rooms..forget about it! But each week is better. And I know I'm lucky to be here.
Well, just wanted to add my story, and again thank everyone for the comfort of all of your words. My world is different..but I have learned to appreciate things that I never noticed before!

[FireflyR7]

:) Thank you for sharing your story, congratulation on your survival!! :D I know when I first had my rupture... I was so happy to find this site!! This is definately a life changing experiance! It is good to have other people who understand!! I know it has helped me a lot. I have a long story, but similar to you. I went undiagnosed and didn't get my surgeries for 2 months, I also threw a clot during the first one, so I have a long recovery. My NS told me I am very lucky to be here!! ;) I have many problems to overcome but, also getting better in time!! It just takes a long time with many rupture patients to heal due to the blood your brain has to absorb. I am so glad you are doing so well! It is still very soon after for you. I am coming up on 2 years post rupture June 29th 05. It still blows me away sometimes too!! It takes a while for the gravity of the situation to settle in!! But, you are alive and doing very well and that is a miracle!! It has been almost 2 years and I am still in awe, I thank God every day!!! I hope you do too!! I always keep everyone in my prayers and you are added to my list!! There are a lot of miracles on this board!! If you need someone to talk to, we are here!! I write a lot of poetry and listen to a lot of music to help me deal with it. I have a wonderful husband, sister, family & friends who have been a huge support group!! I am very lucky!:D
Thanks for sharing your story and I hope you are getting better every day! I just take it one day at a time! Take care! Love Tricia

[silverfern]

Congratulations, you are a survivior. :) This is an amazing story. I think when we go through such a 'near miss' is takes a while to adjust and accept what's happened. I know when my son was very sick (not annie related) I coped but then a few months after his recovery I became depressed and couldn't understand why - he was OK! But we can dwell on what might have been.
Keep looking forward, you have come through and though still recovering - YOUR ALIVE:D
Keep positive, take care of yourself, don't rush it and as Tricia says be thankful for the wonderfull gift you have been give:D
LOL
Catherine :)

[snapdragon]

This is my first time posting, but wanted to thank you all because I've been reading alot since my 2 annies were coiled in November. I found I was comforted without even realizing how much I needed to be, that I was experiencing so many of the same symptoms that you all write about. It has really helped me.
My story began when I was on a safari in Africa! I had the worst headache, lost my balance. The safari camp thought I was dehydrated, the clinic doctor the next day thought I had menieres disease and treated me with antiinflammatorys...Somehow, I survived another week, never knowing that I had a bleeding aneurysm till I got home and the next day, was diagnosed and had a coiling procedure that ended up lasting 12 hours due to the finding of a second aneurysm. Both were coiled, I woke up in the ICU, had had a small stroke during the procedure so I had some very minor balance issues that are almost all better and am even back at work parttime now....I still struggle with what happened. I've always taken my health for granted, am very active and to have something so life changing, and to know how close I came to not even being here...it still blows me away. From this website, I understand a little better....how others still have trouble reading. multiple conversations are hard., crowded rooms..forget about it! But each week is better. And I know I'm lucky to be here.
Well, just wanted to add my story, and again thank everyone for the comfort of all of your words. My world is different..but I have learned to appreciate things that I never noticed before!
:) Hi Jam ,welcome & thanks for sharing your story,you certinaly are lucky . I met you the other day in chat ,it is nice to know that our stories help others even when we do not know they are reading them ,I am sure your story will help some one understand and cope a little better with their struggle . we are notas alone in this as we first feel that we are ,Thanks to this site & people who share their stories . God Bless ,Snap

[Lyn]

Wow, what a story!!!! Thanks for telling us about it, and congratulations on your recovery. Welcome to the site, glad you have joined us - ruptured, unruptured or waiting for treatment we share a very strong common bond.

