I cant believe the support that u guys have shown me and beleive me i am eternally grateful.
My first reaction to being freaked was to be told that all is well but we have found 3 aneurysms in your brain, followed by size. I wasnt told anything else. I spent from 8am in the emergency dept, lying on a bed being doped up with codeine. I was then offered ibuproven on top which i rejected as my diverticulitis doesnt like it. So then i was given endone, which knocked me out even further. Sometime in the afternoon i had the ct scan (contrast). around 6pm my eldest child turned up demanding to see the doc treating me to find out what was happening. about an hr later I was told of the discovery and that i would now be having a spinal tap. I still hadnt been told where i was standing in all this n left alone. My family left, my daughter in tears and i was still none the wiser.
The spinal tap was done and by this time... 13hrs later i asked for a sip of water as i hadnt anything since entering the hospital doors and was feeling terribly nauseous after all those drugs. a nurse told me i wasnt allowed anything at this point in time, but offered no explanation as to why. I again asked to which a doctor told me that i may be having surgery... surgery i thought, on what, where, why? Still no explanation.
By 11pm I saw the surgeon who had informed me that my spinal fluid was clear and that i will be sent to a ward as soon as a bed is available. The surgeon seemed somewhat releived as he said he wasnt a brain surgeon... that scared the hell outa me. A surgeon prepared to cut into my head without having much brain surgery experience?? cant be!!
I finally arrived at the ward just on midnight where a lovely nurse finally offered me a cup of tea which only took 2 sips to finish. I discovered that i was in a mixed ward of 4 beds... 2 women, 2 men. 1 of the men kept us awake most of the night with his roaring snore and constant complaints of other patients noises. If i had the energy i would have escaped.
after a few days of rest i was alllowed to leave, no information, an intern who whispered "i think u have been taking party drugs" in my ear... my reply... u have my blood, go find out for urself! cause im damm sure i havent! I was told nothing of the type of aneurysms, where they were, how they intend on dealing with them and how to live until they do. All i was given was a box of panadol, a box of somac ( for my intestines), a work certificate for 2 weeks off and a discharge letter with appointment instructions at outpatients.
It wasnt till i got home i opened and read the discharge papers that i knew anything of my condition. I burst into tears and then started researching. My partner went to work the following day and after just 3 hrs there he was coming home to console my hysterical self.
My work refused to have me back until i have an all clear from the surgeon, my partner lost his job as he was more worried about me and could not concentrate. I visited my gp who gave me a certificate for 3 months off so i could get sickness benefits and a carers allowance and now we just sit at home waiting.
Finding u all has been great. I know i am not alone and certainly not in the SDFencer league of aneurysms and can feel alot more secure about where i am today.
Thanks again for the support so generously shown to me, and hopefully i can in turn support u all and others.
also thanks for letting me write a very very long reply lol
Cass

I am glad you found this site too. also that you discovered this good soul SDfencer. He has been through so much, yet he opens up for council and advise. I have been in contact with him and have the upmost respect for his knowledge and the humanity he shows. He is a "light" to help guide the way for people with your condition.
I am horrified however with how you were treated in the hospital. There is no excuse that I can think of, that would send a patient home, uniformed and terrified to death. This is unexcuseable in my opinion. You needed to be informed of the situation while you were in the hospital, and be seen and evaluated by the neruo surgeon on all facets of your condition. It upset you this way, and your family. I hope that you have the specialist now, and a direction to find the proper solution. That book that SDfencer led you too, is written by one of the best in the country. Even if I had fear, I would read it. It is easier to make an informed decision. Also the doctors won't say anything to you that you will not understand. Learning the medical terms, takes the confusion away. I will be thinking of you cass, and hoping for the best result for you. Please stay with this site, and let me and others know how you are doing. I wish I had that magic wand to make this go away. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and you go forward. I am sending an angel to help guard you. ginnie

Today i feel alot better. I managed to walk into the sopping centre with my partner who held my hand tight offering me security and leading the way i dont need to think.
I have stopped taking all the codeine as i felt horrible, couldnt concentrate and really felt "dum". I just deal with the headache and as much as it can get a bit yucky i feel much better than being "doped" up.
I have a friend who is a nurse and is helping me write a letter of complaint to the hospital as we all feel the treatment or lack there of was un warranted and needs to be addressed regardless of whether im a paublic patient or not. I feel the "party drugs" comment also needs to be addressed.
Im feeling more alive today and well versed in my condition. any more reading and I will be able to instruct the surgeon on the procedure lol
Thank you so much for ur angel Ginnie, knowing there is one sitting over my shoulder keeps me smiling.
SDFencer, I will be in contact for a chat once I have seen the surgeon. I am feeling more comfortable within myself atm, but rest assured I will come asking questions if they arise and keep me awake.
I do have a question for u all tho. At what time did u realise there was something wrong? I have problems thinking fast, I forget some words when im put on the spot, some things i could spell without effort takes me time now and did any of u find white lights noises and crowds affect u when u were out? As in confusion, sometimes all the glare n sounds confronting?
All my love to my new found friends
Cass

Hi Cass

Sounds like you got a raw deal at the hospital. I hope things get sorted and your appointment with the Neurosurgeon is more sensitive and informative. I was lucky, I had no headache or anything before they found my aneurysm. They found mine because I have Multiple Sclerosis and they were testing for other stuff - so I got lucky. I am wondering why they did the spinal tap - unless they were looking for meningitis????

