On 3 July 2013 I was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm, which later turned out to be two. This blog is a journey into my brain as I deal to the aneurysms lurking there. Along the way I'm calling on the collective proverbial wisdom and sage advice of some recognised (and maybe a few not-so-recognised) writers for aphorisms which complement my journey.

This is not just a personal journey but also a journey of discovery for everyone who has, had, or knows someone with a cerebral aneurysm.


Wednesday 10 February 2016

I have brain damage; deal with it! ~ Sharon Stone

Since I discovered this little gold thing which Sharon Stone said last year, I feel that this is definitely me as well. Of course I have brain damage! I had a brain aneurysm; I had surgery in April 2014; I had a stroke; I was locked into BIRU for 6.5 weeks. 

Sometimes I feel I'm one of the very few who suffered both of these things in Australia. I'm a member of Aphasia group but it seems that I'm the only one of them who had a stroke with my brain aneurysm. I'm a member of Synapse group but it seems I'm the only one of them who had a stroke with my brain aneurysm. I'm a member of STEPs... etc, etc, etc.

I know there are a lot of people on the BASA Facebook page who had a stroke with their brain aneurysm, but I very rarely have heard from any of them. I would love to know: 
how many of those who had a stroke with their brain aneurysm are able to talk, read, think, walk, feel?
Brain aneurysms are not ever something that a "normal" person can just wave away. ABI - Acquired Brain Injury - or TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury - often happens to a person who has had their brain aneurysm worked on in surgery. 

The Synapse "Acquired Brain Injury: The Facts" booklet, page 4, says
People with an Acquired Brain Injury do not necessarily experience a decline in their overall level of general intellectual functioning. Rather, they are more likely to experience specific cognitive changes that lead to difficulty in areas such as memory, concentration, communication and behaviour.
Bayshore in Canada said the
most common causes of non-traumatic ABI include stroke, hypoxia, brain aneurysm, brain tumour, prolonged exposure to toxic substances, alcohol/drug abuse, and meningitis or encephalitis resulting from viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections.
Brainline.org has a very well-written page on brain injury, which reviews how this can be discussed with other people. They have written about how our brain overlooks everything, such as physical, cognitive, communication, emotional, behaviour and social functions.

Karingal, in Victoria, Australia, said that brain aneurysms are one cause of ABI.
Pate Rehabilitation in Texas, USA, said that ABIs are from many brain injuries which include aneurysms.

Neuronetwork in Ireland agrees that stroke can come after brain aneurysms and cause ABI.

The Brain Injury Alliance in New Jersey, USA, has a pdf booklet which gives basic information about brain injury and how they are treated, and includes BAs in "acute" brain injury. This different word is also used in Europe, but means the same thing.

Am I going on? Well - just read any of these! This is throughout the internet-accessible countries and includes real existence and real treatment. If any of you have had ABI or know someone with ABI, please make sure that you have found information about how to get it treated. It is definitely necessary at least in Australia! And if you are still reading on, please make sure you know this:

I have brain damage; deal with it!

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