How It Began

On Feb 1, 2012 I was found unresponsive outside at work.  Feb in Ohio is very cold.  It is estimated I was outside for about 90 minutes.  I was taken inside and First Response was called.  I was told I was saying over and over, "I'm cold" and I kept hitting my left hand.  I was then taken to the nurse at the regional distribution center where I worked.  I was told my blood pressure was stroke level, my body core temp was 97 and she could tell by me answering in such few words that something was dangerously wrong with me.  I was still hitting my hand.  She told them to call the squad and take me to the hospital.  I have at least 6 hours of memory loss for that night.  My youngest son worked with me at the time and they let him go to the hospital with me.  He said I drove all of the nurses and doctors crazy by saying "I'm cold!"  When I came to, I had 9 blankets on me and I was still freezing!!!  I was told they had no more blankets to put on me.  I felt like a pop sickle!  A CT scan was performed that night and all kinds of tests but they told me all they could come up with besides me being cold and my bp was my blood sugar level was low but I am not a diabetic.  They gave me some sugary liquid to drink and dismissed me.  I remember before I became unresponsive I had a severe headache that started at the right side of my head, went across my forehead, and behind my left eye.  I still had that severe headache when I was dismissed. 
Later, I called my neurologist and told them about my severe headache.  They couldn't get me in for 2 weeks because he is the only neurologist in that city and is very busy.  He did order a test to see if I was having seizures.  It came back inconclusive.  The reason I have a neurologist is almost 6 years ago I woke up and was so dizzy I couldn't walk.  About 12 hours of not being able to walk, I was taken to the ER.  They diagnosed me with a severe case of vertigo.  I was given medication and told to follow up with my Primary Care Physician (PCP) which I did.  I was then sent to physical therapy.  I spent the next few months doing that.  I got a little better but then it leveled off.   I was sent to the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor.  They diagnosed me with Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV).  I was not getting better so I was later referred to a neurologist.  He diagnosed me with Meniere's Disease.   If someone has vertigo they usually have BPV or Meniere's Disease.  I got double whammied.   I have both.  I can tell people I am dizzy and literally mean it!  lol  My neurologist prescribed medication to help alleviate the symptoms.  I was still dizzy and had the ringing in my right ear but I could function to some degree and go back to work.
I went back to work a couple days after my incident.  I still had the severe headache.  Some of my co-workers told me I looked like I was dying when they took me out on the stretcher that Feb 1 night.  I secretly cried because I never want anyone to see something like that. 
The time came for me to see my neurologist.  He noticed my left eye wasn't reacting as fast as my right eye. I have a MRI done once a year because I have a small tumor on my pituitary gland which causes my prolactin level to be high.  I was having a menstrual cycle every other week even tho I only have one ovary.  My neurologist prescribed Bromocriptine which lowered my prolactin level and stopped the menstrual bleeding.  Thank God for that little white pill!!!   He ordered a MRA.  It checks blood vessels and arteries.  That was performed the next morning.  The MRA was done.  By that afternoon my neurologist called and told me it found a Cerebral Aneurysm on the right and I needed a neurosurgeon.  I was devastated!!  I had an uncle who passed away in his late 40s from a cerebral aneurysm that ruptured.  He was blind in his left eye.  I was soon to be 47.  You can imagine the terror going through my head!!!  He suggested a neurosurgeon in the same city he was in.  When I heard the name of the neurosurgeon, it didn't feel right in my heart.  I called his office and they couldn't schedule me for MONTHS!  I got on Facebook and messaged a dear former classmate.  He is a doctor.  His entire family are doctors or nurses.  I told him what was happening and who he would suggest I see.  He recommended me to a fabulous neurosurgeon near Columbus.  As soon as I read his name, I felt in my heart he is who I needed to go to.  I felt the whole world being lifted from my shoulders!!!  I called his office and his "right hand" was so sweet and helpful!  She told me to get my medical records faxed asap.  She said if he couldn't help me, 1 of the neurosurgeons there could.  I went from 1 neurosurgeon to an entire TEAM!!!  How blessed was I!!!  I got all of my neurological records faxed and got my cd and reports from the hospital for the MRIs, CT scan, and MRA to take to my neurosurgeon.  The report for the CT scan done on Feb 1 said POSSIBLE cerebral aneurysm on the right!!!  I was NOT told about that!!!  
The day came for my appointment with my neurosurgeon.  What a kind, caring, and gentle man!!!  I loved his entire staff too!!!   He could see how much pain I was in.  He ordered a cerebral angiogram.  A cerebral angiogram is performed by inserting a catheter through the femoral artery up to the brain and injecting dye on one side of the brain and taking pictures and then doing the same for the other side.  When the left side was injected with dye, I felt the left side of my face cringe in pain!  Several years ago, I was bit on the face by a brown recluse spider below my left eye.  If I am stressed or tired, I still have pain from that bite.  They think that is why I had so much pain on that side.  One of the nurses ran her hand down my arm and told me everything would be ok.  Before I left the hospital, the doctor told me I had 2 more cerebral aneurysms....1 on the left and 1 in the back of my head.  My oldest sister was with me when I was told the news.  I am so blessed to have loving siblings!!!