Share Your Story
Life after you or a loved one experiences a brain aneurysm may be different, but sharing your connection can provide hope to many others navigating recovery. We encourage you to share your journey, advice, and any other messages of support below.
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Lisa Foundation
Shared Stories of Brain Aneurysms
247 entries.
wrote on February 10, 2017
at
10:48 pm
I'm sharing my story because my experience still scares me. My Aneurysm bled as I was driving home from work. Headache, stiff neck, vomiting. I didn't know those were "the signs". Neither did the first ER I went to the next day. I had the headache and stiff neck and vomiting for 15hrs when I took myself to the ER. Despite having these clear symptoms, it took them 4hrs to even decide to scan me. When they did, they couldn't get a vein and said they'll just do it without contrast. No big deal, right? Big deal. The doctor couldn't even look at me when he told me they found bleeding in the right hemisphere of my brain and "we're not equipped to handle this here". He said to "sit tight" because the ambulance was coming to take me into Boston. Then he left me alone in the room to wait. I was in ICU for 10 days, I have a pipeline in now. My last angiogram was good. I was lucky. What I took from this experience is the alarming reality of walking into an ER where not even a doctor put my symptoms together as a brain bleed. I've made it my (probably annoying) mission to educate. Sudden headache that doesn't respond to medication. Sudden stiff neck. Nausea/vomiting. These are the signs. And your ER might not recognize them, so, please know them for yourself and everyone you care about in your life.
wrote on December 27, 2016
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10:38 pm
I Dont have a story but my man does. He was outside working on a truck when his brain anurism burst. Actually 2. He had a stiff neck and then just passed out. No other warning signs. He woke back up and dident want to go to hospital but thank god he did. After 3 weeks in ICU and a week in psyical therapy he got to come home. Its still a struggle every day. He only got to come home at the end of July 2016 but I am very thankful he is still here with us. I try so hard to help him get back as good as he can. I read everything about this topic I can to try to help him the best iI can.
wrote on December 24, 2016
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12:45 am
Hi. My name is Tanja I'm the mother of two grown children and I have three grandsons. About 8 yrs ago I kept having really bad headaches. Finally my dr sent me to get an MRI. They found two aneurysms. The headaches got worse so I went to the er, they admitted me did a angiogram. They found four more. They were right behind my eyes. They were able to coil one. The others were two small. About two yrs ago they found another one. I have not had any rupture . But my life did change. I have to watch what I eat, drink , do. I was so glad to have seen you on the dr. Oz show. I have been very fortunate to have great Drs. They make sure ever thing is great . Thank you for your time.
wrote on December 18, 2016
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8:48 pm
My beautiful son passed away on July 12, 2015. I still can not express and put into words what this amazing young man, MY SON, meant to me, his little sister and our entire family. He was only 26, he loved running and going to the gym. He was the picture of health a USMC veteran that had done two tours in the Middle East one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He was living, working and studying in California. We had just seen him in May for his cousins high school graduation. He never complained of any symptoms and that I'm aware of didn't have any symptoms leading up to that day. The night before I received the call from an ER nurse he did text me complaining that he wasn't feeling well. He complained that he was nauseated. My instinct was to call him after receiving the text but didn't (a decision i continue to struggle with to this day) want to annoy him by asking a bunch of questions especially while he wasn't feeling well so I asked him to rest and try to eat something if he was able. He said he would and i told him I would check on him the next day. The next day his little sister had an eye appointment so my plan was to call him after her appointment but I received a call from his phone. I was relieved that he beat me to calling him because I thought 'great he's feeling better'. However, the call was from an ER nurse she said my son had been at the Gym and called 911 complaining of severe nausea and severe neck pain. he had suffered a stroke i was told. i was in shock and sometimes think I'm still in shock. I also later learned that he had texted a couple friends from hospital telling them he was at hospital for what he thought was dehydration and he would be needing a ride to pick his car up from the gym. He lost consciousness right before a CT scan and was placed on life support. My beautiful son. My EVERYTHING is gone and i am still struggling to understand. Thank you to Mr. Crawford for having the strength to start this foundation and so so sorry for your loss and to your children for their loss of their mommy. i hope to find my strength and most of all to find a meaningful way to honor my beautiful boy because he deserved so much more time.
