Jesus Christ, that's an amazing story.
You're 33! WTF! Things like that just aren't supposed to happen to the young. You were a very unlucky young man, but in the end an extremely lucky young man.
I can only imagine the fear that must have raged through your and your family's minds during all of this.
I'm so glad to hear you survived, and have recovered so well.
-Doug

Glad you are doing well Pat.

The take home message here is if you get a 10/10 headache or "the worst headache of my life", go to the ER.

Glad to hear you're doing well. Thank you for the write up. I had no idea of all the signs of stroke that you described.

My very good friend and former business partner just died of a stroke 4 days ago. She was 51.

God Speed for a full recovery, Pat. Unbelievable. Truly, prayers were answered. Guardian Angels working overtime

Talk about needing a vacation after your vacation. I am so happy for you, your family & all your friends that you pulled through the 10% chance of complications & are making incredible progress.

Wow is all I can think of saying. I am two months from turning 40. Definately makes you think to really take notice when you feel "warning signs". Vision imparement (with out cause or reason) is definatley one of the big ones. WITHOUT CAUSE OR REASON, being the key words here .

Man, glad you are doing better. Thanks for sharing your story.


Sorry for your loss, Hank49.

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Damn Pat, that is crazy. Glad to hear you are recovering.

Those cath's are no joke! My brother had a large portion of his colon removed and took the cath out when he woke up. They gave him 12 hours to pee on his own or they were putting it back in. My brother is a shy pee'r as it is.
Well, 12 hours passed and not a drop. I was literally blocking the nurses at the door while he was hiding in the bathroom trying for all he was worth to pee!

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Holy sh!# Pat! Glad you're feeling better. Remain thankful for each and every day.

Thanks for sharing the story- so glad you're better!

You mentioned something about it might not have been your first stroke?

Do you have a family history of high cholesterol or other issues? What are your cholesterol #s?

Why do they think it happened? Congenital?

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He had an AVM, arteriovenous malformation, which can bleed. They are pretty rare. It was not your normal stroke per say, which is usually from a cholesterol plaque or blood clot going up your carotid artery into your brain and blocking an artery there.
I'm surmising Pat had an intracranial hemorrhage from his AVN which then causes mass effect and arteriole spasm and local tissue damage. It was likely congenital (been there since birth) growing slowly til it started bleeding.

Pat,
Did they say it was an AVM or AV fistula? And did they see any associated aneurysms in the AVM? Or any other lesions? I'd be happy to look at your images with you sometime if you want.

C

Damn...I thought throat cancer was bad, but this sounds like a much worse ordeal!!!

Glad that you came through it ok, man!

Here's to a better remainder of 2012!

Thank you for telling your story, I'm 32 and I will try to remember to keep your story in the back of my mind just incase I get the 10/10.

I think this year would be a great year to let your girlfriend know that she has passed the test to now become your wife

Amazing to hear this story. Im very glad you came through it ok and will keep a prayer for your recovery and return to the underwater world.

Will second you got a real trouper with you to take care of you and be by your side through the ups and downs.

Wow Pat - I remember your Facebook posts about having an AVM around when it happened and having to Google "AVM". I had no idea of what a miserable ordeal you went through. Thanks for sharing your story and for the heads up on the 10/10 headaches and visual symptoms. Good luck in your recovery. I hope to see you back in the water when it's the right time.

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glad your ok, hope you have a speedy recovery

THanks everyone! Its was an AVM for sure, which as a few other have pointed out has nothing to do with cholesterol or blood clots which is what most strokes are caused by. I had almost certainly had the AVM since birth but just never had a MRA done of my head to see it.

The doctors were clear that there was no medical way to know if I had ever had it bleed before or not but...... I had the same type of headache in the same location with more minor visual disturbances back in December when I was diving in the Tortugas off the Ultimate Getaway. I couldn't sleep the second nigh and threw up off and on though night. I missed the first dive after I puked up breakfast but made the other ones!!!!!! My vision cleared up and the pain stopped before noon that day so if it was a stroke ( I would say so) it was minor in comparison.

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I am glad to hear youre doing good, and able to dive!
You are my prayers for a good full recovery.
Brent

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Thanks for sharing your story. It's easy to forget how fragile life is, and how easily your life can be turned upside down. Glad to hear your ship has been uprighted and your close to hoisting your sails again.

Dang Pat, sounds pretty scary, glad to hear you are on the mend.

long time, no see! haven't been diving much due to medical issues of my own but that is a different discussion and don't want to derail your thread.

Leo

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