Can this happen again?

​Here is My Question:
I spent July and August in the hospital. I don't remember much but between my husband, children and the doctors I know most. I fell and went unconscious at a nursing home we were showing my 94 year old Dad. They called 911, I was taken to nearest hospital and they said I must be taken to hospital in Toledo, Ohio. Long story short, they said I had couple of strikes and at least 2 operations. One vein had "bulge" on it and they had to fill it with wire coil. I have MS, btw, which they "said" had nothing to do with this. It is very frightening to think about, as I was "told" I was very luck to come home.

The doctor told one of my daughters, only about 50% of people make it to the hospital alive. I had had a MS just weeks before this happened. Why didn't it show up when they said that I probably had it for "some time"? I was completely out of it in the hospital. I did not talk or move by myself. My son from state of Oregon came back and slept in my room for a whole week I don't remember him at all. I don't remember any of my visitors. Just wanted you to know how bad it was. I came home and had to have therapy for a month or 2. My memory is my biggest issue.

My concern is..."can this happen again"? That's what scares me. My mother had diabetes, had multiple strokes and finally the "big one" that finally took her life. I have always been petrified of that. I want to stop worrying about this but I also want the truth. If it wasn't my MS, then what is it? I will say this: they always have trouble getting blood. They said I have very small vessels and they roll. Its generally never less than 5 or 6 tries before they get it. I'm just wondering if that can be a part of my trouble? I have an appt with my original neuro Dr. Brendan Bauer this month. I have plenty of questions for him but since he knows you, thought it might help having your opinion to take with me. Well, thank you for listening! I really do appreciate it. BTW I am 67. I also want to know what I can do, if anything, to try to prevent this from happening again? 

Answer:
It is hard to understand what actually happened to you from the description you provided. It is very rare for multiple sclerosis to cause loss of consciousness. It sounds as though you may have experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage and they coiled an aneurysm. Dr. Bauer is an excellent neurologist so make sure he has all of the records from your hospitalization. I'm sure he will be able to explain what happened in far better detail.

​Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD
Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program
Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
University of California San Diego