wrote on December 16, 2016
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10:33 am
In 2004 at age 49 I collapsed just after returning home from shopping . I never had a headache in my life. But I did have symptoms, that I only realized later. For many weeks before, I experienced episodes of elevated BP with a sensation of air bubbles running through my head. It felt strange but not painful so I ignored it. Then I woke-up in the hospital not remembering anyone? A headache doesn't always occur, don't ignore any feeling in your head!
wrote on December 16, 2016
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8:24 am
Hi my name is Marissa. I am suvivor of ruptured aneurysm (SAH). In the evening of 28th sept 2016. I was on my spin bike at home, thought five more minutes then I'd go for bath. Then got this headache like no other, was like having a pick axe hit into your head. As I got off I thought god what is that. I felt like a was intoxicated, using the walls to support myself going along the passage, i finally collapsed outside the bathroom where my 12 yr old daughter was. I was lying unconscious then I heard her scream and come too, I found every ounce of strength I had crawled to my front door, opened it knocked on my neighbours door, when he opened it I begged him to help me. By this time my speech was slurred, I was vomiting, confused. Paramedics arrived done there checks diagnosed me with sickness and diarrhoea with migraine. Got me to sign some form to say that I understood by they wouldn't take me to hospital, bearing in mind I was confused !!! I lay in my bed for 4 1/2 days. My dad phoned my GP they came out diagnosed me with muscular strain or slipped disc. My sister came and said that she was gonna drive me too hospital herself as she had enough of me being throbbed off. When the next lot of paramedics came they couldn't believe I was in hospital, my bp was still really hard. They took me to the A&E were a doctor finally done a ct scan and I was diagnosed with bleed in my brain. I was transferred to another for surgery. The followed day they preformed angiogram locates the rupture and coiled it. Was in hospital for three weeks then discharged home. I am so grateful to the people who saved me. I'm so glad that I'm still here.
On the 9th Nov my dad received a call from my uncle. My
Cousin Colleen had been rushed into hospital with ruptured aneurism she then had a cardiac arrest and haemorrhaged they done scans but she had no brain activity. Her children of 9 & 12 made the decision to donor her organs. The worse day of my life. I
Live with guilt everyday. She was only 31
Years old. It is a silent and deadly killer the more awareness made, maybe more lives saved. We did find out that it is heredity as my great grandad and granddad both died of haemorrhaging. Two of my aunts both had ruptured aneurysms and are still with us. That is 6 of us in total of what we know. Now I'm please to say that the entire family have to be checked. God bless those who lost there battle, and thank god for all of us who are still here to tell our stories. I too am wanting to help raise awareness in honour of my cousin.
wrote on December 15, 2016
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9:58 pm
First off I want to thank this foundation for making people aware of brain aneurysms 6/9/07 I was 47yrs old and I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm on the tennis playing a match. I had never had a headache in my life and I was in excellent health. During the match I started to feel severe pain in my head radiating down my back and tingling in my legs and I started to see halos. I thought I was having my first headache ever and it was going to be a migraine. I missed a volley at the net and my partner stopped the match because I seemed very off. Then the nausea started they helped me off the court but I convinced them to call my husband to pick me up and take me to the emergency room near our home about 20min from the court. I was in and out of consciousness to the hospital. I was triaged and they did a CT and discovered the subarachnoid rupture but they could not treat me there. They told my husband I would probably not survive the flight to Fairfax Hospital and that he needed to say goodbye to me. I had to be airlifted to Fairfax Hospital in VA where Neurosurgeon Dr Jae Lim drilled a hole in my head to relieve the pressure. Then they decided that I could either have the bleed clipped via hemilectomy or coil the bleed done by a neuro radiologist. They ended up calling in Dr Putman to coil the bleed. I continued to seizure for 5 days due to vasospasms so it was decided that I need to have a shunt placed to relieve the high pressure a permanent programmable shunt was placed by Dr Lim. I spent 30 days in Neuro ICU but I was able to go home afterward because my sister and husband were able to take care of me 24/7. I had to learn to walk and talk again. It took me 5 months to go back to work as a veterinary technician. I have not had a headache since but my shunt has needed adjustments several times. I was able to stop taking anti seizure medication after 7 months and only had one seizure after I left the hospital. It was a tough recovery but the moral to my story is that if you have something so extreme happen to you call an ambulance so they can triage to the appropriate hospital. I was very lucky to have survived and my siblings have had scans done to make sure they do not have any aneurysms I lead a normal life now working 40 hours a week and play tennis 5-6 days a week. I attribute my survival to the healthy lifestyle I have always lived, excellent surgeons and nurses and wonderful family and friends.
