Sudden Brain Aneurysm sends Goldsboro man to brink of death

As told by Amanda Rains, News-Argus Staff Writer
Sunday, June 11, 2000

March 19 could have been the last night of Brian Glisson's life.

While relaxing on his couch and watching television, the 39-year old, who lives at 595 Forest Knolls Road, coughed one time and felt a surge of pain in his head. Within minutes he lost his hearing and vision and eventually blacked out. Three hours later, he came to with a terrible headache. Weakened by the pain, Glisson quickly fell asleep for the night.

The next morning, because of the continued pain, he had trouble holding his head up. Nevertheless, he managed to drive to work.

Glisson told Ray and Bobbie Anderson of Anderson's Interiors, who often hired Glisson to install carpet and tile as a subcontractor, what had happened the night before. Ray Anderson took him to the emergency room at Wayne Memorial Hospital.

"I was very concerned about Brian," Anderson recalled. "He told me and my wife that he needed some help, so I took him to the hospital."

In the emergency room, Dr. Bryson Bateman Jr., a physician at ImmediateCare of Goldsboro, ran a series of tests, including a C.T. scan, which x-rayed Glisson's head and allowed him to see any complications.

"Whenever patients like Mr. Glisson complain of headaches that have caused them to pass out, I am concerned that they may have suffered from sub-arachnoid hemorrhaging. So we ran a C.T. scan and it came back positive," Bateman said.

Glisson was admitted into Wayne Memorial Hospital's Intensive Care Unit for observation and sedation. He worried that he did not have health insurance to pay for his hospital stay.

Dr. Barry Katz, a neurological surgeon in Goldsboro, monitored Glisson's condition. After running more tests, Dr. Katz determined that an aneurysm in the back of the head caused the internal bleeding. He performed the surgery.

Dr. Katz said that in neurological terms, Glisson was in fairly good condition. He said only about 30 percent of patients with internam bleeding from an aneurysm actually live to be more than a vegetable.

Nine days went by before Glisson was able to leave the hospital. He recalled the generosity of the staff and the doctors during his stay.

"Everyone was very nice to me even though they knew I could not pay the bills. The doctors and nurses went out of their way and one doctor even called all the local pharmacies to get my prescription at the lowest price. I really appreciate the extra time they took and continue to take to help me," Glisson said.

After leaving the hospital, Glisson returned home. His brother, George Glisson of Goldsboro, helped to care for him during his recovery. George Glisson said Brian feels he was given a second chance and wants to get back on his feet.

Though the doctors were very optimistic about Glisson's recovery, three months later he is unable to work and he can't make payments on his medical bills. His continued headaches --- and high blood pressure that was diagnosed before his aneurysm --- have kept him from working.

"It is very frustrating knowing I am unable to work. I know that I won't be able to install carpet or tile anymore because the job is too stressful for my condition, but I want to be able to go back to work to pay these bills," he said.

Glisson, who said he owes almost $80,000 for the medical expenses, has applied for aid from the government. He has been turned down for assistance so far but is still hopeful. He is waiting to hear from the office of 3rd District Congressman, Walter B. Jones.

In addition to his regular visits to Dr. Katz, Glisson recently began to see Dr. Douglas Fullington of Goldsboro Medical Clinic to monitor his blood pressure. Fullington said that although Glisson's blood pressure has been reduced since he started taking medicine, it continues to be a problem.

"There are no symptoms for high blood pressure," Fullington said. Fullington said, "The only way to tell if your blood pressure is high is if a doctor or nurse runs a test. Unfortunately, very few people are aware that there are no symptoms, just as Glisson was before his aneurysm. In addition to no symptoms, 95% of the time, there is no direct cause for high blood pressure."

Glisson's doctors said they can't predict when he will be able to work again. They intend to continue monitoring his health and hoping for continued improvement.

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