Well hello everyone! in reading your stories, we all sound like we pretty much went through the same experience when we found out our brain decided to Pop.
Mine started about the same, no warning, accept that wet feeling inside of my brain that would come and go, you go on with life and forget about it. I did mentioned it to 2 of my doctors and both of them said they never heard of it, but we would keep an eye on it. Well 1 month later, it happend. My husband and I were at a function/party enjoying ourselves, when after having desert and checking out the silent auction, I felt a pop in my stomach and emmediatly the trobbing headache and pain on my neck.
Than I knew something serious is going on, my rt foot started to have a mind of it's own, it wouldn't stand straight, so with my training in CPR & First Aid, something kept telling me it sounds like something neorological is going on. My husband thought I had food poising or the flu. Nah, pain was too intense. So we decided to leave with me holding on tight to him. Don't fall sleep what I ever I do.
He took the highway on the fast lane to get home ASAP, well no sooner, I decide to chrisin the truck, (barfed) all over the place, my poor husband nearly had a heart attack, it was like that movie, "The Excorsist" all over again. Well he decided to cross over 3 lanes to park the truck before I went at again, I did, but he had parked and I opened the door, but what a mess!!! On me and the truck. We headed home to change, and him try to clean the mess.
Jump 3 hrs later, I must of fallen at some point,but I don't remember, but I had a bruise over my forehead and purple tongue rt side. We decided to go to the nearest hospital finaly, and went up to the nurse and told what's been happening, I was so impressed with the hospital in how quickly they moved, I told the nurse what I felt, next thing she's taking my BP, which was way to high, I just got my medical records and it said 212/101, how high is that? next thing I hear the tone of the nurse and it sounds serious, but she did say something that made me feel good.( 1) your are very sick and (2) we are here to help you, your pain will lessen soon enough, were going to give you morphine and than take you for a cat scan.
Next thing, I'm being told by the doctors that I'm going to fly in a helicopter, this is the way they can save me, and were taking you to another hospital that's equiped to handle this. Your husband and son are here to kiss you goodbye, and unfortunatly they can't fly with you, but will drive and meet u there...I'm like, OK. feeling no pain...but new exactly what was being said to me. I also kept thinking, Gee for flying in a helicopter, a dream of mine for years, not this way, but I kept thinking, it's awfuly quiet for being outside of a helicopter, They had ear fluffs on me and blind fold for my eyes.
Next thing were entering the surgery suite, with no idea what's going on, accept the anesthisiologist was pretty funny, he made some comment to me about what a Sat nt it's been and I'm thinking, I hope they play some good music, well I must of said that outloud, cause I heard, what would you like us to play. Jazz, next thing I wake up in ICU, knowing...Sandra your not going anywhere too soon. I had tubes everywhere, my head felt like It went through allot, but haven't looked in the mirror yet, my family is still no where to be found. But I'm in no pain, and it feels great! Than my Neuro comes in and explains what they just did, I had a coil done to try to stop the bleeding, which was going into a large bag...I looked at that and asked, how does that fit in my brain? Finaly my husband and sons came in....I also heard my son who lives in England will be arriving in AZ soon, and my daughter who lives in Dallas as well. With those words, I knew I would be well. But still wasn't aware that I'm not going yet.
I guess the doctors wanted to sure I wouldn't get a stroke, since they were hoping I would be a candidate for a shunt. I was able to get up on my 3rd day, and walk if I felt OK, boy did I!!! I pushed myself with my little friend, the cart and my blood. But new that eventualy I was going to need a massage, my neck was hurting me as well as my sacrum, I knew from my training as a MT and Cranial Sacral, I was wondering what was happening with all that fluid that runs from the top of my head down to the sacrum...I asked my doctors if I could get a massage and he said, sure as long as he know what to do? lol, he's a licensed therapist and I trust him 100%. Well I had my massage the next day and rt way, I can feel my neck feeling better, so next the sacrum. I had another massage and my update was beyond what doctors can understand or explain. I was still pretty tired, but my attitude was very postive. God had big plans for me. I'm also a Reiki Master and have been using Reiki in my practice for awhile. Between all that, I'd like to say I feel like a walking miracle, 20 days later in the ICU, I did get my shunt. I have the Codman Hakim, and I feel prett good. No headache, I went home the next day, I stopped the percosat 1 week later, and all I take is Ibuprofin 200 mgs. I sleep well now that my shunt and I are used to sleeping together. I know I still have a way to go since it's only 2 months since the shunt. Almost 3 months since the coil. The worst part of all this so far was when they took my stitches out and staples...The only time I cried...and I could have pitch that young Resident who did it.
I did have some stomach cramps off and on, I had a cat scan done and all came back fine. It's either my stomach getting uses to the CF fluid or part of my healing. But this past week, no pain. So getting better. That's it for now. Make it a great day!
