Hello all...new to this support group..ruptured aneurysm survivor!

Hello everyone. I am a 33 year old mother of two wonderful boys, age 12 and 9. On August 31st I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary with my wonderful husband Dean. I am new to this community as well as this terrifying condition but was so thrilled to find a place I can tell my story and find others who know what I am going through. On May 14th my life changed forever with very little warning. I do not remember much but my husband found me having a seizure and stroke like symptoms around 5am in bed. I remember having the worst headache I have ever had in my life and then being told they were sending me by helecopter to Theda Clark hospital. I have 3 brain aneurysms and one had ruptured. The went in and coiled the ruptured one and then I spent 14 days in ICU neuro dept and was finally able to go home on May 28th. I still have 2 untreated aneurysms that they can not do surgery on until I am stronger they say. The one is too large to just coil so they said they have to stent and then coil it. I am supposed to take it very easy and hope that the others do not rupture before I can have them surgically repaired. I knew very little about aneurysms until now and to be quite honest I am terrified about this whole situation. I am very blessed to have a wonderful husband who has not left my side since this happened and is making sure I take all my meds, before this I did not even take tylenol for a headache lol, and that I stay as stress free as possible. My kids are helping as well and are so scared that mommy will die. It is heartbreaking to think of all the possibilities and what ifs but I try to stay positive. I still have alot of blood on my brain as well as around my spine so I suffer with a great deal of pain as well as some speech problems, weakness, and balance and dizzy issues but I am alive to tell this story so very greatful. It has completely changed how I look at life and do not take one second for grantit. I have weekly brain scans to track things but still do not know much about my outcome or chances of survival or anything like that cause the doctors do not want me stressed out so they do not tell me much except that I am very lucky to be alive. I plan to fight with everything I have in me to survive and then spend the rest of my life enjoying my family as well as educating people on this terrible illness and raising money for research. Thanks so much for listening to my story and sharing your stories with people like me. It gives me some hope to hear there are others out there that have survived similar situations like mine. God bless and I look forward to getting to know all of you and learning more about this disease and any support or advise would be greatly appreciated and welcome.

Missy R.

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Wow…what a story. You are in my thoughts and nothing but good wishes being sent your way. Stay strong!

I am also a 33 year old mother of two. A three year old boy and a one year old girl. On the plus side, they don’t know what is going on. I have a strong family history on both my mom and dads side so I was screened for any aneurysms just before Christmas. I found out I had one and just had it clipped yesterday. I am so thankful I was able to have the choice to do something about it before rupture.

Please take care in your journey. This is a wonderful group to help you as you navigate through the maze. The people here are wonderful and supportive.

Hi Melissa, I too had an SAH and they found a second aneurysm at the time of my bleed, I have just had the second aneurysm coiled and stented 13 months after my SAH and it was so much easier second time round, you appear to have an amazing positive attitude and that will be what gets you through the coming months, there is so little publicity and information surrounding this illness we are lucky to have this site, stay positive and my love and prayers go to you and your family, Jill xxxx

Hi Melissa,

What a powerful testimony. Thanks be to God for you successful surgery and may He grant you a complete and speedy recovery,

Carole

Missy,

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am 50 years old and the mother of a beautiful 14 year old girl named Mackenzie. My husband and daughter have been amazing! I suffered two strokes in April, (I fit none of the risk factors so contunue to be a mystery to my doctors) while doing numerous tests, they found my "annie' (yes, I learned that term through this site) and decided to coil it. I am 6 weeks into my recovery. I am not back to work yet but am getting better each day. I sit on our front porch and watch my daughter ride her horse and just take it all in. (my first stroke blinded me for a few minutes so sight is a gift) It is wonderful that you have the love and support of your husband and family...that is a true life saver! There is so little known about recovery and everyone seems to have their own story...that is why this site is so wonderful! Be kind to yourself and this process. let your friends dote on you, that was so hard for me to do but once I let go, I cant believe how great it was to feel and accept their love! I keep a box with the cards and letters in them and when I am frustrated because I am tired or have a headache, I read them and count my blessings!

I wish you a pain free day and if that is not possible, some pain free minutes!

Pam

God Bless Missy...saying a prayer right now for You...~