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rodentraiser

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  1. Thanks, you guys. It's helpful to have support like this. I was told that before the main rupture happened, I may have had small leaks that traveled down the spinal cord and caused the back pain. As my pain is still there, I doubt that happened in my case. However, I had had some swallowing problems and I finally got the go ahead to see a doctor specializing in this problem. I went in for the initial visit and testing right before my stroke, and had a follow up visit about two months after the stroke. At that point, I told the doctor I didn't see the point of any more testing because I wasn't having any more swallowing problems. When I told him I had had a stroke, he said it was possible that the aneurysm might have been pushing against the nerves in the back of my head that affect my throat. So I found out there's a lot of things in play when you have an aneurysm, and it's just not all in the head.
  2. I walked into the ER and basically told the check in person I thought I was having a stroke. She probably didn't take me seriously and sent me to the waiting room where I waited to be seen for two hours. Once I was finally seen, I had a CT scan and an MRI and then a spinal tap. Once I had the spinal tap, the decision to transfer me to a hospital in Seattle was made at once. Interestingly, I went by ambulance, which drove around through Tacoma and up to Seattle, a 75 mile trip. I was hoping for lights and siren, but no such luck. The only other option would have been by ferry (an hour's ride at best and probably not even available at that time of night) or the Life Flight helicopter. I remember thinking if they took the helicopter, I was determined to enjoy the ride even with that horrible headache. I've never been on a helicopter. I got to Seattle on Saturday morning and I always thought they operated Sunday morning. Now I'm thinking they actually did do the coiling on Saturday, as I got to the hospital at about 6am. It's amazing what I can't remember about any of that. I also can't remember if I had a headache when I got to Seattle. I do know I texted people I knew and said I was in the hospital with an aneurysm, naturally not bothering to explain anything and scaring everyone to death, especially as the battery in my phone gave out and it was another day till anyone knew how I was doing. I do know, though, that the next time I go into the hospital with anything serious, it's going to be by ambulance and I'll definitely be making more noise about my situation!
  3. Hey all! I have a disability hearing coming up at the end of April. I am currently on state disability - the April hearing will be for federal disability. Originally, the hearing and disability were for my back. I am in pain so bad that I really can't stand, sit leaning back, or walk for more than 10 minutes at at time. Needless to say, doctors can't find a thing wrong. Now my lawyer thinks I just handed her a plum with having an SAH. I guess my original back problem was looking a little iffy if I brought it to a judge. So here's my dilemma: I came out of this aneurysm with flying colors with no problems whatsoever. I notice that if anything, I just get tired out very easily and I am not as sharp as I used to be in word games and things of this sort (hopefully I will improve). I had a checkup two weeks ago and was told I was in as good a condition as possible, although that one day being out, going over to the city and back, left me absolutely exhausted. I was told that the decision to finish the coiling procedure will be made when the torn artery in my neck completely heals in six months, at which time I will go back for an angiogram. What I'm wondering is what to say to the judge. He will have all the medical records and they will say I am doing fine. The judge will be considering whether I can go back to work. My back is screaming no, but I know judges don't have a lot of sympathy for back problems. However, I know my stroke will be brought into play here and that's what will probably get me my disability. The question I have is, should it? After all the problems I see you guys having, I feel so fortunate and I'm inclined to think I have no problems at all. My lawyer tells me when I see the judge, this is my time to whine. I'm not comfortable with that, but really, do I have anything to whine about (besides my back)? My stroke will be four months in the past by the time of the hearing - how well should I feel at that time? I know everyone is different, but I'm curious if after four months, anyone would consider themselves well enough to go back to work?
  4. I'm not sure if this will help......I've had headaches all my life, some of which were so severe that when I had my aneurysm rupture, no, that wasn't the worst headache I'd ever had! But afterward the SAH, I started having some new headaches. These felt mostly like they were in my eye on one side or the other. Then I realized that since I hadn't had any of my regular headaches since the SAH, I could finally recognize when I had a sinus headache. Maybe you're experiencing headaches that are the result of something else. If you're stressed (and who wouldn't be after all this?), you may clench your teeth and send the muscle in your jaw into spasms. Now that hurts just like a bad headache. If you're worried, I'd check with your doctor, but you might want to keep a headache diary maybe listing weather conditions, what you ate, and stuff like that to see if there is anything consistent about the headaches. It's also a handy thing to have to give to your doctor if you see him.
  5. I have to say, I didn't have any real issues with those horse pills, except for being able to taste them YUCK! and the fact that they were so large CHOKE!. I really only set my alarm at midnight and 4am, and I wake up at least twice a night anyway, so that wasn't a problem for me. The good thing though, is because you're taking them 4 times a day, the pile seems to diminish very quickly. If you are having reactions, I'd do as the others said and make sure your doctor what's going on.
