New Member - Sally

[Salnew]

Hi everyone, 

 

I'm Sally I've recently been diagnosed with /Unruptured Aneurysms, one is 5 mm the other two are a lot smaller.  They were found because I had food poisoning, bursting the blood vessels in my eyes leading to a headache and ended up in hospital. 

 

This was 2 weeks ago, I'm feeling scared as my next hospital appointment is not until April. I'm getting paranoid  and not sure what my future holds. One minute I was working fully time saving for a holiday to US and worrying about what I was going to have for dinner, now..........

 

If anyone can share their own experiences or have any advise that would be great. 

[Super Mario]

Welcome to BTG Sally.

 

It is understandable how you are feeling. You have to put your trust in the doctors. There are members on here who have had unruptured aneurysms treated by coiling or clipping and others who have them monitored.

 

You have found the right place for unconditional support but we cannot give medical advice. I would suggest that you have discussions with your GP or even better the hospital you have been referred to may have a nurse specialist who you can talk to.

 

There is also Headway or the Brain and Spine foundation who will help you come to terms with your diagnosis and be able to explain specifics. You can give either of them a ring and speak to someone.

 

Sadly your plans for a US holiday will have to be put on hold but you will get there eventually. 

[kempse]

Hi Sally,

 

A warm welcome to BTG. 

 

First of all try not to panic - I can fully understand how the discovery of aneurysms has had this effect on you - I think that it is a natural reaction especially if, like most of us on here, you had little or no knowledge on the subject before it was suddenly thrown upon you.

 

Whilst it's hard to accept the knowledge of having aneurysms, it is actually preferable to finding them before they have chance to rupture which is how most of us on here found out we had one or more of them.  Your medical team will determine whether or not it is desirable to have any of yours treated and discuss everything with you. 

 

I have two aneurysms - one ruptured, one not - both have been monitored for the past 8 years and my next scan is in April with the results some time after that. (I won't be getting anxious until then!)

 

Always plenty of support on here if and when you need any,

 

Best wishes,

Sarah

[Chris G]

Welcome Sally,

 

I am sending you prayers and good wishes.  Listen and trust your doctors.  It's new to you, but they see it all the time.  So hopefully, you can find some peace in that.  I hope it all works out well and you make it over here to the US at some time in the future.

 

Chris

[Colleen]

Good morning (in US!) Sally,

 

And welcome to this wonderful site. There is a wealth of archived information here; how much time do you have? LOL. As others have said, it is frightening to know you have some defective vessels in your brain.

 

However, you have been so blessed to find out about them this way. I know you thought the food poisoning felt horrible, but trust me ---- it is NOTHING compared to a ruptured aneurysm. 

 

When end one of my aneurysms ruptured, they found I had a second one that was actually a more dangerous shape. Had it been the one to go, i would not be sending you this message now. So the ruptured one was coiled, but the second one had to be clipped.

 

 I had to wait for two months to heal from the rupture before I could have surgery.  It was difficult to be sure, first because I felt sick anyway, then being scared.  I can honestly tell you that the surgery was so much easier than the rupture.

 

No matter what they decide for you, know you are fully blessed in that you will be monitored hence forth.  Also know that when you see a neurologist or neuro surgeon that this is what they do. They have seen thousands of cases and will know what to do for yours.

 

We will keep you in our prayers.  As far as coming to the U.S. goes, it is a wonderful place, though a bit chaotic at the moment (noisy Americans, going to make their thoughts known!).  We'll be here when you are ready to come.

 

Colleen

[Salnew]

Thanks everyone for the nice welcome. I'm feeling more positive today and may even start to thank the dodgy chicken sandwich that gave me food poisoning. Hehehe.

 

i have really good doctors that I trust and are so helpful and I'm thankful for finding this site, there is so much information here. 

 

Having watched my dad when I was growing up trying to cope with the effects of his strokes, I'm feeling lucky that i may not have to go through that. 

 

 

[Chelle C]

Hi Sally, 

Welcome to the site.

 

You have come to the right place for support, you will find a wealth of information here, hopefully it will help to calm your fears a little bit,

 

There are a few people here who are having aneurysms monitored, i had a ruptured aneurysm they found another one during coiling so they did them both.

 

As everyone has said put your trust in your doctors, they will take great care of you.

