S3E8: Beyond a Headache with Gia Patel

Making Headway

The third in our brain aneurysm awareness month series does not disappoint! Gia Patel a teenage survivor of a brain aneurysm rupture comes on to talk about her experience and how she transformed it into an educational campaign supporting accurate diagnosis of childhood aneurysms. She also gives advice on storytelling, highlighting its importance for your recovery. Make sure to give this episode a listen and watch her documentary at Beyond a Headache Documentary.

Summary

Gia Patel, a brain aneurysm survivor, shares her story of experiencing a brain aneurysm rupture at the age of 14. Initially misdiagnosed as a migraine, Gia's symptoms included a thunderclap headache, neck numbness, sensitivity to light and sound, and vomiting. After multiple hospital visits and tests, including a CT scan and lumbar puncture, the brain bleed was finally confirmed. Gia underwent coiling surgery, but 30% of the aneurysm remained. She then had clipping surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, which successfully resolved the issue. Gia also discusses the memory loss and cognitive issues she experienced after the surgery, as well as ongoing headaches and the challenges of finding effective medications. Gia Patel shares her experience with brain aneurysm and the challenges she faced as a teenager. She discusses the difficulties of managing medications and balancing a social life while dealing with the effects of her condition. Gia also talks about the naming of her dog Ellie and the coincidental connection to Ellie's Law, a law advocating for brain aneurysm research funding. She highlights the importance of storytelling and community in raising awareness and supporting survivors. Gia also mentions her documentary, Beyond a Headache, which aims to educate and spread awareness about brain aneurysms.

Keywords

brain aneurysm, rupture, misdiagnosis, migraine, thunderclap headache, sensitivity to light and sound, vomiting, CT scan, lumbar puncture, coiling surgery, clipping surgery, memory loss, cognitive issues, headaches, medications, brain aneurysm, teenager, medications, social life, Ellie's Law, storytelling, community, documentary, Beyond a Headache

Takeaways

· Brain aneurysm ruptures can be misdiagnosed as migraines, so it's important to advocate for further testing if symptoms persist.

· Symptoms of a brain aneurysm rupture can include a thunderclap headache, neck numbness, sensitivity to light and sound, and vomiting.

· Treatment options for brain aneurysms include coiling and clipping surgeries, but the choice depends on the size and location of the aneurysm.

· After brain surgery and aneurysm ruptures, patients may experience memory loss, cognitive issues, and ongoing headaches.

· Finding effective medications for post-surgery symptoms can be challenging and may require experimentation.

· Managing medications and balancing a social life can be challenging for teenagers with brain aneurysms.

· Storytelling is a powerful tool for raising awareness and connecting with others who have similar experiences.

· Community support is crucial for brain aneurysm survivors to feel validated and understood.

· Gia Patel's documentary, Beyond a Headache, educates and spreads awareness about brain aneurysms.

· Early detection and treatment of brain aneurysms can prevent life-threatening complications.

Sound Bites

"I experienced the absolute worst headache of my life"

"We think it's a migraine. Migraines typically last 72 hours at most."

"We think it's an incidental finding."

"And then before you know it you're on like 10 different pills and you're like what am I doing?"

"She pulled the mom card as she should."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:32 Gia's Story and Documentary

08:07 Treatment Options and Challenges

15:06 Inadequate Diagnosis and Second Opinion

21:48 Post-Surgery Recovery and Challenges

25:44 Memory Loss and Cognitive Issues

28:26 Ongoing Headaches and Medication

29:00 Challenges of Medications and Social Life

35:03 The Naming of Ellie and Ellie's Law

40:48 Highlighting the Overlooked in Children

45:05 Prevention and Awareness

48:10 The Power of Storytelling and Community

52:44 Gia's Documentary: Beyond a Headache

Reach out to:

Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness for support groups

Beyond a Headache Documentary

Gia on IG @beyondaheadache

Eryn on IG @eryn_makingheadwaypodcast

Alison on IG @alison_maknigheadwayodcast

MHP on IG @makingheadwaypodcast

Go to our website www.makingheadwaypodcast.com for full show notes and resources

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