Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day! We get to welcome new members, everything’s going my way! Yes, you can thank me or blame me if that old song gets stuck in your head, either way is good. If you aren’t old enough to remember the song, here it is https://youtu.be/O5APc0z49wg?si=5VXP_O4YzJo955Et. It’s from “Oklahoma” a movie and musical we would often watch on the television as kids. It’s a few years older than I am, but not by much. It’s amazing how much music moves us isn’t it? BH and I took the day off yesterday sort of. Meaning we were mostly lazy. I used to take Sundays as my off days but since I ruptured, we’ve gone to Saturday which is what BH prefers. We listened to ‘70’s folk music as we sat on the back patio drinking our Kona coffee we picked up which is a huge treat for us. All in all a very relaxing day which I apparently needed and didn’t know.
Mr. Curley sent a text to BH the day before asking if I was ok. I’ve had a few bad brain days and he was worried. He always sends a text to BH when he’s worried, sometimes several. Problem is if BH is at work, the texts don’t come through because the corporation has some type of block to protect their software. Unlike me and my rules, when BH is home the phones are not around. I have to have my phone on me at all times, one of many, many rules.
I often wonder how many of us get a whole new set of rules we have to adapt to and more importantly remember after a rupture. Do our members have new rules when they have an incidental find and get it repaired? Mr. Curley has new rules, he had a lumber repair. Since he reminds me of the rules I sometimes forget, I have started to remind him of his that he forgets. We have a good time, no hard feelings. BH and Ms. Judy have decided we don’t forget our rules, we just ignore them. Perhaps they are correct, please do not tell them I said that! I have a couple rules today that I need to forget so I can do something I want to do. I’ll stop my rambling now and get back to our beautiful morning of welcoming new members!
@Dee is New York City. Nancy shares that she work up around 2:00 am on August 15, 2025 with severe dizziness. She thought it was just vertigo as it happened before. She was able to see her cardiologist a few days earlier, explained her symptoms, cardiologist sent her for a CT of neck and brain which Nancy had on the 27th. September 3rd Cardio office calls and lets her know she has a small brain aneurysm and needs to see a neurosurgeon which happened on Sept 9th. Nancy, please start a new topic under general tab and let us know how it went. Did you get enough information to make you comfortable enough to share with your family?
@WendyFl Is in Minnesota and is waiting to be scheduled for clipping (craniotomy procedure). Wendy went to the ER and MRI showed an aneurysm. She then had an angiogram and her doctor is recommending the craniotomy due to the shape and size. She’ll know soon when the big day will be. Wendy shares its very scary but she’s happy to have a path forward without having to experience a rupture. Come talk to us Wendy, just start a new topic under the General tab! I’ve never seen an Aussiedoodle, I need to get on the internet.
@Vayla Is in Maryland and must be an incredibly strong woman. Kristine survived metastatic thyroid cancer and thought her stiff neck was related. ENT referred her for a CT with contrast who then immediately got in touch with Dr. Anaizi, vascular surgeon at Georgetown University in D.C. Dr. Stemer did her angiogram on Aug 11. They thought she had 2, nope, they found 3! Her’s are saccular aneurysms on the right internal carotid artery. Dr. Stemer said one has been there since 2010. I did not know they’ve learned how to tell how long we’ve had one, medical science always amazes me. Kristine shares she will be having her craniotomy this Tuesday and is a nervous wreck on the inside but staying strong for her family on the outside. Kristine, come talk to us, just start a new topic under General. We can help with those nerves, support is what we do. I’m also really interested in how Dr. Stemer can tell the age of an aneurysm. Thank you for being a 911 call taker, down here we call them dispatchers, but since i had to speak with them a lot when I worked, in my field we just called them Communications. A very stressful job in the small county I worked in for them, but a large city, oh my!
@ss7696 is in Connecticut and was diagnosed on Aug 20 with a brain aneurysm following a thunderclap headache, endovascular surgery the next day and had stent and coils. She was discharged on the 25th! Sounds like a fast recovery as far as ICU stay, fantastic! Stephanie shares she feels lucky, can do most everything she did prior to her procedure but is having terrible headaches. Stephanie is wondering what recovery was like for others with the same procedure. Come ask us, under the General tab and we will share!