  6. Thank you everyone for your welcome. I'm sorry I haven't been here sooner - lots going on. But I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday and it looks like all is fine. They nicked an artery during the coiling procedure and that will take about 6 months to heal completely. At that point they will do an angiogram and then they will know whether or not I need to have the procedure finished. I may not need to have that. Meantime, I'm cleared for exercise, swimming and working on my dollhouse. YAY! So things are going great!
  7. First off, I want to say you guys sound like terrific people. This sounds like a great supportive group! Well, I guess you could count me the Queen of Denial and the dumbest, luckiest person ever when it comes to my SAH. I've had headaches all my life, starting when I was a child of 6 or 7. Over the years I've learned what triggers them and pretty much how to avoid them and I'm very familiar with how my headaches feel. Om Dec. 30, a Monday, I rolled over in bed in the middle of night and felt a flash of pain across the front of my forehead. Then I had a bad headache all round my head. I thought at the time "aneurysm", but I thought that was supposed to be the worst headache of your life and this wasn't, so then I thought I had pinched a nerve in my neck. This wasn't a normal headache for me, but I decided to wait and see what happened (1st dumb mistake). The headache went for three days and on Friday I was finally feeling back to normal. I had just had my computer connected for the first time in 1 1/2 years that morning and was pretty happy. Then, late in the evening, the headache struck again. It was boom! one minute I'm feeling fine and the next minute I was in excruciating pain, just like someone had snuck up behind me and hit me with a brick. So now I knew there was something wrong (still thinking the possibility of aneurysm) and I put things off by calling the advice nurse. When she finally got back to me, she said to hang up and call an ambulance "right now". Naturally, I did no such thing (2nd stupid mistake). I got myself dressed, gathered a few things, and drove myself to the hospital (3rd stupid mistake). I knew there was a hospital fairly close by, but after driving around a few minutes (and finally realizing this was a very dumb thing to do), I went to another hospital I'd been to before but which was 7 miles and 15 minutes further on (4th stupid mistake - always scope out the hospital nearest you so you can find it in a hurry!). I arrived at this hospital and for my 5th and final stupid mistake, instead of rushing into emergency and insisting that this was, indeed, a real emergency and I should be seen right away, I calmly walked in and announced to the nurse at the desk, "I have a bad headache and I think I'm having a stroke." That got me a two hour wait in the waiting room. However, once I was seen, I had a cat scan and an MRI and finally a spinal tap. When the doctor saw blood in the spinal fluid, I was sent to Harborview, a hospital in Seattle. That was Saturday morning. I don't remember much about Saturday except eating some godawful dinner that was supposed to be vegetarian chili. Early the next morning I was taken into surgery where the surgeon proceeded to use coiling on my aneurysm. Both my legs were in sheaths and I was totally miserable with those and lying on my back. For some reason, the chili hadn't digested and as they moved me to my room in ICU, I managed to throw up on everybody and everything (including myself) - that was one way of getting rid of that chili, although not a popular one. I remember the following morning and all through the next day I drove the nurses crazy asking when I could sit up. Finally, at 8pm or so, the sheaths were removed and I was allowed to sit up. From that moment on, I was a healthy, happy person and drove the nurses nuts again because healthy people are usually not in ICU. I volunteered to sweep the floor of my room, I cleaned my own potty dish (which I found out is a big no-no), I got out of bed so often they set the bed alarm on me and when the poor person in the next room was calling for help, I called my nurse to help him. I think those nurses were sort of glad to see me leave (I will say, though, they were absolute angels and never, ever, showed any impatience or any other emotion except that they were glad to be there helping people. Considering that it was me they had to take care of, that had to have been very difficult for them! LOL). Anyway, I had the coiling done on Sunday and spent a week in ICU. I was supposed to stay another week in a regular ward, but I was bouncing around so much, they let me go home on the next Saturday with some friends that had come to visit. It goes without saying that as soon as I got home, I had to go out and get something to eat, as I had absolutely nothing in my cupboards. So I went to Burger King that night and then for the next three days, I spent a couple of hours a day shopping for food and fighting with Comcast at their local office - they had turned off my service while I was in the hospital (don't ask!). I learned 2 hours was about my limit then and recently was out and about for 4 hours, my limit now. Otherwise, I am home resting, eating, and gaining weight (not good, I know). I live on my own and I've been taking care of myself since I got home. I've had no headaches or other problems and am currently off of all medication. I go back in to see my doctor the first week in March, at which time I will have another CT scan. My understanding is that the base of my aneurysm (they called it a berry aneurysm) was too wide to finish all in one go, so I may have to go back in and have the procedure finished. I had a basilar tip aneurysm 7mm by 6mm, and I have no idea if that is considered a large or small aneurysm. The aneurysm ruptured, which I thought was a stroke, but I might be wrong. Is a ruptured aneurysm and a stroke the same thing, and if not, what's the difference? I am also concerned about what some of you said about the DMV not allowing you to drive. I haven't received any notice or anything from them, my doctor didn't say anything, and I've been driving since the day I came home. Do I need to worry about this? Anyway, sorry for the long story here - I guess I type like I talk - non-stop!
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