A businesswoman who slipped into a coma after a blood vessel in her brain ruptured believes excessive stress and overworking played a role in her condition.
Erika Duran, a self-confessed workaholic, shared her story in a For You Page ng GMA Public Affairs report after successfully recovering from brain surgery. She had been experiencing headaches for a long time, but last November, the pain escalated, leading to a medical emergency.
“May tumutulo na roon sa bibig ko parang laway yata o tubig. Seizure na pala ‘yon. Mas lalo siyang [kasama sa bahay] kinabahan kasi noong nakita niya ako, parang wala na talaga akong malay,” she recalled.
She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors intubated her and placed her in the ICU. Further examination revealed that she had arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a congenital condition affecting blood flow in the brain, increasing the risk of rupture.
“It’s a congenital problem. Normally meron pong normal na pagdaloy ng dugo. Once our heart pumps blood, isa po sa direksyon ng dugo na pina-pump mula sa puso, diretso sa brain, it passes through the arteries. With AVM po, nagkakaroon ng abnormal na connection ‘yung artery and brain. Ibig sabihin nagkakaroon ng halo-halo na pagdaloy ng dugo. And in some cases, it can lead to a rupture,” explained Dr. GV T. Liabres, a cerebrovascular neurosurgeon at Makati Medical Center.
Doctors believe stress and lack of sleep may have contributed to the pressure buildup in Erika’s brain.
“Sobrang subsob din ako sa work. Halos puyat tapos maraming iniisip,” she admitted.
She underwent open brain surgery to remove the accumulated blood in her brain. The procedure carried risks, including potential loss of speech, mobility, or vision.
“Noong sinabi sa husband ko na puwedeng maoperahan o puwedeng matanggal, pero walang assurance na babalik ako sa normal. Hindi sure kung ano ang matatamaan na ugat, kung makakapagsalita pa ba ako o makakapaglakad o makakakita. Sobrang thankful lang kasi noong naoperahan ako, noong nagising ako, ito na ako ngayon actually,” she said.
Now in recovery, Erika has decided to take a break from work and prioritize her health.
“Kailangan mag-slowdown tayo, alamin ang priorities natin,” she advised.
