Category: Coiling

Dentist

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Well, today I discovered what my neuroradiologist meant when he said “antibiotic prophylactic” at the tail end of my follow-up check up in November in response to my asking a question about a dentist appointment. Unfortunately, he didn’t tell me I needed a prescription for it, what type of antibiotic I needed and that I needed to take it one hour before even a cleaning at my dentist.

I found this out this morning when I just mentioned antibiotic prophylactic before my cleaning. Red flags were thrown, they tried to call the Dr’s office and couldn’t get through and I had to turn around and come home and will call the Dr’s office
this afternoon to try and get an answer.

I am kicking myself for not asking sooner, but I really didn’t know what it was, nor how, or whom to ask. Thankfully, the dental technician was very helpful. My Neuroradiologist….was not.

I reschedule my dental appointment for the 2nd time and will try it again in a couple of weeks. I may have to take them forever before any kind of a dental procedure that might trigger bleeding. Or maybe only for a year or so. I don’t know. It’s to ward off any kind of risk for bacteria getting into my blood stream, which makes sense….NOW! LOL It’s quite common for people who have had specific types of surgery

Aches & Pains Update

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For those of you who are reading my blog; an update on effects from the aneurysm and surgery.

As or the last couple of days, I have felt pretty good. Still, the time I most feel head pain is first thing in the morning and sometimes right before falling asleep. Sinus pressure still seems to effect me greatly darn it and I’ve had two migraines since the surgery…double darn it.

I still have Vicodin, but only take it when the pain is very sever, which is still can be, but much less frequently. Usually the Tylenol helps, or closing my eyes.

I’m still struggling with stamina…or lack there of. I can do laundry and get a little tired, but talking for a long time or being around a lot of talking can really make me feel exhausted.

I’ve been working 5 to 6 hours a day, twice a week and by the time I get home I’m really pooped. Sometime with a bad headache that last for hours, but for the most part, once I eat something and rest for a bit, it feels better.

Overall, I’m doing better. I’m walking three times a week, just inside. We have a one-story, ranch-style house, so it’s a nice trek and it feels good to have some exercise and get my heart rate going.

I have a friend who’s father is currently dying from cancer. Sadly, there is nothing they can do for him and I’m told, even though she knows he is in pain, he is not complaining.

I was lucky in that I was able to have surgery to correct my problem and I AM complaining. I’ve tried to stop it. My little aches and pains are minor compared to what he is going through and what I’ve already gone through. The worst of my recovery
is over. Frustration and some lingering “after-effect” are all I have to contend with now and I should just buck up and tell people I’m “Good!”. Because, after what I HAVE been there, I truly am. And I’m very lucky to be alive, have all my motor functions and to be able to work some. I have the luxury of time for my recovering, her father does not and God bless him for being so strong for his family.

Sometimes Too Much

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There are several aneurysm survivor’s message boards/support groups out there online. While I was still in the hospital, I found it very comforting to talk to someone who was going through the same thing. If there were a local group here in Maine of people who survived aneurysms,  I’d probably be going to that as well.

But, for all the help, comfort and positive reinforcement I have been given on the message board I belong to, it can also be a bit scary. There are many survivors who have gone through, and continue to go through much worse after-effects and problems than I have. For those folks, I don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine living with multiple unruptured annies. Little time-bombs waiting to go off unless they can be
operated on. I had one…I just didn’t know it.

There are people who have gone through less than me as well. Some are lucky enough to have found their annies during a scan BEFORE they rupture and have the surgery. We all go through some of the same symptoms, but no two stories are exactly alike, which causes me some upset.

Although my last MRI looked good, I’m worried that something else will show up on my angiogram in April. Chances are it won’t, but because I read a lot of stories of people who go back for a check up and something shows up, it has caused some concern. I hate to worry about something that may not happen, and probably won’t, but reading all the stores makes me think about it, which in turn….well, it makes me worry. I don’t lose sleep over it, I just think about it and have a twinge of concern. I’m sure as soon as the date for my angiogram gets closer, I WILL think about it more.

Sometimes I just need to step away from the message aboard for a few days and remember how lucky I am and not read the horror stories. I know that seems horribly selfish, but I need to think about me now and what I have accomplished and not take a step back and let worry consume me. So far, it hasn’t, but who knows what’ll happen down the road. Hopefully nothing! And I need to concentrate on that.

Survivor’s guilt hits me when I read the stories of others who are still suffering so much after their annies have ruptured. Why am I different from them? What led my annie to bleed less than others? Again…we’re all different, but the common denominator, and the reason I keep going back to the boards, is that we’re all survivors! God bless everyone who’s had an annie…ruptured or not.

Phase 3

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I think this is phase 3 of my recovery.

It’s the time where people don’t even respond to my “reports” on how I’m doing anymore. They’ve been there, done that, so why bother. I’m sure it’s something like: “I’ve already told her I was glad she survived, I have better things to do”.

OR, could it be I’m missing human contact (other than Dave. He must be sick of me!) or that I have PMS….or that depression phase I’ve been hearing so many people say I might experience is happening. Just not sure.

I think that “cooped up feeling” is going to start too, but I just can’t do too much yet, so this could be a test the next couple of weeks.

Hell, I’ve survived worse.