Since I'm definitely a newbie, I thought this would be the best place to jump in, and I'll apologize in advance if I'm wordy... I'm a writer by trade. I'm also curious to know if others had symptoms for ten days before hospital admission, like I did.
In the Beginning:
On August 6th, I was out delivering groceries (my fun part-time job) late at night during a terrible Texas electrical storm when I got slammed with the first horrible thunderclap headache, no pun intended, centered at the base of my neck after I bent over with a large holder full of bags. I figured I pulled a muscle and since I was also under great stress for several reasons, I just assumed it happened to be coupled with a terrible migraine even though I haven't had one in several years. I managed to get home safely and waited for the pounding to stop, which it did.
I stayed off work for a couple of days although I never felt quite right and upon my return to grocery shopping, had another bad headache on another delivery. I'd erroneously begun to believe that maybe I had sinusitis since my face and behind my eyes ached. Unfortunately, my primary care clinic decided not to take my insurance in June, so I (dumbly) decided I'd wait until the following week to seek treatment after returning from an out-of-town trip for my primary job as a published author--giving a writer's workshop.
When I had yet another migraine that evening, I knew something was terribly wrong, but of course enjoyed the beach an extra day (note profile photo) before returning home. That night, another, more intense thunderclap headache hit me and I begged my fiancee to take me to the hospital. Imagine my shock when I learned they detected a small SAH after I had two CTs, one enhanced, and an MRA. Imagine my surprise when I was told they didn't find an aneurysm, had no idea exactly when the bleed began, and couldn't say what caused it.
In the Aftermath.:
After discharge two days later, I had three more CTs during the following week due to two to three severe migraines a day, extremely cautious ER staff and no neurologist willing to take my insurance after I left the hospital, sending me to the ER for answers out of pain and fear.
I've also had lapses of absentmindedness and some fairly serious concentration issues, which seem to be resolving daily, a good thing since I have to work in order to pay for my really bad insurance.
On the good news front, fortunately the headaches have pretty much subsided after that last ER visit and I've since located a neurologist 100 miles away, who was very helpful in answering most of my questions. Follow up CT scheduled for October.
I still have a lot more questions and a few odd aches now and then, but I'm finding this forum invaluable and a great source of support. I'm very happy to be here, despite the circumstances.
Again, my apologies for my lack of economy of words. I'll try to do better in the future.
KG
Kristi G. changed their profile photo
