When a Headache is not just a Headache
29 March 2009, 19:05
One of the most significant memories I have of Primary School is of a girl running screaming across the schoolgrounds at lunchtime into the main quadrangle and falling to the ground, dead. She’d burst an aneurysm. I still remember that day clearly. My mum was on canteen duty. My 4th grade teacher explained what had happened the following day. And I remember thinking “How can an 8-year old girl suddenly fall down. dead?” I don’t remember her name.
Experts reckon that roughly 1-2% of the population have aneurysms, most of which never burst. That’s a hell of a lot of people out there walking around with a potential time bomb in their head.
I suppose I’ve always had headaches, although I only remember them being a problem since Uni. I took valium (v. useful at Uni and sure as hell better than dope), went to a physio and they disappeared. Until the next time. So over the years I just thought they were stress headaches brought on by neck and shoulder pain and ridiculous uni/work/life deadlines. Now of course I wonder whether they were the early signs of having the aneurysm.
I had an iridology read care of my work’s alternative Health campaign last year and the lady asked me if I got many headaches as there was a fleck in the “Brain” section of the iris chart. When I said yes, she was adamant that I go get them checked out (I didn’t.). I kind of dismissed it at the time as being alternative hoo-hah, but of course, that conversation haunts me now.
You could have an aneurysm. Many have conjectured that aneurysms run in families but no-one in my family has ever had one. I also have 0 of the risk factors of rupturing an aneurysm:
- Smoking
- High Blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Age (over 40)
- Excessive Alcohol use
OK. Maybe that last one may have been a bit of a risk but I certainly wouldn’t be chucked into the bucket for risky rupture.
My community message for the day is that if you are plagued by persistent headaches, get it checked out. Don’t lull yourself into thinking “It won’t happen to me”. When I was in the hospital, with plenty of time to ponder on what had just happened, I didn’t think “why me?” rather I conceded “Well, why not me?”
Personally, I blame Bunnings. I mean, do they really have to have so many different types of rope to choose from?
Permanent Link | - hey kinki! i took a blog reading break for, oh, two months? and this is what i miss?! i’ve just gone back and read all of your posts about the aneurysm and i’m a little weepy. i’m so glad that you pulled through ok and you’re still alive with all your faculties to be here, telling us all about it.
hugs darling! xo steph.
— gleek Apr 26, 02:23 AM #