wrote on December 15, 2016
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9:26 pm
I am so glad to see this site set up with the goal of making people aware of the signs of an aneurysm. I wish I would have had the information 21 years ago when I suffered mine. I had all the signs. I had experienced severe headaches , blurred vision, incidents of falling, and when I went to the Doctors...he told me I was just going through the "change of life". He gave me a hormone shot and sent me home. I had been suffering blurred vision and waves in my eyes for a couple of years. When I had surgery the Dr. told me that the aneurysm had been there for some time, because my system had caused it to calcify and had prevented it from rupturing. He told me I was a very lucky little girl...I ended up being sent by ambulance to Harborview, the trauma center in Seattle, WA because at the same time they found that my carotid artery on the left side was blocked 99.4 %. This resulted in a stroke and the loss of vision on my right side....After several days of testing...they did the artery surgery first and followed up 2 week later with the brain surgery. I was lucky enough to have the best brain surgeon from the University of Washington & Harborview Trauma Center. It has been 21 years and I am 72 and still going strong....Thank you for allow us to share our experiences and for the work you are doing to save even more victims of aneurysms.
wrote on December 15, 2016
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1:37 pm
April 26th 2000 I had Brain Surgery..Life was great ,I was newly married only 2 months. I started getting headaches and finally told my dr. About it . He gave me an M.R. I and they said I had 2 aneurysms on the right side of my head. During the surgery as they were CLIPPING them I had a stroke , my whole left side. I was in the Hospital for 28 days.Including rehab. My Brother had been in an accident years earlier and as a result died in his sleep of a burst aneurysm. Back then they did not think there was any Family history involved. After my surgery they tested everyone in the family. Remember this was back in 2000 for me. But watching Dr. OZ yesterday made me want to share, My headaches were intense but more like a pressure ,like someone pushing down on my head. I function fine but have diagnosis of having a TRAMATIC BRAIN INJURY, it does affect my memory in some ways and I am more Emotional but I see my Dr. regularly and am on medication. I wanted to thank Lisa's HUSBAND for doing this most awesome work. I had my surgery at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Awesome Brain Surgeon Dr, Troy Payner. I know they have made Great stride in research on this subject since my surgery. I always tell people yes the pain is awful..Seek Help right away. I had 4 children NATURAL CHILDBIRTH ...no pain medicine, and that I would rather have all 4 they same day than to have to go through the Brain Surgery. I thank God they caught them BEFORE they Burst.Thanks again for setting up this Foundation for your Beautiful Wife Lisa, You Sir Are Saving Lives! God Bless You and Your Whole Family!
wrote on December 14, 2016
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8:41 pm
I am one of the few lucky ones who had the aneurysms repaired with no major bleeding. Two stents, located in the circle of wills. I also was diagnosed with a Chiari Malformation (brain herniation)
Have you done any studies with survivors who were actively searching medical diagnosis when MRI was finally ordered?
thanks for the foundation, great information!!
