Hi everyone. My name is Donna and I had the shock of my life in May 2007. My partner was becoming concerned for me as I was having a lot of headaches and missing a lot of work. She works as a medical biller with radiology so she went to my Dr. and asked if we could have a slip for an MRI/MRA of the brain due to my headaches. I also have fibromylagia so I really blamed the headaches on that. I went kicking and screaming for the MRI as I thought it was a waste of time and was sure that nothing was going to show up. Boy was I wrong. I had a CT done years ago which showed nothing. This time it showed two aneurysms; however, I also had an aneurysmal subarachroid hemmorrhage. I was in shock. I was scheduled the next day for a cerebral angiogram which confirmed the diagnosis. Since our hospital did not do coiling at the time, I was referred to Jefferson Neuroscience Hospital in Pa. They requested all my records and within a day called me and told me to get right over they had a bed waiting. Everything happended so quick and I was glad that it was going to be coil. Well, when I got to the hospital, we set and spoke with the surgery team and because I had already hemmorrhaged, they could not coil it and would have to clip instead. Now I was a real basket case. There were no guarantees. The operation was ten hours long and my partner told me that it was the worse day of her life. The were not sure not only if I would make it out of surgery, but what type of condition I would be in because of the bleed. Well to everyone's surprise, I recognized my partner right away and my two sons. The doctor said that is a great sign that I would be ok. I was in the hospital for a total of four days then I was sent home. that is when I faced all of my deamons. I was scared of the dark, dizzy, depressed, angry, and every other emotion you could think of.

It has been 8 months now since my surgery and I still have some deficits such as short term memory, word finding problems, concentration problems, etc. which they say is all normal. However, my long term disability feels that I am fine and can return to work. Now I have to face fighting disability. My doctors all feel that a year would not be an unreasonable time to try and regain what I have lost. Don't get me wrong, I want to go back to work and my old life. It is just hard.

I am glad though I ended up having the clipping as that is permanent. I know people who have had the coiling done and have to be closely watched. I feel for everyone including their families that have to go through this horrible surgery. But if my partner had not demanded that I have that MRI/MRA that day, I know I would not have been here today. She is and always will be my guardian angel. Donna

Hi Donna and Welcome to Neurotalk. WOW~ you went thru some scary stuff. I'm glad you found us, as NT is full of so much info and support. Feel like you can jump in anywhere, OK?

Sidenote: My dear Father had an abdominal aneurysm successfully repaired years ago.

Hi Donna and welcome to NeuroTalk...I see that you have located our Aneurysm forum. I'm so happy for your results!

Donna,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. Looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Hey,
Welcome to Neurotalk. I am sorry about everything you have been through ((Hugs))
If you need anything just ask
Thanks

Hi, Donna! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

I see that you've found the aneurism forum, so let us know if we can help you with anything.

Wow, Donna..What an incredible story! You are truely blessed to have someone watching over you like that, and I'm so glad things turned out as well as they sound. Good luck with LTD..I have MS and am managing so far, but dread the day when I have to deal with that..Glad you found us!

Hello All,
My name is Debra. I had the shock of my like when the hospital called to inform me of a Stat Cerebral angiogram order that they received from neurosurgeon's office last April 08. I was not sure what was going. Not again!
On March 06, 2006, I had a 9mm unruptured, right midcerebral aneurysm successfully clipped. I stayed in the hospital 2 days and was discharged from SICU directly to my home. I recovered very quickly and went back to work 3 weeks after surgery. My follow up visits with the docs for the next 2 years were all good. Per my surgeon's protocol since I was doing great, my next follow up visit was scheduled for 2010 (4 years after surgery). It was not to be so... Last December around christmas time, I felt slightly dizzy. I called my primary doc and requested to have a CT done. It came back negative. I didn't realize they did a CT of the brain and not CT of Cerebral Vessels. So I went to have another CT done on March 21. This time it showed 2 aneurysm, one a residual and a new one. That was what the frantic call was all about. As expected, the Cerebral angiogram confirmed the presence of the residual aneurysm and the new one in the paraophthalmic artery area. I was given an option to correct the problem thru endovascular coiling. I decided against it because I was worried that the presence of the old clip may complicate things. I am living proof of yet another miracle. The second brain surgery happened on April 20, 2009 ang my neurosurgeon was able to clip both aneurysm successfully. Hallellujah! This time I stayed in the hospital until April 23rd and was back to work on May 6th. I do mostly computer work and just last week started seeing patients. I promise to take it slowly this time and to take it easy. I count my blessings everyday.
I really want to learn from those who have been through multiple brain surgeries for recurring aneurysm/s. How could this be prevented, aside form blood pressure control and stress-free living!!!
I apologize for the long message.
Best regards.
dapn

Hello Donna, and a warm welcome to NeuroTalk to you! This is such a great place to hang out, with lots and lots of friendly, caring and very helpful people.

We're so glad you found us!

Welcome

So sorry you've gone through so much.

Keep us posted.