In the meantime come here and talk to us we are all here for you, you will find great support and make a lot of new friends here.

Take Care

Michelle x

[Sharlua]

Welcome Sally 

 

I had had a large aneurysm over 10 mm which they felt had bled, when I had a thunderclap headache and collapsed.  Luckily it was coiled successfully, my sister who also had a thunderclap headache (no bleed)was found to have 4 aneurysm's 3 very small and one 4mm.  

 

They have not coiled hers and after two years have stopped monitoring as they have not grown.  They have told that she has the same chance as everyone of one rupturing.

 

I am sure they will decide what they are going to do and it is lucky they found them.  You will get that holiday I am sure, it is very shocking when you first find out but if there was any immediate risk they would have you in for surgery now!

 

I hope your appointment gives some answers for you and reassures you about what will happen.

 

Take care and look forward to hearing how you get on

 

Sharon x

 

 

 

[Winb143]

Phew thought I'd never get rid of check boxes  lol

 

Hello Sally,

 

I had coiling done when my head was bleeding and everyone says it is so much easier when there is no blood about.

 

You will still feel hesitant but they will sort you out xx xx

 

Glad I was in cuckooland when I had my shunt put in for hydrocephalus .

 

This site is a God send and it is good to know you are not alone in this xx

 

Wishing you all the best and chin up xx

 

Winb143 xx

 

 

[Daffodil]

Hi Sal.  I completely understand your worry but try to relax when possible, stress is not good for anyone and the good news is that by finding them they will be able to discuss with you what , if anything, they will do. 

 

I had a SAH back in 2012 which ultimately required me to have a shunt placed as well. The aneurism was coiled but due to its tricky location I have a slight neck on it and it was also discovered I have another small annuerism which they don't think requires any intervention. Because of this I was scanned annually for the first few years to track any change and now I have scans every two years. I expect it will push out a bit more at some point if things remain steady for me. 

 

living with the knowledge of this is fine, it rarely crosses my mind, I feel I  have been lucky to live through my SAH so I am happy to just trust that everything is going to be fine and just deal with it if it means I need more surgery in future. 

 

Please Get on on with your life, don't stop doing things you enjoy but yes maybe postpone US trip plans for a while but once you have had your appointment you will know what they will suggest and hopefully can get that organised. 

[Pete Bourne]

On 31/01/2017 at 16:50, Salnew said:

Hi everyone, 

 

I'm Sally I've recently been diagnosed with /Unruptured Aneurysms, one is 5 mm the other two are a lot smaller.  They were found because I had food poisoning, bursting the blood vessels in my eyes leading to a headache and ended up in hospital. 

 

This was 2 weeks ago, I'm feeling scared as my next hospital appointment is not until April. I'm getting paranoid  and not sure what my future holds. One minute I was working fully time saving for a holiday to US and worrying about what I was going to have for dinner, now..........

 

If anyone can share their own experiences or have any advise that would be great. 

Hi Sal.

How strange that you thought you had food poisoning. I did too and even managed to pursuade the hospital that I had as they were ready to send me home after a drip. My girlfriend stepped in with some further information which prompted a scan and the discovery of a bleed. I owe my life to her x

[Chelle C]

Hi Pete, Welcome to BTG

 

Sorry that you have had SAH, lucky for you that your girlfriend stepped in, my partner did the same,

hospital were adamant that I was having a migraine,

 

You have come to a great place for help and support, this site has been my saviour over the last two years,

 

You didn't say when you had your bleed, so I`m assuming it was recently.

 

Maybe when you feel ready you will tell us a little more about your storey, only if you want to though.

 

You will find  a lot of information here and great support as you go along the recovery road,

 

Wishing you all the very best,

Michelle x

[Louise]

Hi Sally warm welcome glad you found us.

 

I know its easy to say try not to worry but do please try to stay calm and take things easy.

 

As normal all great replies so I will just wish you well hugs.

 

[Winb143]

You will get there Pete and Sal,

 

When I awoke and told I had a bleed this site was a life line for my Daughter and then me once I had a shunt in.

Had hydrocephalus !!

 

I was told by Neuro surgeon no stress and life is full of it, so I sing when down xx

 

Good luck to you both and keep asking questions  xxx

Win xx