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Grace

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Everything posted by Grace

  1. Hi Bay, Sorry to hear about your headaches. For quite some time, I woke up with severe tightness on top of my head. It’s gotten better and it tends to go away quickly. I also find that if I do something physically challenging (i.e. scrub the toilet really hard) for the first time, I wake up the next day with tightness in a different part of my head. Like Vivien, I used to worry about every sensation in my head but not as much anymore. I took yoga before my SAH and it is calming. I want to get back into yoga, but for now, I only do a few gentle yoga poses. Take care, Grace
  2. Hi Jan, I’m glad that you have made a decision that is comfortable for you and your family after weighing the pros and cons. I decided to clip my unruptured aneurysm after my SAH because I never wanted to have another SAH. The neurosurgeon also told me that I’m “young and healthy” (yeah, at age 44 ) and he didn’t want it to “rupture in the future.” I now had a better understanding of the clipping surgery. I figured that since I survived the first one, I was going to survive the second one – and I did! Yes, I was very scared / nervous prior to the surgery but now I don’t think much about my aneurysms. Take care and best wishes for your upcoming coiling. Grace
  3. Hi Lynne, You are so inspiring!!! Best of luck at Shaw Trust – they are so lucky to have you. Definitely keep us posted. Grace
  4. Hi Surfer, I was using a “rowing” weight machine. The machine is such that you sit with your chest up against the back board. Then you pull your arms back. I remember it happened when my arms were pulled back (not when I released the weights). Grace
  5. Hi Surfer, My SAH occurred while I was working out at the gym on Saturday. Also, my new job at a “startup” was overwhelming (I was a department of 1) and a major deadline was coming up. I already started working weekends from home and was planning to work after the gym. Grace
  6. Hi Pete, After both my clipping surgeries (ruptured and unruptured), I had a standard one month follow up with the neurosurgeon. Each time I brought a list of questions (I didn’t get many answers but that’s beside the point!). The first time, the neurosurgeon checked the cut in my scalpel. The second time, the neurosurgeon (a different one) asked why I scheduled my appointment (because you told me to!). Like the others say, this is probably a routine consultation so try not to worry too much. Take care and good luck, Grace
  7. Hi Sandi, Welcome! Like you and Sarah, this is also the first time I’ve participated in something online. I also felt alone until I found this site. It is amazing that you returned to work. But like everyone else says, don’t push yourself too hard and get plenty of rest. Take care, Grace
  8. Hi Pete, Welcome! I am in the same boat as everyone else. I was only told to lift no more than 5 lbs and not to bend my head towards the floor. But it is so amazing that you eased yourself back into work! Take care, Grace
  9. Hi Anne, I had 2 aneurysms – one ruptured (~ 4.5 mm) and one unruptured (~2.5 mm). I wanted coiling but had to have clipping because of the shape of my ruptured aneurysm. My neurosurgeon recommended that I get the unruptured aneurysm treated (clipped) as well. I agreed because I didn’t want an untreated aneurysm and my mother would have “forced” me to get it treated. In hindsight, if I didn’t experience a ruptured aneurysm, I probably would have had my unruptured aneurysm monitored. It is good that you have weighed the pros and cons. Best of luck in making a decision that you’re comfortable with. Take care, Grace
  10. Hi Jo, I totally understand about getting an emergency craniotomy. I had mine in Mar 2010. I then had a second (elective) craniotomy in June. After the first craniotomy, my left temple was quite swollen, I got severe itchiness on my scalp, and pain on top of my head. This all basically went away after a few months. After the second craniotomy, I told people I was ready for Halloween. My right temple was severely swollen, my right eye was swollen almost shut, my right cheek was larger than my left and I had severe red bruises running down my neck. I also got the itchiness and pain. I still have some itchiness and pain, but again, it took a few months to look “normal”. Now I find that when I first wake up, the top of my head feels “tight” but that tends to go away quickly. Take good care of yourself and good luck. Grace
  11. Hi Kel, It sounds like the angiogram went well – good for you!! I’m sure the results will be great and please let us know. It’s good to know what’s involved because I may be getting one. Grace
  12. Hi Ann, Congratulations on your awesome recovery! It is so inspiring. Keep going! Grace
  13. Hi John, Congratulations on your first anniversary, your role as a grandfather (your granddaughter is so cute!) and returning to work! Grace
  14. Hi, Thank you for all your help and good wishes! John – I’m glad you understand me. Good luck with your phased return. You definitely have plenty to offer. Jess – I’m thinking along the same line as you (i.e. find a job closer to home). Sarah - Thanks for letting me know what a good employer should do. Carolyn – I’m glad to know that I am feeling “normal”. It’s amazing that you went back to the place where your SAH happened. My fellow American, you need to take it easy and listen to your body as well. Grace
  15. My SAH happened 4 months after I started my new job. I really liked my job even though the workload was very high and the pace is very fast (company is in start up mode). After the clipping surgery in March 2010, I really wanted to return to work once I recovered. In hindsight, I really wanted to return to work because I didn’t want to think about what happened to me. Then after my second clipping surgery in June to treat an unruptured aneurysm, I became very anxious about returning to work. Part of my anxiety is that I’m not sure if I can do my job like I used to! Because I work on medical devices, I recently took the neuropsychological tests to check my cognitive abilities (still waiting for test results). Adding to my anxiety is that I work 200 miles from my family (but this is another story since I need health insurance and disability). Was anyone else anxious about returning to work?
  16. Thank you so much for the warm welcome! I was very nervous before the second surgery. I decided to treat the unruptured aneurysm because I wanted to get anything “aneurysm related” out of the way. I thought after the second surgery, I would be completely relieved and jumping for joy. (Well, actually, I looked like I was ready for Halloween.) I didn’t realize that recovery can be an “emotional rollercoaster.” I hope that I can be as helpful as this site is for me.
  17. Hello Everyone, First, I want to say that this is a great support group. For the past month, I have read forums and articles, which have been so helpful. Now I know I’m not alone. My SAH occurred on March 21, 2010 while I was working out with my trainer at the gym. After several repetitions on a weight machine, I felt a tremendous amount of pressure in my head. I knew something happened but I didn’t know what. I was about to tell my trainer when I became unconscious. My trainer caught me as I was falling off the machine. I was flailing while I was unconscious. When I became conscious, I could feel severe pain in the back of my head. I was rushed to the nearest hospital. Now thank goodness my trainer witnessed what happened because a couple of doctors ran out to ask him what happened. I know his answer helped the emergency room decide to scan my head. The scan showed the blood in my head but there was nothing this hospital could do. I was then rushed to a major hospital where two aneurysms were found. The one on the left side of my head had ruptured. The surgery (clipping) to stop the bleeding was explained to me and I had to sign papers to agree to the surgery on the next day. Then I finally reached my family, who live 200 miles away. Three months after the SAH, I had the unruptured aneurysm on the right side of my head treated with the same surgery. I am recovering but still have fatigue and would have more depression and anxiety if I wasn’t on medication. I am planning to see a neuropsychologist and a neurologist. Thanks for listening!
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