Getting Ready for Round 2

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

As I’m getting ready for the round 2 coiling procedure on my brain aneurysm remnant, I’m reminded after reading a brain aneurysm foundation post, about just how fortunate and blessed I am.

So, get ready, I’m going to count my blessings!

  • My initial rupture of this damn aneurysm didn’t kill me: Blessing #1
  • There was a local Dr. who came back from vacation to insert 16 coils into the aneurysm saving my life: Blessing #2
  • My then boyfriend (now husband) was by my side every day of the 20 days I was in the hospital, even driving back down to the hospital only a couple hours after he left…over an hours drive: Blessing #3
  • My rupture didn’t leave me with any deficits or loss of functions, so I was able to able to return to my job 3 months later: Blessing #4
  • I was able to enjoy four uninterrupted, annie-free years of working, living, gardening and loving life after my rupture: Blessing #5
  • I was married last year to my Maine Man, my angel, and my best friend who has continued to care for me on a daily basis and be so, so understanding and patient: Blessing #6
  • After losing our only Dr. who did coiling in the state, a new Dr. has arrived in the state who does both brain procedures, coiling and clipping: Blessing #7
  • Unfortunately, an issue has developed with my original ruptured aneurysm from 2006 and another smaller aneurysm was newly discovered, but, I KNOW about them and we can monitor and DO something about them before they rupture: Blessing #8
  • I’ll have coiling on Wednesday, by a Dr. who I have a tremendous amount of confidence in. My sister is flying in to be with my husband during the procedure: Blessing #9
  • My family, friends, co-workers and completed strangers who I have befriended on message boards are praying for me: Blessing #10
  • -If all goes well, I’ll be back home on Thursday and recovering nicely….hopefully Blessing #11!!

March Stents Bring April Coils

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

The date for my additional coils to be inserted into the brain aneurysm remnant has finally been scheduled for April 27th. I’m not crazy about waiting 3 more weeks, but it is what it is. I know there are other people out there with other needs and the scheduling at the hospital has been an issue because my Dr. is leaving for Finland for the entire month of May. At least I know when it’ll be done.

I forget that I have a stent in that artery, not something to BLOCK the blood flow into the aneurysms per say. So, there is still blood flowing into that remnant on the side of the aneurysm that has already ruptured once before. That makes me a little uneasy, but I’ll try not to think about it too much and continue on.

I’m hoping to get more seeds planted this weekend and continue to grow things as I normally would. It IS spring you know…the season of rebirth and renewal.

Another month…more metal in my brain! Yeee hawww!

Fatigue

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

Even though what I went through almost two weeks ago wasn’t as traumatic as my rupture in 2006, it was still stressful on my brain. Coiling was attempted and then a stent was employed, so some things out of the norm still occurred.

Even though I know fatigue is a major after-effect of any brain issue, it can still be very frustrating and cause one to feel out of sorts and un-effective when all you want to do is sleep. Reading that it’s OK to feel fatigue and that it’s normal again has helped. It’s getting everyone else to understand that fatigue is a part of this that’s difficult some times.

People at work have been great and Dave is always understanding, but those who are outside of the realm may not get it and explaining it in depth just isn’t something I like to do with every person. Oh, well….it is what it is!!

And I’ll probably JUST get to feeling back to normal and I’ll get to do it all over again for the coiling at the end of April. Goody!

Back At It (sort of)

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

I was back at work on Friday. Dave offered to take me in and pick me up, so I took him up on that offer. I could have done the drive in, but not the 30 mile drive back home after working all day.

The different setting took some getting used to and my office had been cleaned, so many things weren’t in the same place, but it felt good to get back to some kind of normalcy. It turned out to be a busier day than I was expecting, which was good and bad. It made the day go by very quickly, but I didn’t give myself enough breaks, so by mid-afternoon I was wiped out. I forget I need to pace myself and listen to my body after any
kind of a brain procedure. Simple things will take a lot of out of me for a time yet.

Dave arrived about a half an hour early and I promptly left. I kept yawning about every 30 seconds on the drive home. Poor Dave. Not much fun for him.

I was a zombie when we got home. I had planned on making dinner, but Dave talked me into laying down and resting. Of course I immediately fell asleep, which I knew I would. I woke up at 7:00 then was back into bed around 9 or so. Yep….the fatigue is alive and well. Frustrating, but it’s all a part of it.

Saturday I felt okay, but was still tired. I took two naps throughout the day, but that’s okay. I needed them….my mind and body needed them. I took a big step on Friday flying right back into work full-time like that. We’ll see how I do next week.

I want to sow some seeds, but just don’t have the energy right now. And I keep forgetting I have to do this all over again the end of April when I have the coiling done. Yippee!