Cheers

Lyn :)

[JulieNH]

Jammakins,
I'm so glad you're alive! Congratulations, you survivor, you! Please know that you are still in the earliest part of you're recovery and the things that trouble you now will get better!
I had just turned 46 when my aneurysm first ruptured. I NEVER thought that I was anything except indestructible. I, too, had a stroke during coiling and lost some of my math abilities (Thank God for computers! I council my clients on investments, taxes and estates, which of course requires higher math skills), but I'm getting better every day. My rupture was at the end of June of '06, and I've come a very long way since then. You'll look back and say I remember when I couldn't handle situations with multiple conversations or crowded rooms, and then, all of a sudden, you can. It's amazing the strengths of the human mind!
JulieNH

[ChrisC]

Congratulations! You have quite the story! You must also have a very strong constitution to have survived a week without treatment! You have definately joined a very exclusive club that none of us actually wants to be in, but we're all definately glad we're here! My best to you!

[nicd]

Congrats on your recovery!!!!! Wow what a story. So happy you are doing well. Keep up the good recovery and welcome.

Nic

[jammakins]

Thanks all for your words of encourgagement...I know I'm doing really well and it was really hard for me to understand why I went through scary stages afterwards, when everything was ok...I remember people asking me, were you afraid in Africa, were you afraid in the ER waiting for the procedure. (which isn't like me!!) I really wasn't and then was confused when I got so freaked out after I had been home for a few weeks. My husband and family were scared of losing me the day of the procedure. For me, I never went there. It wasn't till I was home from the hospital that I started freaking out with how I almost wasn't. And I didn't understand feeling that way since I was ok. I was scared to even go to sleep at night for fear of not waking up, afraid to sneeze or cough...but time does heal. And that piece gets better.
So, learing others feel this way...thanks. It's nice to reach out to all of you this way.
jammakins

[FireflyR7]

:p It is normal hun! It takes a while for the gravity of the situation to sink in!! I use to carry the phone with me everywhere I went, downstairs to do laundry, in my pocket... I freeked out when I bent over and got dizzy or have a weird or sharp pain in my head... That is normal but these feeling to get less & less in time!! You will go through a bunch of different stages of emotions as time goes on. Depression is one of the biggest problems most of us suffer. If you do get it, please get sometimg from your Dr. to help!! I take a lot of meds to help with everything, but a rupture is a little harder to overcome. But this is where we come in, we can support you!! I have been coming here for almost 2 years and have had some wonderful support! And one thing is for sure when it comes to aneurysm answers, we seem to know more than the Dr.'s do?? :confused: We feel it, they don't!! They are learning from us! We know this is hard ont the whole family!! It is a little overwhelming in the begining!! We are here to help you as much as we can! These feelings will disapate in time hun!! These are all normal feelings you will go through! You are definately not alone here. A good "therapy" for the whole family to play is to scabble!! I always look through the dictionary just to refresh my memory. I have great long term memory, but short term is real bad!! I listen to alot of music, write poetry or play my pinball game on my computer. Good hand eye coordination! I play the new "Brain Memory Game" by Nintendo, that I got for Christmas and it is really helping! I have a lot of trouble with numbers and it has several number and memorization games, I get a little better all the time. Do things that you enjoy and surround yourself with love!! Love and laughter are the best medicine!! Get lots of good sleep, very important to your healing! Stay hydrated too, water is the best or mybe natural fruit juices. Take care and I will keep you in my prayers!! You can talk to us about anything! ;) Tricia

[JulieNH]

Jammakins,
It's interesting that you bring up the concept of fear before your coiling. I, too, had a delay of a week between first rupture and coiling. I remember just before I went in to have the coiling done that my interventional radiologist came out to talk to me and my family. He went through all the worst case scenarios (stroke, paralysis, coma, brain death, or death) and by the time he was finished my whole family was in tears, I wasn't. I wasn't afraid. I wonder if I was already in shock from the SAH. Or perhaps all that Morphine was taking that fear from me. My Mother has commented to me several times since the surgery how stoic I was about the surgery; it wasn't as if I had a choice. Fix the aneurysm or die, just that simple.

I understand how you feel about the delayed reaction of fear. Perhaps it’s the realization that we're not indestructible. Perhaps you were being strong for everyone else before, and the relief is now fear. I don’t know, but I felt the same thing. Thanks for sharing your story.
JulieNH