wrote on December 14, 2016
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7:56 pm
I lost my husband and father of my children, Dwight, four years ago to a brain aneurysm. He was 63. My husband was very disciplined in exercising, a life long martial artist, and ate extremely healthy. His family had a history of hemorrhagic strokes. His older sister had gone to see her doctor 2 years prior for ringing of the ears. The doctor, finding nothing, decided to do an MRI, where he discovered she had 2 aneurysms. They were able to operate and she continues in good health today. Knowing his family history, I had convinced him to see a neurologist. Unfortunately he never made it. He passed away days from his appointment. We had just entertained some friends, and while I finished cleaning up, he went up to bed. 15 minutes later, our kids and I found him unresponsive. If he had any of the symptoms described, we'll never know. What I do know is... I felt something was off in the weeks/days leading up to his death. Nothing clearly definitive.. slight, unusual forgetfulness, when we went for a walk, his gait was a bit off.. I made him go to his regular doctor, who did an EKG and found his heart healthy. We then made an appointment for the neurologist a couple weeks later, which he didn't make. So my advise is if you suspect anything, or feel something is not right, GO WITH YOUR GUT! If I had insisted he get an immediate appointment with the neurologist, he maybe would still be here.
wrote on December 14, 2016
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7:12 pm
The morning of October 22nd, 2016, my sister and I found that my Father, in The bathtub after suffering a severe brain anurism. He was still alive, but was stuck paralyzed for over 45 minutes. We tried to save him was a MISTYIII trial, surgical procedure, that was headed up by John's Hopkins. It seeks to drain the clot that causes the brain damage. Needless to say, he died from complications on Nov. 7th, 2016. We were hopeful, but I still believe that it is shoes great advances for faster recovery. I'm saddened, and heartbroken, and want to help advocate for your foundation. Please contact me if you need volunteers for your cause. Thank you
wrote on December 14, 2016
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6:27 pm
Several years ago, my mother had an aneurysm that ruptured. She went from having an extremely high IQ to having to learn to walk and talk again. She has had a long battle just to get back to being able to function. I have always suffered from migraines. It finally got to the point of not getting any relief. I had an MRI which showed that I had an aneurysm. Jan 3, 2015, I had mine coiled. I've done reasonably well but the headaches have never stopped.
wrote on December 14, 2016
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6:01 pm
On Oct 14, 2016 I was working out in the local YMCA. I was taking a class that I had taken for 3 years. In the middle of a set of inclined chest pressed my THUNDERCLAP headache occurred. I did not know what was actually wrong but I took myself to member services to seek medical attention. By the time EMS arrived my finger were numb and not working, I was throwing up and my head was killing me. I was able to get to Williamson Medical where my Sports Med Dr - Dr. James Lohse met me. He met with the ER Dr on call and they decided to run a CT Scan. With the results of the Scan Dr. Lohse had me transported to St. Thomas West Medical Center and Dr. Spooner started my angio. By the time the angio was over it was determined that my subarachnoid hemorrhage had self healed and closed off. I did stay in ICU for 7 days while they monitored me. I have no negative effects from the bleed. I was sore and tight and thru PT I have been able to finally release all pain in my lower back and legs. I know that I was very lucky to self heal and that I have no lingering effects.
wrote on December 14, 2016
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5:54 pm
They said I was supposed to die. On 10/31/2016 I suffered a sub arachnoid hemorrhage right behind my eyes. On top of that, I apparently had a grand mal seizure as well. I don't remember much though I do remember having the worst headaches I had ever experienced for three or four days before it happened.
I went down in the shower that morning and my wife (Sarah) found me with the curtain hanging over me. Thank God she heard me. She called the first responder in our little town and he raced to get the truck. He put me on oxygen and called the ambulance.
I ended up being life flighted to a hospital in Tulsa and they did coil surgery. I was there 14 days as they did trans-cranial dopplers and CT scans to check for vaso-spasm. Apparently, I am lucky. Though I don't believe that. God saved me.
I have been told that 50 percent of all aneurysm cases don't make it. Both neurologists that saw me said that with the seizure added on I shouldn't have made it. But, here I am 74 days later writing this letter. I told you God saved me...for a reason. Of course, a lot of things had to happen at just the right time and directed by just the right people. I am so thankful for all the people that cared for me, prayed for me, and went above and beyond.
