Tag: healing

Murder Mysteries & The Infundibulum

Published on by heiditea2 Comments

I had my 13th cerebral angiogram two days ago. Lucky 13? Well, it almost was! The clean bill of health would have been the doc saying “it was a glitch on the MRA, we don’t see anything there”. There IS something there, but more on that later.

Snow was forecast for not only our area, but for Portland as well, so Dave and I drove down Tuesday night to stay over and avoid driving the next morning in the snow for an hour. Thankfully, the snow only amounted to a few inches and it was out of the area before morning. I’m still glad we stayed over. It was nice not to have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to drive the hour to get to Portland. Instead our hotel was a short 10-minute drive away from the hospital.

The angiogram was scheduled in Maine Med’s new Surgery 2 suite, which was new for us. All of my previous procedures have been done in Radiology. This new suite included a new waiting room and pre- and post-op areas.

Once we were checked in to admissions, and were taken to the new surgery in the Bean Tower area of the hospital, I was promptly prepped for the procedure by a lovely RN named Sasha. She was originally from the UK and had a wonderful British accent. Being called “my lovely” for an hour was highly relaxing. Her skills with the needle were also excellent. I hardly felt the IV and there is no bump or any bruising on the site 2 days later.

Sasha’s handy work. Two thumbs up!

Dave, as usual, took advantage of having some captive audiences at his disposal to chat about our brain aneurysm group and our (his and my) collective experience with aneurysms and the relationship with Maine Medical Center.

Although I don’t necessarily enjoy speaking about the subject at length just before going in to have a brain scan that could change my life, they are important discussions and Dave is good (or annoying depending on the nurse/doc) at striking up those conversations and engaging with anyone who is willing (and has the time) to listen on the hospital staff.

Sasha and Dave also shared a love of British murder mystery televisions shows! Once aneurysm chat ended, it quickly switched to their favorite shows and characters. It was a nice, and unexpected change of subject matter. I don’t watch them, so it was highly enjoyable for Dave to chat with someone who watches the same series.

After answering everyone’s medical questions, I was soon given some happy juice and wheeled back to the surgical suite. It appeared to me to be a smaller, but more organized room and certainly shiny and new. I slid to the table and was “prepared”. They shave your groin, place your arms in plastic guards, and give you a bit more happy juice. Since this was just a diagnostic procedure, they don’t completely knock you out and you do need to be alert enough to follow a command to hold your breath during the scan.

After the 3-D images were taken, Dr. Ecker briefly and very medically, described what his initial findings were while I was still on the table, but I wasn’t quite “with it” to remember or understand everything he said. He also went and spoke to Dave in the waiting room. Dave and I compared notes in recovery and neither of us were completely sure what the results were, but it sounded promising.

There were no issues during the angiogram and I was taken to the recovery room where nurse Dani (not sure how he spelled it…it was French) made sure both Dave and I were taken care of and he checked my incision/puncture site every 20 minutes or so.

Laying flat for 2 hours isn’t that bad and I only asked for a cup of hot tea. I wasn’t as hungry as I thought I’d be, but knew we could eat on the way home. After successfully walking a wee bit and having no issues, I was discharged to Dave’s care.

We stopped for some fast food on the drive north. We arrived at home, fed the cats, and promptly took it easy and put on all the comfy clothes while I waited for the official results to be posted on the MyChart online portal from the hospital.

Those results came out yesterday and I believe I interpreted them correctly. The great news is that the item in question is NOT a brain aneurysm. It’s actually a deformed blood vessel, or an ophthalmic infundibulum. An infundibulum usually has a funnel shape and typically isn’t associated with the same risks as aneurysms. They’re often benign and don’t require immediate treatment. I’m assuming it will probably be monitored along with my usual regular checkups for my brain aneurysms. It’s about 3mm in size.

At least that’s what I am initially reading online…which is ALWAYS correct information, right? 😉 I have a follow up appointment with the doc to discuss it on March 10th where I can ask more questions, see the images, and discuss a course of action, if one is even needed.

I also saw the great news on my report that the artery has healed over the flow diverter that was placed in 2022. Mission accomplished on that end!

I feel better after reading the results report and pray this is just another lovely part of my funky vascular system that I have to live with and learn how to pronounce correctly.

As usual, my care at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center was top-notch. Everyone from the surgeons, the PA’s, the nurses, the staff who assist with getting people from one floor to the next, do it with professionalism and care. I cannot recommend them enough.

Dr. Ecker has been my doctor since 2010. Dr. Florman assisted with my craniotomy in 2014, and I see several of the great PA’s in this video.

Happy Puzzle Day!

Published on by heiditea1 Comment

Happy National Puzzle Day! I can’t recall doing many jigsaw puzzles growing up. My first recollection of puzzles filling a need, was during the time my dad was fighting cancer. 

