Marium Riaz shares her experience with brain aneurysm, stroke and rediscovering her career path in dentistry in the aftermath.
Dentistry has always been more than a profession to me – it has been a source of joy, purpose, and identity. After 11 years practising in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I made a life-changing decision to move to the UK with my seven-year-old son in 2022. I wanted to expand my career by pursuing an MBA in global healthcare management and also be closer to my sister. I never imagined that within two years, my life would change in ways I could never have prepared for.
Before my aneurysm ruptured, I experienced a series of symptoms that, in hindsight, were warning signs. I frequently saw double and suffered from persistent headaches. I visited several doctors – general practitioners and even an ophthalmologist – but no one could pinpoint the cause. On 13 April, my brother-in-law noticed something alarming: the right side of my face looked different from the left. He was worried it might be the beginning of a stroke.
We rushed to A&E, waited for hours, and finally saw a doctor. Despite my concerns and my request for a CT scan, I was reassured that everything was fine. I left feeling uneasy but tried to trust the medical advice.
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