Thursday, November 7th, 2024 - the day that changed my life forever…

I woke up that morning with a full day of activities ahead… had my coffee, walked Gracie, exercised, headed to my friend’s art gallery to get social media content, then prepared to attend a local art show that evening.

6:30 p.m. - left my house and headed to the art gallery, had a wonderful night visiting with my painting friends, then enjoyed a wonderful dinner of “Redfish Anna” at a local favorite restaurant.

Arrived home and got ready for bed like always… around 10:30 p.m. - OUT OF NOWHERE - I had what I immediately called “the worst headache of my life.” I hardly ever get headaches and have never suffered from migraines, but from what I understand, the headache I felt is different than a migraine.

Tried to sleep, took ibuprofen - no relief. Started vomiting about an hour later. NOW I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE ER - IMMEDIATELY! All night I texted friends… I KNEW something was wrong. But I so desperately wanted it to be a stomach bug or food poisoning. The last thing I wanted to do was trouble someone to take me to the hospital… go sit… and wait… only to find out I’m fine.

Vomited more… chills on and off… tried to sleep. I texted friends all night because I was scared. My best friend’s husband brought me anti-nausea medicine in the wee hours of the morning. I slept until almost lunchtime when a dear friend walked through my front door and told me we are going to the doctor. I got dressed and we left after lunch. Let me say that I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. Again, my brain “wanted” it to be a something minor. We went to a local urgent care, and God was most definitely with me. No one is in the waiting room. I go straight back and the NP listens to my symptoms and tells me she worked in neurology for 15 years. She said “I think you are having a subarachnoid hemorrhage - you need to go to the ER RIGHT NOW.” I tried to argue with her but she was insistent. On our way to the ER, I spoke with my internist who told me the same thing - get to the ER and get scanned.

I arrived at the emergency room mid-afternoon. Of course it was packed. And slow. And my head hurt so badly I could barely move it. FINALLY got a CT scan that looked “worrisome” to the doctor. They ordered a CTA - which is a CT with contrast so more details can be seen. They saw a bilateral bleed and admitted me. It was a scary night because they started throwing around the word ”aneurysm.” I’ve always had health anxiety, so my overthinking brain immediately went into high gear :) I was told I would be admitted to the ICU that night, but no beds were available. I stayed in the ER all night (or as I came to call it - the “wild, wild west”). The ER staff was trying to alleviate my pain, but meds are limited when there is bleeding in the brain. I have NEVER been more scared. Thank God I was surrounded by friends. The next morning I was wheeled into ICU where I stayed four nights and and was so very well taken care of :)

** this has been hard to re-live… I’m so glad I’m writing the story because my gratitude is overwhelming… part two coming soon **