The hospital in Buffalo, NY where he was treated for five months, had a large waiting room where my mother and two sisters would gather until the next time we could see him. There was always a puzzle set out on the table. I found it a wonderful way to pass time, settle my mind on something other than the trauma our family was going through, and a small reward each time you found the right piece for the right spot. 

I picked up puzzles again, a few years ago after having a difficult couple of months where we had to say goodbye to our two beloved senior kitties within months of each other. I reconnected to the calming and challenging influence finishing a puzzle had.

As a brain aneurysm survivor, I also take comfort in knowing my brain is being exercised while working on puzzles.

According to many reputable online sources, working on jigsaw puzzles can help keep your brain healthy by improving memory, problem-solving skills, and cognitive function. Engaging in puzzles activates different parts of the brain, which can enhance overall mental sharpness.

Cognitive Improvement

  • Memory Enhancement: Jigsaw puzzles help improve short-term memory by reinforcing connections between brain cells.
  • Visual and Spatial Reasoning: They enhance the ability to visualize and manipulate objects in your mind, which is useful for tasks like reading maps or driving.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: Regularly solving puzzles encourages creative and effective problem-solving through trial and error.

Mental Health Benefits

  • Stress Relief: Engaging in puzzles can reduce stress levels, similar to meditation, by allowing the brain to focus on a single task.
  • Mood Enhancement: Completing puzzles increases dopamine production, which improves mood and concentration.

Overall Brain Health

  • Cognitive Delay: Regular participation in puzzles may delay the onset of dementia symptoms by up to two and a half years, although they cannot prevent dementia on their own.

Not all puzzles are alike, however. Some have thinner pieces, some have pieces that are the exact same size and shape, and others are frameless. I prefer ones with a straight edge frame, slightly larger pieces that aren’t too thin and that are cut in different shapes. I was gifted a hand-made puzzle and could not finish it. Not only was it printed on a glossy surface, which made seeing the pieces difficult, but they were all the exact same size and shape and very thin, which made it easy to misplace or slip out of my fingers. I ended up abandoning it because, although it was a huge challenge, it wasn’t fun or relaxing in ANY way.

My favorite puzzles are from White Mountain Puzzles in Vermont. I like to do 1,000-piece puzzles that are beautiful scenes or subjects that interest me like the ocean, cats, birds, or tea. The large, portable puzzle table I purchased also provides a safe place to house the puzzle and its pieces from our new kitties we adopted.

There is a true sense of accomplishment when I finally place that final piece.

Milestones & Passings

Published on by heiditea1 Comment

Although today is the 18th Annie-versary of my ruptured brain aneurysm, celebrations of life are happening all around me.

Our small family was again reminded of the fragility of life and the overwhelming sadness and shock of a sudden death.

Three weeks ago my sister-in-law Nancy passed away suddenly after a short stay at a memory care facility at the age of 79. She ate breakfast, slumped over at the table and was gone within minutes. It was either a massive stroke that deprived oxygen to her brain, a massive ruptured brain aneurysm that flooded her brain with blood, or a heart issue. We don’t know. And at this point, it doesn’t really matter. Our family of three is now a family of two.

An early Thanksgiving dinner out in Freeport with Nancy

Then, during that same week, my niece’s father-in-law passed away due to complications from a fall. He had been battling several illnesses, but the suddenness of his injuries and the difficult decision his family had to make was all too real for our family…again. I was sadly reminded of the death of my sister Dori to a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2012. She was kept alive for a short time, but we knew her survival was not to be.

What should have been a care-free September this year for me to enjoy my first true autumn in Maine after 22 years of stressful workloads this time of year, suddenly turned into sorting through photos for a memorial, packing up clothing and items to either sell, keep, or throw out, and the sad task of making funeral and cemetery tasks.

September was still a busy month with our annual KAT-Walk & Karo-5k and Dave and I were planning on including remarks to honor and remember the co-founder of our organization, Artie, who passed away earlier in the year. Those plans were almost finalized when we lost Nancy just 7 days before the event. The KAT-Walk was named for her daughter Kim, who passed away from a rupture brain aneurysm.

Now we had to remember and recognize Nancy as well. It was a bittersweet day and we appreciated the kind remarks and memories people shared with us during the day. Nancy’s battle with dementia had started to take a stronger hold earlier in the year but she was looking forward to attending this year’s event. I think Dave and I were still a bit numb as we made all the announcements and tried to bring cheer and hope to the hundreds in attendance.

Kim, Nancy, and a bearded Dave

I struggle with how I should live my life now that I am retired. I’m eating more and moving less than when I worked, which makes no sense. I always complained I never had the time or energy to exercise when I worked 50 hours a week. Well, what’s my excuse now? I have all the time in the world, but none of the desire. It’s also terribly unhealthy. I’m not a great cook and my desire to be one is even less. So we’re not eating well either. Again…not terribly healthy.