So here I am, a miracle in the making. I am so sorry for all those whose story did not turn out like mine and they lost someone because of an aneurysm. I am so thankful that God gave me a second chance. I plan to use it to bring awareness to people about the signs and symptoms of a possible aneurysm as well as spread the good word that with God in our life, miracles do happen. I'm living proof.
wrote on December 14, 2016
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5:30 pm
I lost my beautiful sister, Belinda in 1977 at the age of 14, from a congenital brain aneurysm. Two weeks prior to the rupture, her pediatrician diagnosed Belinda with the flu. Her symptoms were headaches, throwing up and not feeling well. I was 19 at the time and remember this like yesterday. Belinda was in the 8th grade when her aneurysm ruptured at school during her lunch break. Dr. Cheek, head of neurosurgery at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston tried to save her life and could not. I remember him saying to us that he has a daughter the same age. Belinda's legacy lives on with two beautiful songs that have been produced by two very dear friends of mine. One is called, "Billy Goat" and the other "Everywhere". I am happy to share them with your foundation. Thank you for helping others recognize the importance of early detection of potentially fatal aneurysms.
This is the link to the song, Everywhere in memory of Belinda, written and performed by Sonya Shell.
https://soundcloud.com/sonyashell/everywhere-2016-written-by-sonya-shell?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook
wrote on December 14, 2016
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4:45 pm
Just watched the OZ show and it was very helpful..my story as an ER nurse began with a very dizzy morning of nausea and localized "ponytail pain" behind my left ear. I was convinced like so many just something I ate and slept the weekend away(well only 1 day of total exhaustion)...but 4 days later I took my b/p and it was high 150/90 and I self drove myself to the ER for further evaluation...CTscan clear...spinal tap clear...but the mri revealed an incendental small 2mm rt. opthalmic carotid anuersym unruptured. transfered to Providence hospital I saw the chief neurosurgeon who will follow yearly the aneursym with MRI with Dye to see if it progresses.Being a
mother of 4 I feel like many who can just push thru feeling crappy...alot of us do. However so glad to see more information out there to help us understand this serious condition. I have no restrictions as of yet but the warning signs i will never wait again. I was told for the pain(unrelated to the unruptured aneursym was tylenol.But if the sudden waves of seasick nausea present themselves with blurred vision i will not ignore them,....I just hit 50 and pray medical progress will continue to advance to help those out there. god bless and thankyou for your foundation of awareness,,,,lilly
wrote on December 14, 2016
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1:04 pm
Hello, my name is Leslie as you know. I found out this year in March that I have 4 Brain Aneurysms. One of them was measured @ 10 cm and the other 3 are smaller. I went to a surgeon @ a local hospital in my city. He did test that he needed to do. He told me where the Aneurysms were located as well as the surgery I well have. I was scared and devastated but, he assured me I was in good hands. The 10 cm Aneurysm procedure was done with a Pipeline Stint and Coil. I'm do for another surgery in January to remove the other 3. I thank God for my PCP who went further into getting me the test that I needed to find out what was wrong with me and Thank God that the Medical field has stepped up so much.
wrote on December 7, 2016
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9:52 pm
My cousin, Megan Phillips Aesch suffered a hemorrhagic stroke several years ago. Meg with the support of her husband and family as well as many friends, has never given up trying to regain parts of her pre stroke life. Meg's story has just been published - "I Tied My Shoes Today - Recovering from a hemorrhagic stroke" and is available on Amazon. An amazing story of courage, love and determination.
wrote on December 2, 2016
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7:34 pm
I was released from the hospital today after coiling surgery for a brain aneurysm.i had no idea I had this..I actually went to a ear doctor for clogged ears..my ears were clear and he decided to do a MRI to make sure inside my ear was ok. Well to everyone's surprise the MRI showed the aneurysm. From there my primary Doctor sent me to do a MRA to be positive.From there I went to the neurologist who scheduled my surgery.i had the coiling done on Tuesday..Surgery went fine. Had to stay a few extra days but got home today feeling so grateful.The doctor does not know how long it was there. I had no symptoms at all.It is truly a silent killer. As I reflect on this week I am very emotional to know how lucky I was..To think I just went to check my ears. This is my second chance at life. I am going to spread the word about aneurysms..With you in mind Lisa I will try and enlighten everyone about it and let them know if you feel something different see your dr. Right away..R.I.P Lisa