Three years ago I was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. Thanks to an incredible doctor, I am still alive and healthy today. I am so grateful to have found Dr. Aman Patel, who is an amazing brain surgeon and a wonderful caring human being that has dedicated his life to saving others. Below, I’d like to share my story in hopes that it will help anyone who may be in a similar situation. Please, get checked and listen to your body when it’s trying to tell you something.
A little over 3 years ago, I began experiencing strange symptoms of vertigo and electrical pain in my head and jaw. After seeing several doctors who conducted MRI’s and dismissed it as nothing, I still didn’t feel satisfied with their results. I knew there was something there, so I sought out the best neurologist I could find and got an MRA, which images the vascular system in the brain rather than looking for masses. Through that MRA, they found an aneurysm.
Sadly, not everyone is so persistent. Thousands of people die suddenly from ruptured aneurysms, which can cause strokes or cerebral hemorrhaging and even death. Many people under 50 who die suddenly may have died of an undetected aneurysm. I was fortunate because I listened to my intuition and found the best endovascular endoscopic neurological brain surgeon in the world because the location of the aneurysm was too dangerous to operate in cranially.
The procedure was successful but it requires follow-ups, checking with angiograms to image the brain vascular system to make sure the aneurysm coiling and stent are intact and sealed (enclosed by epithelial tissue growing over it). Dr. Aman Patel, originally at Mt. Sinai NYC, who has since become the head of neurosurgery at Mass General hospital in Boston and head of neurology and neuro-surgery Harvard Medical School, has become a friend that JR and I admire and trust.
This is my 5th angiogram: 1 prior to discovering it, 1 during the procedure, and 3 follow ups. Today was my 3 year check up and I can thankfully say I am healthy and continue to live this way because I took action, listened to my gut, and found the best doctor who continues to look out for me. If you have any doubts, please get checked out. Better to be safe than sorry.
Here’s a short video JR and I recorded on our way to see Dr. Patel:
THE END RESULTS:
Photo 1: The coils are totally closed.
Photo 2: This is 100% success: you can see the heart shaped aneurysm is totally sealed off and light with no blood flow. The coils are totally sealed and the epithelial tissue has grown over the stent. The aneurysm has basically disappeared.
It’s so important to me to spread awareness about this condition. As part of my effort, I interviewed Dr. Patel and asked him questions about how to detect a brain aneurysm and what to do if you have one. Please read my interview here and share it with others. You may be helping to save a life.
