Why nobody talks about brain aneurysms- until you have one

A brain aneurysm is when a blood vessel in the brain bulges.  When it becomes weak, it has more of a risk of bursting.  This is very serious.  A ruptured aneurysm often causes sudden death.  Survivors face so many challenges and disabilities.  Brain aneurysms are considered a rare condition yet 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have one.  They may never even know because often they won’t burst.  A ruptured brain aneurysm, in my opinion,  occurs frequently enough to be considered more than just "rare." 

A brain aneurysm ruptures every 18 minutes in the U.S. It happens to approximately 30,000 people a year. 40 to 50% of them will die immediately.  1/3 of the survivors will go home without disabilities.  Another third will survive and face the prospect of many disability challenges or death, depending on their condition, when they are released.

It’s simple for me to describe the moment my brain aneurysm burst.  I remember I was laughing so hard that I threw my head back.  Oh my gosh.  The pain was so overwhelming.  Insanely intense.  I’ve always believed and described having my child as the worst pain anyone could possibly experience but I was wrong.  My head exploding was far worse.  It was terrifying.  I remember thinking that I was too young to die.  I felt like my head was being smashed from the inside out.  I later found out that I only had a 9% chance of survival.  If I did survive I still only had a 1% chance of not becoming anything more than a vegetable.  

I will always remember that hellish day but what I wish more than anything is knowing the warning signs that may have happened before it burst.  I might have had a chance to never have to go through that day.  Generally, there are no obvious warning signs.  The experiences I’m going to describe first may have nothing to do with my burst brain aneurysm, although, when I talk to others that have been through this they sometimes describe very similar experiences.  

Strange noise

Since I was very young, I’d often hear what sounded like rice being poured into metal pans or pots.  I’m not sure exactly when this started but hearing the sound inside my head always distracted me.  The sound was not annoying or overwhelming or even strange at that time.  I thought it was normal.  After my brain aneurysm burst I never heard it again so far.

I Felt like I was passing out

I often felt, from a very young age, like I was blacking out.  I felt like I was falling into darkness in a tunnel and the light would get farther and farther away.  I knew it wasn’t really happening and would try to stay focused on my surroundings but would be forced back to fading fading light. I didn’t feel fear because this was my “normal.”  It would finally stop but I’d be exhausted.  It would take me a little while to overcome that.  This happened so often that I thought I needed sugar and always kept a snack in my purse.  This has never happened since one of my brain aneurysms burst. 

Exhaustion

From the time I was a teenager until my brain aneurysm ruptured I always felt like I had to have a nap, sometimes a few, almost every day. When I was in high school, no matter where I was,  I’d find somewhere to lie down and immediately go to sleep.  When I became an adult no matter how busy I was I’d have to have a nap.  Sometimes I’d be driving down the street and I’d pull over to sleep.  Again, I thought this was normal because I’d always lived that way.  I was usually awake and full of energy for about twenty minutes or so.  

Blood Pressure

My blood pressure was always high. Generally 132/80 or so but often much higher.  I thought this was normal and never had a Dr. tell me it wasn’t ok.  I was in great shape.  I was a soldier and very active and athletic.  I was in the Army and was asked to be a part of a very cool competition.  Before competing for a chance to be part of the team I had to get approval from a Dr.  I was told that I couldn’t join because of my blood pressure. I was upset and angry.  How could someone in such great shape not be allowed to join the team?  I begged and fought to be allowed to join.  The Dr. looked at my records and saw that this was a “normal” blood pressure for me and finally approved me.  

These experiences may have nothing to do with being a warning sign of a brain aneurysm but I thought I’d throw them out anyway.  It doesn’t hurt to maybe, possibly, help someone decide if they should be looked at when they have weird symptoms.  There are symptoms and warning signs that are put out there by the medical community.  These symptoms can vary and may mimic other medical conditions.

Symptoms of a burst brain aneurysm

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Stiff neck.

• Blurred or double vision.

• Sensitivity to light.

• Seizure.

• A drooping eyelid.

• Loss of consciousness.

• Confusion.

• Sudden and severe headache, often described as “the worst headache of my life”

• A dilated pupil

• Pain above and behind the eye

• Weakness and/or numbness

Do not have a family member/friend take you in a private vehicle to the hospital unless there's no other choice. This is a high-stress situation that may require first responders to use lifesaving procedures in the emergency vehicle, and where time may be of the essence.

Symptoms of a unruptured brain aneurysms

Unruptured brain aneurysms rarely cause harm and most people never even know they have one.  Although they aren’t always dangerous they can be a silent threat. Symptomes rarely show but if you experience any of these pay attention.  If you experience any symptoms seek prompt medical attention. Don’t put it off.  

• Pain above and behind one eye

• A dilated pupil

• A change in vision or double vision

• Numbness of one side of the face

Do brain aneurysms run in a family?

Some studies have found that one in five people with a family history of brain aneurysms also can carry this condition. The most common factors were having either parents or children who have had it.  If someone in your family has had a brain aneurysm it would be smart to check just in case.

Drs. use multiple tests to find a brain aneurysm.

• MRA: A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) scan is a type of eMRI scan that's specifically for blood vessels.

• CTA: This is a special type of CT scan that focuses on the blood vessels.

• Angiogram: For a traditional angiogram, doctors insert a catheter (a thin tube) into your body to see your blood vessels more clearly. It's the gold standard for diagnosing brain aneurysms because it gives a 3-D view of an aneurysm, offering precise details that help determine the best treatment for you.

I never even heard of a brain aneurysm until one of the three found burst.   Although I’m very lucky to have survived, recovery was and still is a challenge. I have to remind myself daily not to miss my old life.  I have to accept my disabilities.  I found out after my burst brain aneurysm that two young children in my family died from this.  I say it way too often but get checked.  Most likely you’re fine but what if you do have one?