Month: December 2007

Another

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It was very nice…a coworker asked me how I was doing. I said “Fine”. Then she said “No, Heidi…HOW ARE YOU FEELING?”. LOL She obviously meant the post-annie recovery. I haven’t been asked that question by anyone at work in so long, it threw me.

I informed her I was doing great. She asked about after effects and I explained the fatigue and the brain fatigue and some limitations on physical activities, but that considering what could have happened, I’m doing great. She asked if it changed my life at all…well, absolutely! I value my time AWAY from work far more than I valued my time at work and that work is not the most important thing in my life. My LIFE is the most important thing. Everyone in the lunchroom who overheard it was nodding.

Still Limits

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Well, Friday at work I had a five hour meeting with no real lunch break. I can’t do that anymore I have learned. Wow, was I beat, tired and fried afterwards. The brain fatigue was quite evident. Then after getting my grocery list together once I got home from work, my head starting hurting…right where the annie is/was.

Saturday, we decorated the Xmas tree. It took me a long time to get going, but once I did I got into it and again, probably did too much at one time. Nothing like I was last year however when I had to stop every 10 minutes to take a break and drink some water. Things were still “settling” last year but I find that bending over still bothers me..at least doing it too quickly…or doing it too quickly after a day with a five hour meeting! LOL

The tree looks beautiful and has many more ornaments on it than it did last year due to my sluggishness at that time. I’m just happy to be here for another Christmas!

Coiling Graphic

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I was doing a search last night on platinum coils and ran across this graphic on the BBCNews.com website from 2005.

Brain Aneurysm Coiling
How, and where coils are inserted into brain aneurysm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I had found this graphic a year ago when I felt like an idiot for asking Dr. Kwan how he got to the left side of my brain from my right groin. LOL A pretty amazing procedure and this is a very simple explanation.

Then it made me think of just how lucky I was that this massive annie didn’t rupture more than it did. How it didn’t rupture during some of the most strenuous and stressed other periods of my life prior to last Oct. is beyond me.

Looking Back

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In looking back at this time last year, I was still struggling. Struggling with my balance, my head pain and my every day life. A little over a year ago, I was still using a cane and had barely set foot into a store, much less drove my car.

Yes, I have made some major milestones in the last year. I feel very good and am starting to exercise again. We’ll see how well I can stick to it this time. I went back to work full time in April and although the catalog was a huge, huge struggle for me this year, I did it.

I still get very tired, which is a little frustrating and I still feel “brain tired” when I overdo it at the computer, or pretty much anything that involves a lot of brain work. Even everyday things.

Last year I recall being frustrated with how pooped I’d get wrapping presents and how I was unable to assist with the Christmas tree as much as I would have wanted. This year, I hope to make some more milestones by stepping it up from last year and being able to do more.

Dave, as usual, has been wonderfully supportive and caring. I still don’t know what I’ve done to deserve him, but I’m a lucky woman all the way around.