Hi Mitch, your comment about a positive attitude makes me smile. I try. If I let this get to me, then I am down and, frankly, I have things to do. Once, when all this began, I was scared. My surgeon was very demonstrative and forthcoming with information, but that didn't exactly help my concerns. It's still my body and anything that does happen, happens to me. So there is always that element of concern. It's like being sad over someone's death. Hard at first; easier as the months pass. I used to give my doc indigestion because the situation was quite dire and I'd ask for a day to think all the information over. Made him crazy! He's a doc and he makes quick decisions for a living. I, on the other hand, do better when I pause and get back to ya. We actually talked about that and, once he understood, he was okay with it.
I have 5 annies. They were handled in three surgeries--two endovascular coilings and a craniotomy. The largest one was 8mm on the middle cerebral also, but before the split. It had a small neck and so they tried coiling, but the follow-up angio showed blood was still getting into it and forming clots. If I wanted to live, I really didn't have a choice other than the craniotomy.
My surgeon is one of the two docs in North America who research annies. (Ironic luck, huh?) He said to be successfully coiled they cannot have a neck wider than 2mm. Wider than that means the coils will not stay inside the bulge. Trust me, you do not want those coils to come out! He also said the annies have personalities. Some grow quickly. Some just hang out for awhile. This he did emphasize: (I don't mean to scare you, just help you apply some logic and, hopefully, become more comfortable and then decide you can handle it.) What they do know is that annies will grow and that they will eventually burst. I believe, but can't remember exactly, that researchers have been able to calculate a percentage growth rate and they know where the size of concern begins. (There's a question for you to ask.) In the meantime, you must check on them as the docs recommend. Okay? Got that?
Oh, one more piece of info. My surgeon practices at UTSouthwestern Medical School in Dallas. The neurosurgical department has set a policy to treat at 4 mm. For instance, Canada treats at 8 mm. So, different areas and hospitals have different policies as to when to treat. That is something you could ask, too.
Sounds like you do better with more info. Me too. In fact, I said that to the surgeon and he lit up like a pinball machine; dished out so much info that I wished we'd had a recorder! So, my suggestion would be to tell your doc you need more info and ask for better explanations.
Just love when the docs tell you not to worry. Ugh! They mean well but who could reasonably walk away from that meeting unconcerned? Just receiving the news that you have an annie takes your breath away. But, remember, you have one of the best tools--a curiousness that will find answers. Keep it up.
I'm so glad you asked your questions!
