Shirley's Story

Hi...I am so happy to have found and joined this site. I was feeling very isolated...and there are no groups to join where I live. My story begins Aug 13th, 2010...

I woke up at 4:30 a.m. with excruciating eye socket pain. My husband called a cab and we went to the nearest Emergency department. There they did a lumbar puncture and found blood and suspected an aneurysm rupture. So more tests followed and a CT scan angiogram confirmed my bleed.

I was devasted having lost my very best friend 15 years ago to a ruptured aneurysm. I was then taken by ambulance to a hospital that dealt with neurological patients. There I met my neurosurgeon...who did my craniotomy and clipped my aneurysm. He is an amazing doctor. He saved my life.

I was in Neuro Intensive Care for seven days and then discharged home. I have been very fortunate with my recovery and doing well. Extremely exhausted and have short term memory problems...hence extra milk in the fridge, wet laundry in the dryer and the list goes on.

BUT and there always seems to be a "but" with me. It seems I have another aneurysm on the left side of my head. My neurosurgeon tells me it is small and we will watch it with CT scans every six months.

I DO have confidence in his expertise but I have extreme anxiety which I am sure I would have had without knowing about yet another aneurysm. Anxiety..anxiety...my family doctor has prescribed anti anxiety medication (which is very addictive long term). It was suggested by a SAH survivor that perhaps I should try Energy Healing....and being somewhat sceptical, I did.

I had 3 sessions and have to admit, it did help. I felt very relaxed after the sessions and the the lady who does the Energy Healing was great to talk to.

Next I have enrolled in Meditation which is also helping. Restorative Yoga is next on my list (the instructor has been recommended to me)...So I am trying to cope.

This site makes me feel not as isolated as I was feeling. We are survivors and are very "LUCKY"...if you do not count actually having had a SAH...lol.

I try very hard to keep a positive attitude for myself and my family. Who have been very supportive. I feel so awful for having put them through this battle with me. Darn guilt even manages to creep in.

Thanks for taking the time to read "my story"...and thanks for being here. Its a place I can go to and not feel so alone. You understand..