Hey y’all! Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the week! Saw my PCP this week, she gave me a stress reduction list of suggestions and on it was the breathe in for count of 6, hold for 7 and out for 8. I told her that’s not how I do it and she said as long as I breathed out for longer that I breathed in and held it I’d be good. I have been trying it, and haven’t decided if I see the benefit or not. Of course I will continue to practice as I know that without consistent practicing I will never know or not. An old dog can learn new tricks! She also told me that with the diuretic she put me on to replace my electrolytes whenever I sweat. I admire and respect her, she explains things in a way my brain can hold on to.
I also had a nerve conduction study. He was really nice and fast considering the last one I had done by a Fellow. He explained he was a Physiatrist with 22 years of practice. He had also been a Fellow! I think pretty much all my doctors have been Fellows that I have now. Found this as a simple explanation What's the difference between a fellow, resident, and attending? - Feeding Families Foundation The Physiatrist had 18 months as a Fellow, my Neurosurgeon had 2 years in her program and my PCP had 1 year I think, I’m not sure how long my Rheumatologist had in her program. I once explained to my mom and BH when the cardiology Fellow was full of himself that it meant he was good at taking tests. He agreed. BH realized I wasn’t complimenting him, he did not. There’s a lot more to it than just being good at taking tests, a doctor needs to be at the top of their class, already received their MD so passing the board exams, receive recommendations by specialists in that field, have some community service that qualifies and more importantly they have to pass all the interviews. Fellow positions are very limited and it is a big deal to become a Fellow as they have to meet all the criteria during the fellowship. So it’s a lot more work. I have never been brushed aside by a physician who has been a Fellow, they’ve always listened and they all can think outside the box. I need doctors who can think outside the box as I’ve never been one to follow rules. Interestingly the Physiatrist found something else going on in my left arm. I’ll find out next week what the surgeon wants to do. We can knock the carpal tunnel surgery of the list, it’s mild and I immediately wanted to tell the surgeon “na na na na knew knew” something we sang as children when we were correct and another not. Of course I will not, I don’t know her well enough lol.
I was a bit apprehensive before the nerve conduction study because the one I had on the other arm was in no way pleasant. My lumbar wasn’t a big deal but oh my the right arm hurt like a dickens! Besides practicing both my regular relaxation and the new one, I started counting positives. I think I was up to 11 or 12 before we even walked in to the building! I probably could have counted more but BH and I were chatting on the hour long trip. Traffic was flowing really well, traffic lights were green and we made it half hour earlier than expected. Definitely a positive! They have a kiosk to check in and pay at. I tried 3 times to get it to accept my card, BH tried and it failed. Before I lost my temper I stood in line and a very nice young man at the check out counter got me taken care of so another big positive!
It’s easy to start counting positives in your every day life. I encourage you all to try it. Let’s start by counting the new members!
@Ylynn is over and up in Oregon. Lynn had a craniotomy for a double sac unruptured aneurysm in June of this year. Lynn shares she had a thunderclap headache, went to the ER. CT found the aneurysm and the follow up with the surgeon who did the clipping.
@7104265244080 is way over in South Africa! Duane is 55 years old and on the 1st of July 2026 he developed a terrible headache so he took some Ibuprofen. Later that day he decided to do some painting and asked his partner to sit with him. Good thing he did! 15 minutes later, Duane collapsed, vomited and stopped breathing. His partner called the ambulance and it took about 30 minutes to reach their home. He was taken to hospital where they thought he had epilepsy then thought meningitis. Duane was sent to another hospital and eventually sent for a scan. The scan showed the ruptured aneurysm.
He was operated on the next day stayed in ICU for 3 days when he asked to go home. They released him. Duane shares he never met the surgeon, the surgeon never came by during his 3 day stay and he has so many questions he needs answered. He wants to know when he can ride his horse and go back to work. He wants to know if he’ll make it through the next few months and what he should look out for. Duane shares that facing his own mortality has shaken his world and he is afraid. He feels if had a few answers it would rest his heart. He has been in contact with the hospital but hasn’t heard back from the surgeon nor his office and depression has set in. Duane has had tinnitus and a dull headache that won’t leave. He needs someone to reach out to him so he doesn’t feel alone. Fortunately he is reaching out to a mental health professional with an appointment on the 17th of August. Duane, we are here for you!