@Cathy5 Is out in California (hopefully not near any of the wildfires). Cathy shares she was coiled and clipped. She was snowed in and couldn’t get her blood pressure medication and suffered a brain aneurysm. She also shares she is able to home school her grandson, amazing! Come talk to us Cathy, just start a new topic under the General tab! Of course I’m curious to where about in the Sierra’s you live, I used to play, ride my horse and hike in several different areas as a young adult. They will always remain my favorite mountain range I imagine.
@LAW is down in Florida. LA ruptured in September of last year, had a life flight to hospital, three surgeries, 14 days in ICU and on medical leave from work for 3 months. LA shares they’ve recovered well with limited cognitive difficulties and some lingering physical issues. I’m always excited to read when those of us who rupture can return to work, good for you LA! I’m curious to your 3 surgeries, please tell us more under the General tab, so I can ask!
@Rosebay is across the pond in the UK. Chris just had a MRI for hearing and a brain aneurysm has been found. Chris is retired and has a lot of interests, theatre, city breaks, reading, gym club classes, embroidery, crocheting and knitting! Well done, you! Of course we want to know more and of course I’m going to ask you to start a new topic under the General tab!
@Beckyg is in Wisconsin and had a transracial flow diversion embolization right carotid cave aneurysm. Rebekah’s mother passed away at age 37 from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Beginning in January 2024, Rebekah started feeling unwell, tired all the time, weak, distorted vision, pulsating in head that kept her up all night, unexplained weight gain and hair loss. PCP ran a few tests and determined Vit D was too low and prescribed high dose of it and looked no further. After 6-7 months of returning to the PCP with no improvement and no answers, she changed PCPs. New PCP sent her to a specialist because thyroid was low functioning as her pituitary gland wasn’t increasing the hormone level to get the thyroid hormone up. Specialist listened to Rebekah and sent her to back to primary to order an MRI. The MRI showed a large right intracranial internal carotid artery saccular aneurysm and in Oct 2024 she had a flow diversion placed. Her ongoing symptoms have improved over time. Wow! I’m glad you changed PCPs, sounds like this one is a keeper! Also happy to read your family makes your life complete, sounds like a good family, I’d keep them too! Of course we want to know more, come talk to us under the General tab.
@Destinynt is down in Atlanta, Georgia. Destiny shares her aneurysm is inoperable. She went in for what she thought was a postpartum preeclampsia headache and an incidental find of a 6mm fusiform aneurysm was found. I’m interested in learning more Ms. Destiny, how about starting a new topic under the General tab. We have a few painters that sometimes share their work, hopefully you’ll be one of them!
@LWebster is in Oregon, Lauren’s thyroid numbers were abnormal and a MRI pituitary was ordered. The MRI found an aneurysm pushing on her pituitary and optic chasm. She had a stent placed July 13, 2025 and is curious about recovery and symptoms. Lauren shares her home is diversified, she has a husband, a dog and 2 cats. Diversified is my word, not hers by the way. I imagine them all cuddled up together. Please start a new topic under the General tab so we get to learn more, inquiring minds want to know.
@Katfras Kris bouncing us across the pond again! Katrina is over in Scotland and has just been diagnosed with a basilar artery aneurysm. We’ve got a few members with aneurysms on the basilar artery, if you have any questions, or just need some support, start a new topic under the General tab!
Welcome to all y’all! If you haven”t noticed, the web site has an updated look, thanks to all the hard work of the Ben’s Friends crew that made it happen. If you have and difficulties navigating the site, just reach out to me @Moltroub or the wonderful folks who make up the @ModSupport team and one of us will help. Remember we cover the globe so be patient on replies as members may not be in the same time zone.
We also have a member who needs some help here Recovery after craniotomy for unruptured ACA aneurysm? - #3 by Tjwell1 I’ve not had a craniotomy and I ruptured on the LICA bifurcation which doesn’t really help him.
Have a great week everyone! Sing a song, hug the ones you love, help a friend or stranger, get those endorphins going. Here’s a couple more songs to ponder https://youtu.be/EIADWI3ROIM?si=LPSoYrlPrTQSCzqS and one of my favorites https://youtu.be/LpwabPQW4p4?si=NzILwDUy6yVtB4yN