So I've scheduled my second post-surgery follow up for this Wednesday. My original surgery - coils/stent on 1 aneurysm - was 14mos ago. I also have 2 watch-and-wait aneurysms. First follow-up was an angio done 6mos later (in early April), and everything looked great. This next follow up was supposed to be a year from the angio, but I've decided to move ahead of schedule and do it before we go to Mexico for 2 weeks, just for the peace of mind. And from now on my f/u's are MRA's, not angios, so there's no procedure to be anxious about or recover from.
We go to Mexico every year right after Christmas, and I realized that my anxiety was up because of the thought of being in Mexico w/ 2 watch-and-wait aneurysms, and that if I get checked every December rather than every April, I can go into the trip with peace of mind. So.....obviously a little scared, but I really have the feeling everything will be okay. I know that the coiled one healed perfectly and won't give me more trouble - so the hope is that the 2 smaller ones are stable.
Wow - a follow up MRA is WWWWAAAAYYYY different than a follow-up angio! It was one 10-minute scan, that's it. Didn't even use any contrast.
No results yet, though I did think I'd hear from either my neurosurgeon or neurologist today - so hopefully tomorrow.
I know some docs to all follow-ups as angios - mine does the initial 6mos as an angio (which I had last March) and then moves to MRA's. Thank God! It was so much easier!
I also expected contrast - but that's when they're checking brain structures, not arteries, according to the technician. My doctor's nurse confirmed that that was correct - I was thinking they might have messed up, but apparantly no contrast! Which is a very good thing!
Great results!!! Again told that there;s "no residual aneurysm" (ie - the coiled one is no longer technically an aneurysm" and that continues to hold true.
No comment on my 2 small ones - my neurosurgeon is away and then I'm away, so I won't speak w him for a few weeks, but I spoke w my neurologist, who looked at the preliminary report as well as the scans themselves, and he said there was no mention of the 2 small ones....at the very least that should mean that they haven't grown, because if they were bigger they would have been noted. He does want to talk w the neurosurgeon and have him also review the scans, since he's much more familiar w viewing MRA/aneurysm scans.
I wish there was some comment on the small ones, but my neuro said that they aren't always picked up when they;re small - so that must be good news!!!!
Why don't you come along? MUST be warmer than a Swedish winter!!! Thomas will be there too....tho on a different coast of Mexico....we can share Margaritas!!!
What the heck time is it in Sweden? Must be sometime on Friday - it's almost 930pm Thursday here in sunny SoCal :)
It's 6:48am...I would love to go but ummm I was told I can't go anywhere just yet other wise I would have gone home to Michigan for Christmas this year.. It's a heat wave here..LOL..Only 30 degrees out, bathing suit weather...LOL