Regards

Lyn

I am really glad that you are a bit more comfortable. sometimes having the information you need, makes dealing with a situation much better. Keep in touch with SDfencer. He is the most knowledgable, and good grief he has read enough about this aneurysm condition. His research was in-depth. I am here to listen to you any time you need to talk. We all need each other no matter what our conditions are. I will continue to send an angel to sit beside you if you should feel alone. You arn't alone, I actually do have a list of the people I have met here, so that I keep their names in front of me at all times I am on the PC. Be good to yourself, while you go through the process of finding the correct help. ginnie

Hello ladies,
I have had such a nice day today, did a spot of gardening, relaxed under my big old tree and teased my partner about learning to use that dreaded lawn mower lol.
Lynn... they did a spinal tap to find out if i was bleeding as my symptoms were that of a minor stroke. With no blood found my GP suggested i may have had a t.i.a. My Gp has been answering all my questions that the hospital didnt tell me. at times they are assumptions based on the discharge reports sent to her, as well as my constant questioning why i am doing strange things, thinking or lack of.
I hope u are all well and in good spirits
All my love
Cass

Hi Cass,

My name is Terri and I started having seizures in 2005 and Dr. found aneurysms behind my right eye. Had surgery four months later to double clipped aneurysms.
Post surgery in 2008 I had back to back seizures 5 times and was hospitalized for two weeks. The Dr. changed my seizure meds to solve this problem.

Just wanted to share with you that I experience all the same mental problems that you have encountered and it took me until now to start feeling normal again.

Be strong make goals for accomplishing things one thing at a time and things will get better.

Thanks you and thank God

Terri

Hi, Cass. My name is Janet and I'm new to this board, but certainly not new to cerebral aneurysms. Mine ruptured over 14 years ago without any advance warning. I had emergency surgery to clip it and I survived and recovered.

I pray that you're able to see a neurosurgeon soon. The waiting must be absolutely horrendous. The headaches, the fear, the uncertainty...all have to be taking a toll on you. Don't lose faith!

Remember that you have something working to your advantage. The fact that your aneurysms were detected before rupture immediately shifted the odds in your favor. Planned surgery is far less risky than the same procedure performed under emergency conditions. If you can get avoid a bleed, you greatly reduce the risk of complications and disability - and shorten your recovery time.

If you haven't already done so, you might want to Google "The Brain Aneurysm Foundation." Their website offers some pretty straightforward answers to frequently asked questions. Information about the condition is much more widely available now than it was back when my "bubble" burst. Knowing you're not alone helps - and trust me, you're not alone. Cerebral aneurysms are more common that people think. I don't have the statistics at hand, but I believe the estimate was 6% of the U.S. population have undetected cerebral aneurysms. It may seem like a small percentage, but it works out to a LOT of people.

Don't hesitate to contact me if there's anything I can do to help you through this tough time. Be good to yourself. Get plenty of rest and eat healthy, nourishing foods. It's okay to take it easy. Most brain aneurysms can be sucessfully treated. Expect the best results and be patient with yourself while you recover. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I just wanted to welcome you to Neuro Talk. Your post to Cass was so wonderful and full of hope. Thank you for coming on to NT with such positive and good information. I like to greet new people, and I could not have done any better than the kindness you expressed to Cass. I also know waiting can be such a difficult thing to do, when you are frightened. I hope you come back to NT often. I am glad to meet you. ginnie

Hi Janet,
Thank you for ur kind words. Its a pain sitting and waiting but Im now on the countdown, my appointment is next wednesday 25 jan, I have annoyed my family everyday reminding them we are 1 day closer lol. I think i have even given myself a few headaches with all the reading but Im certainly more equipped to fire off a million questions to the surgeon.

Hi Ginnie, its always lovely to see u here, ur angels and ur thoughts have kept me smiling and with Lynn I feel well supported and looking forward to getting to the final stages of the annie trial.

Maybe u have some questions that i havent thought of that possibly first timers dont think to ask. I have a list as long as my arm regarding recovery, dealing with all 3 while "under" and the common questions regarding the various options ive read up on.

I think I have covered all bases and eagerly looking forward to letting u all know my surgeons opinions.

Welcome Janet and Terri to NT, I do hope we all see u again soon. Once again a big Thank you.

Cass
hugs to all xxx