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TALK TO A
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Established April 15, 1995
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My name Is Patricia Zube and I am from Eastpointe Michigan. I am 52 years old. I have 4 children and 5 grandkid and a wonderful husband, Dennis, and they have been a great source of love and support thru this all. I had the coiling procedure done on February 21, 2003 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
15 May 2003
I had a ruptured basilar tip aneurysm on February 20, 2003. It didn't start with a headache just very weird pressure in my head then unbelievable pain in my neck. My daughter called EMS and they took me to the hospital.
The doctors at first thought it was an intense migraine headache but the blood tests kept showing anemia. Then they did a cat scan and found the aneurysm. They didn't hold out much hope for me to make it. They were afraid to operate because of the location so the decision to do the coiling was thought to be my only hope.
I was transferred to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit where qualified radiologists were available. They said if I made it through the night the procedure might save my life but no promises on how I would be mentally or physically. I made it through the night and the procedure was a successful miracle. In fact, I became known as the miracle patient. I was so very fortunate that I did not need no therapy and my ICU stay was only 12 days and out of the hospital in 2 weeks.
I am still getting better each day. The headaches are still with me but getting milder all the time. I suffer from depression and have a need to know the details of all my "lost" days. I want to talk about it but it is hard to explain what I think and feel to the people closest to me. I want to know that what I think and feel are normal in the healing process. I have anxiety attacks now and take medication for it but want to get back to the old me soon.
God Bless anyone who has had to deal with this ordeal or any medical crisis.
Update: 30 Jul 2003
I just wanted to post an update on on my progress. I went for my first angiogram on the 28th and the doctor called today (29th) and he had the news I had prayed for...Everything looked good and we would do it again in 6 to 12 months. I feel like I have been given another new lease on life.
I don't know why I have been so blessed but I thank God each day. But just as important to me these last few months was the love and support I have received from this wonderful family of ours. I cannot even begin to tell all of you what it has meant to me. I pray each day that each of you will be blessed and at peace. Thank you all for the prayers.
Update: 18 February 2005
It has been a long time since I have updated my saga (lol). I am coming up on my 2 year anniversary this weekend and it has been a long 2 years.
My last angiogram this past summer showed the coils in place which is wonderful words to hear. They have transfered me to a different neurosurgeon who has more expertise with coils. He is a very personable (not to mention HANDSOME) young man. He told me that they were doing the more frequent angiograms because I have an opening in aneurysm that must be watched.
I am still having headaches but for the most part they are more a nuisance than anything. But every once in a while I have the ones that remind me that my brain isn't over being invaded and insulted. I still am having some pretty harsh bouts of depression and anxiety. But the good days far out number the bad.
I still get angry that so much of the old me is gone but I secretly am beginning to like this new crazy person who replaced her. She is a mixture of a new found strength and a greater sense of compassion but most of all she has a pretty good sense of humor.
I owe a lot of my progress to some pretty special people on this site. They have helped me thru my transitions and and made me realize that we ALL know how the others feel. They have also helped me get thru some pretty rough personal and family heartbreaks with their love and prayers. I thank them from the depth of my heart.
I will be having another angiogram in the next month or so (when I finally get past my two most favorite months - February and March). I will try to update again then.
Meanwhile, I will still keep you all in prayers daily. May God Bless each of you. But I must also thank my fanastatic family. My husband, kids and their spouses have had a lot to adjust to but they give me love and support each moment of my new life. And my grandkids just keep me laughing.
Update: 28 May 2005
I just wanted to update with the results of my angiogram today (May 27). It went not quite as good as before but I survived (LOL). The most important thing is that the doctor told me that I no longer have to have angiograms. The coils and the opening they were monitoring looked great. From here on I only have to go once a year for check-ups and CTAs.
You all know how wonderful these words were to hear. I know any deficits I still have are mine to keep (LOL)...lucky me. I will continue to keep this family in my prayers and close to my heart. My family is just so thankful and relieved. As I said in my last update...it has been a long 2 yrs.
God Bless each of you and your families.
Update: 17 July 2007
It has been quite a while since I have updated. I have been battling depression and anxiety. I am now seeing a therapist to help me accept and deal with my life. For 2 years now I have had anemia but no one could seem to tell me where I was bleeding from or what caused it. After going thru months of exhaustion and fear they found that I have AVMs in my stomach and intestines. I have been thru several of scopes that helped to find them. I have had small and large ones that have been zapped but I am still losing blood. The doctor is scheduling another scope to go back and find some more. I have had so many transfusion that I am convinced I don't have a drop of my own (lol). I have diabetes (type 2). I am managing it pretty well.
Now for the good news. I had a new granddaughter last September that has stolen my heart just like all of them did. It is so wonderful to be a Gramma.
I wanted to ask the family about an odd thing. I have not cried in in at least 2 years. No matter what happens I just don't shed a tear. Does this seem odd?
I hope that in the next update I will have only good news. I still keep the family in my heart and prayers.
God Bless all.
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