@Netsi is up in Virginia. Netsanet shares she is 37 and a 4th year medical student having been a critical care RN. Netsanet was scheduled to take her USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examinations) on Feb 24, 2026 but on Jan 19 she had a SAH from her ruptured aneurysm and BOOM life is upside down! Netsanet wants to know what’s next and how did she survive. Both good questions and we can definitely share our experiences!
@VeryTallPaul is over the pond in London. Paul had a brain aneurysm found incidentally and spotted by a junior doctor (the USA calls them residents, both already have their MDs and are training in their speciality). Paul shares he likes football, house music and trainers in no particular order! Paul is really on top of things, he has already started a new topic found here My story - unruptured aneurysm !
@Irodr4 is down in Texas and is a relative. Ivan shares his mother suffered a ruptured aneurysm and she had an endovascular procedure to stop the bleeding. The first few days she was moving her legs, hands, head and everything as if nothing happened. She was able to speak and recognize family after she woke up from surgery. But on day 7, everything changed. His mother woke up not knowing who she was, where she was at or who Ivan’s brother was. She was rushed in to do an angiography procedure and was experiencing vasospasms. It was caught in time but 2 days later she experienced vasospasms again and had the same procedure. But she suffered a stroke and can no longer speak but understands what she is asked like who she is and how the family is. Ivan was told that the stroke has caused additional swelling and she may never be able to speak again. He was told they may have to remove a portion of her skull to relieve the pressure from the swelling. Ivan shares his family is mentally in shambles and doesn’t know how to even think at this point. One minute she was making progress and the next this. He would like to know if she will be able to make any kind of recovery. Ivan also shares he is a Social Worker Case Manager for people with disabilities. Ivan we know how stressful a rupture can be for family members, please come talk to us and we can share our experiences.
@seahorse is in Washington State. Cheryl shares that her fiance has been diagnosed and she is trying to find out how serious this is. The Doctor isn’t giving them much other than wait for the neurosurgeon. Cheryl, please come talk to us and let us know a little more. We can definitely help you out in what we have learned.
Last up for the week is @Sorengyrl right next door in Tennessee. Christine has been through physical therapy and eye surgeries after bleeding into her eyes and is now trying to get back into shape. She shares she was a frequent sufferer of migraines, but one night she went to her husband and told him to call 911 (USA emergency services #) then she passed out. She had ruptured and the rupture was repaired. She was blind for a few months due to the bleeding into her eyes but surgeons were able to fix that as well. She often feels like she is the luckiest person. Christine shares she loves to write, photograph nature and buildings and to sew clothes. My gosh I want to learn more!
For everyone new, know that you are each important and we would love to be able to help you out on your journey of being in the brain aneurysm world. We have members who have ruptured, had repairs on incidental finds and who are on the watch and wait list. We cannot help you unless you ask in a new topic under General. Just click on the +Add New Topic box and fill in the parameters. If it ends up in the wrong place, no worries I will move it. IF you have any problems navigating the site you can reach out to me @Moltroub but understand that I am only on in the mornings. We also have @ModSupport a handful of people who moderate all of the Ben’s Friends Support Groups as well as help out here. We aren’t in the same time zones so be patient for someone to respond to you. I strongly encourage you all to come join us in an existing topic or really better to start a new one just so we get to know you better. I’m counting each one of you in my positives for today, thank you!
For the existing members…oh my once again you have managed to impress me and that’s not something easily done! Thank you as it always adds to my positives! If you can help out @Ralf here Are there any signs before a rupture happens? it will be greatly appreciated!
Count your positives, practice your breathing, keep hydrated and rest as needed! Until next week be safe and hug someone you love!