Just wondering if anyone has experienced a bulge coming from a wrap around a brain aneurysm? I had a ruptured 2 mm brain aneurysm wrapped 12 years ago, and recovered great, thanks be to God. Then, at a 10 year CT scan, they found it was bulging 3 mm outside the wrap. We tried surgery, but they had to stop it. I’ve taken the wait and see approach because I’m in Canada and a new procedure that the surgeon thought would work, is not available here yet. Has anyone else had issues with a bulge? And, if so, what did you do? Thank you. 
Morning! I’ve not been wrapped which I think takes a craniotomy, please correct me if I’m wrong. I’ve had coils compact numerous times because of the type of aneurysm I have where she once used a balloon assist and then the last, a new type of stent because it just doesn’t want to go away, it’s still not completely occluded. When your surgeon had to access it again did you have an endovascular procedure?
I do hope those who’ve been wrapped will respond, be patient and I’ll cross my fingers.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, it was a craniotomy for the 1st ruptured aneurysm. And, yes, it was an endovascular procedure that they needed to stop, when trying to fix the enraptured bulge. The surgeon has said it’s 50/50, meaning leaving it or trying to do something, both contain risks and benefits, equally. And, he had thought a new, safer procedure was going to be available in Toronto this year, but it has not, yet. So, I’m choosing to wait until the new procedure comes our way. It really helps to read others’ stories of living with aneurysms for years, with no issues. But, this is a “bulge” so I would love to hear from anyone who has experienced that, in particular. Bless you! Thank you so much!
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Thank you! I am curious to what type of procedure you have to wait for, if you don’t mind sharing. I’m also guessing that Canada has something similar to our FDA which can take some time for their medical stamp of approval before things can be used even if on a trial period.
Still have my fingers crossed…
Hi Moltroub, hope all is well. I just want to give a bit of an update. The new procedure coming up from the US to Canada, is here now since January. I had misunderstood what we were waiting for. I thought it had to do with surgery, but it’s actually a new feature added to the angiogram procedure. It’s Vaso-CT (also known as SmartCT Vaso) is a high-resolution, contrast-enhanced cone-beam CT imaging technique. I was “offered” the new angiogram back in January, but I was nervous, and wanted to get other opinions. So, I used Teledoc Health Canada, which gave me a very detailed report, with a leaning toward recommending I go ahead with it, and surgery to follow. I also used AI and it concluded the same. So, here I am, still waiting to book an appt. We tried to book an appt already, but dates couldn’t be taken due to travels. I’m glad I’m sharing this, as I am reminded to pick up the phone and call my neurosurgeon’s office tomorrow and see when we can move forward. Blessing …
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Thanks so much for the update! How interesting, I’ve learned something new today which means it’s a great start to a great day! I’m definitely going to look it up. Where do you have to travel to in order to have it done?
Quickly found and how cool is that?!!! Philips SmartCT | 3D visualization and measurement tool - Philips I hope it linked to the flow diverter one….for our other members.
The procedure is in Toronto, just an hour away from me.
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That’s great! BH has to take me about the same distance to see my neurosurgeon. We chit chat or I often times have to look something up that we came across, anything. To keep my eyes focused on something else besides the sunlight zipping through the trees, it’s a brain thing. 
Let us know when you finally get your appointment set up, please and thank you! Oh and we usually do something fun if we get an opportunity which might be a visit to my favorite tea shop, Old Salem, or one of our favorite restaurants that was able to remain open. Do try to do something you both like, makes the world of difference!