So am I basically slowly killing us? With my track record of brain aneurysms and vascular health, I SHOULD be eating healthy, not drinking, and exercising regularly. I KNOW I should be. And with Dave being 10 years older than me, I should be even more motivated to cook better for BOTH of us and to exercise for when he slows down so I can step up and assist more.

Or do we just continue to eat crap and sit around and slowly fade away and wait to get some disease or illness that forces us to make medical decisions? Certainly the events of this past year make me look at all of that and our time left here on earth. I see other, older people living life to the fullest with activities and friends surrounding them. They don’t look their ages and don’t act it. I SHOULD be celebrating my survival of two brain aneurysms and I don’t know why I’m just not feeling it this year. Could be all the death and dementia stuff, right?

Life truly is short and as one gets older, posting pretty tea photos on social media for a few people to admire just isn’t as motivating for me anymore. Who really cares? I have a few followers and a few friends and family members who look, but beyond that, I’m not reaching the “outside” world in any fashion. And again…who cares in the grand scheme of things? When I’m gone and someone goes through the photos of the 2nd half of my life, it’s not filled with fantastic trips with friends to exciting places…it’s filled with photos of my tea-for-one out on the deck and cat photos. LOL Is that a life well-lived? I’m still figuring all that out. I better get my ass in gear and do it though before my ass is too big to do anything.

Me and my ass at the KAT-Walk. What’s with the socks?

Another quiet milestone happened back in January this year for the 10th clip-aversary of my 2nd brain aneurysm. It was clipped in 2014, just a couple of weeks after the sudden (there’s that word again) death of my oldest sister Rhonda. I’m proud I made the decision to have the craniotomy and relieved and happy I did it even though it was a difficult time. But what have I done with my life lately that makes me a better person? And why should it matter? Is there some rule that says if you survive something you HAVE to run a 5k to matter?

Dave and I are still going to get out this weekend and enjoy some leaf peeping in this beautiful state, but we’re doing it all with a sad undertone. I’m hoping the fresh air, nature, and beautiful fall colors bring us a sense of peace and comfort. We both need it.

Happy Annie-versary to me.

See You in Three Years

Published on by heiditea4 Comments

I first met Dr. Ecker on December 3rd, 2010. In all that time and the different medical procedures we have been through, I don’t believe I have ever hugged him. Yesterday I broke that patient/doctor barrier and gave him a very warm, tight embrace.

Twelve years ago, he picked up my aneurysm story where Dr. Kwan left off four years prior. Aneurysm #1 ruptured in 2006 and is the problem child. Even after 16 initial coils, blood was getting back into the aneurysm. Dr. Ecker has been trying to improve the situation and produce favorable results with several attempts. Two stents and 4 more coils later, we might be at a turning point in our professional relationship with this pesky bugger.

As noted in my previous post, I was thrilled and emotional to hear how well the flow-diverting stent deployed back in April was doing. I certainly was relieved, but until I saw the images and spoke to him in his office after he had a chance to review everything again, I still wasn’t celebrating to the point of calling it “done”.

Seeing the images yesterday was remarkable! The areas where blood was previously getting into the neck of the aneurysm had almost disappeared and the artery where the flow-diverting stent was placed inside the older stent had conformed to the shape of the artery. This is EXACTLY what the hope was. Success!

Because this particular procedure, placing a stent inside another stent, is not a common practice, Dr. Ecker felt a follow-up MRA in three years would be best and I agree. Although we’re all thrilled to see how it’s taking shape after 7 months, giving it sufficient time for healing was recommended. THEN if it continues to look good, we’ll look at it every five years.

Below are a few photos I took of my images on the doctor’s computer screen. They aren’t the best, but I tried to indicate where things are for my readers. The two images placed side-by-side were backwards on his screen showing the AFTER image first, then the BEFORE image after it, so I had to cut them apart, flip them and I tried to keep them around the same size for scale. Hopefully, you’ll get the idea. And yes, I DO know I should have added another “m” for the size of my aneurysm. Don’t @ me. It took me a long time to get these images right and I’m too tired and busy to change them. 🙂

Raw image comparing the aneurysm and artery prior to flow diverter deployment and after
Indicating the location and size (approx. 1/2” in diameter) of the aneurysm, which is currently filled with 20 coils (not visible).
LEFT: Showing the area of blood that has been developing over a period of years into an aneurysm already susceptible to rupture. RIGHT: Now showing a reduction in size of the bloody area and a clearly defined artery.
RIGHT: Showing the relative location of the flow diverter placed within the older stent in the artery.