...so you might recognize similar symptoms in yourself or others and get help!
It started a few weeks back. My work demands I do quite a bit of driving. I noticed that one eye seemed to be a bit weaker than the other. Thought it was just eye strain from driving. Then I had what I can only describe as a pressure around my head that was reminiscent of wearing a tight cap. No pounding, no pain, just a tightness. This had lasted at least a week already.
We went out of town a few weeks ago now, and while I was waiting in line at an event, I had a sudden short sharp pain in my head. Thinking I was just getting a tension headache, I ran to the car, got out an aspirin, took it, sat down for a few minutes, and then got back in line, and finished the day. On the ride home, which was several hours, I slept as I was not interested in looking out the window or reading, even though I had a good night's sleep previously.
I thought that if the tightness continued, I'd go to the doctor. Monday morning I felt better, and worked all week. That Friday night I was out and about doing what I normally do on Friday night. I bent down to put something in my car, after shopping, and I got a sudden, more prolonged pain above my left eye. It may have only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like I was hit in the head with a hammer. Again, there was no more pain. I just knew this was something I had to have looked into immediately.
I drove to the fire station, and asked them to drive me to the ER. They called the ambulance service and I was taken there. Let me say at this time, my vital signs, with the exception of my blood pressure were normal. Normal pulse, normal respiration. I did request something to cover my eyes as lights were bothering me.
Once at the ER I was again given tests that confirmed that my vital signs, with the exception of my blood pressure which was off the charts, were normal. The doctor on duty was a neuro-surgeon, and he suggested a cat scan. It was unremarkable. After hearing me repeat what I had experienced, he decided that perhaps I needed a spinal tap. It sounds worse than it was. He explained that there would be no pain, and there wasn't, and the worst thing I might experience would be a headache from the spinal tap. I could endure a headache, as long as that sharp, shooting pain didn't reoccur.
As it turned out the spinal tap indicated blood in the spinal fluid, and another, more intensive cat scan (actually an MRI) was ordered. That scan definitely indicated an aneurysm, and surgery was scheduled for later that morning. All I remember of that is being wheeled into the prep room, talking briefly to the anesthesiologist, and the next thing I knew, I was back in my room, with my head bandaged, arms full of IVs, talking to Dennis and my doctors.
The next five days were spent in the hospital, one more day in ICU and then the rest of the time in the neuro-surgery ward. Except for having to take medicine every four hours, non-stop, and being asked the same repetitive questions (name, birthdate) it seemed uneventful. I was then sent home, with medicine that I was to take every four hours for three weeks! Most of the first week I spent in bed as I just felt too weak to get up and about. After that I did start getting dressed, and after another week, I ventured out of the house for short periods, or just to sit on the deck, in the shade, and enjoy the cooler weather.
Took the last of my pills on a Saturday, and have not had any adverse effects or withdrawals, so I can only assume they did their work. The worst part was having to set the alarm for the middle of the night so I could take them. Now the worst part is waiting for my hair to grow back. I did get an impromptu hair cut from Dennis, with my guidance, and it's defintely short. He suggested shaving the rest of my head, but I was not willing to do that. For now, I'll just wear a scarf.
I didn't realize how common aneurysms seem to be until I heard from many of my friends and acquaintances about people who they knew had them, only with much more disastrous results. All I can say is...know your body, and if you've had migraines in the past, this is SO much more than that! And don't wait!