Hi Moltroub,
So sorry it’s been awhile since our last exchange. I had an angiogram a month ago, that went smoothly, thanks be to God. As, I may have mentioned that, during the original angiogram 14 years ago, and 2 years ago, resulted in a snipped side of the artery, which could have caused stroke, and, thanks be to God, did not. But, hence, I was nervous about a 3rd angio, and what it might bring. Thanks be to God, it went smoothly, with now rupture! I will see my neurosurgeon this Sept 1, to discuss what he saw and get his recommendations. I hope it is still surgery he can recommend. This is a brain aneurysm that burst 14 years ago, was wrapped, and is now bulging out the side of the wrap. I did a 180 in my thoughts … instead of feeling worried and thinking “what if?” I am now celebrating the their expertise and saying “wow! it’s amazing what they can do!” And, now I can’t wait to have the surgery and get on with my life with the black cloud over my head the last 2 1/2 years since the discovery of this new bulge. Thank you so much for being there!!
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It’s good that you’re thinking about these things positively 
Just to let you know, @Moltroub is away for the weekend, back later next week so I’m not sure if we’ll hear from her before Thu or Fri.
Very best wishes,
Richard
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Thank you so much, Richard!
Joanne
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I’m back! So what did you the neurosurgeon say as it’s now September 3 and you’ve had your appointment!?
Glad you’re back! So sorry it took so long for me to get back to you!
I’m happy to share that I am scheduled for surgery on Sept 15, to do a stent, as a way of dealing with prevention. I am so looking forward to it! I have utmost confidence in my Neurosurgeon! And, I’m ready!
I’ll keep you posted 
Hope all is well with you!
Blessings,
Joanne
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Yes all is well, thanks! September 15 is right around the corner! My stent placement helped me a lot I hope yours does as well. Good time to get all the heavy housework done and yard work if needed. Definitely keeping you in my thoughts! Don’t forget to come back when you can and let us know how you are doing!
What kind of surgery did you have? Was it up through the groin?
Yes for my stent, she went through the femoral artery. In fact I didn’t have a radial (wrist) until my last angiogram in 2020 to check on the stent. She’s never logged how long or what type of coils or how many that I can recall, at least in the records I could see in my portal. I can’t see them anymore because Atrium Health took them out of my portal. They changed how long records could be accessed but I’ve got them somewhere, probably a box we’ve yet to unpack
Hi @Joannie -
Just wanted to chime in and let you know I am thinking of you and sending extra good thoughts and energy your way with the 15th coming up next week.
If it helps, I have had several angiograms/procedures both via the radial artery (through the wrist) and via the femoral (through the groin). Both procedures are basically the same with the key differences I experienced being:
- The femoral takes a little bit longer to heal - but I am talking in days, not weeks! Typically, I am instructed to resume walking in 2-3 days via the wrist, but via the groin it is more like 5-7 days.
- Post-op, the nurses - quite obviously - paid a closer eye to how the wound was healing in my femoral artery. One time, it was evidently seeping just a little bit; they kept monitoring it, but didn’t like how it was going. So, a nurse came and applied pressure for 20 minutes to ensure the artery healed. Totally fine as I want it healed just as much, but of course, makes for a bit of an awkward scenario so a good opportunity to exercise some soft skills and bond with the nurse.
- The only other scenario I worked through pre-procedure was to figure out when I bend down daily, and therefore how I will adjust. Mainly this involved figuring out how to care for the fur baby, since I wouldn’t be able to put food on the floor or bend down and pick him up.
When they do go in through my wrist, I always ask them to wrap it up VERY well afterwards, as I am a klutz by nature. My own preference to want to really bind it up extra well to ensure I don’t do something unintended, and it mentally reminds me not to use it.
Keeping you and your medical team in my thoughts!!!
Fin Whale Fan 
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Bless you! That means so much to me!
Yes, it’s just around the corner now. I’m at peace.
However, I’m on blood thinners few days before the surgery, and after just 1 1/2 days on them, I’ve had a little bleed from a scrape on my leg. I panicked, then “googled” and I’m not to worry about it. Still a little concerned.
Did you have blood thinners?
Blessings,
Joanne
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When we ruptured we didn’t get a blood thinner. But having a stent inserted requires a blood thinner, for most of us, we got two different types of blood thinner, Plavix (Clopidogrel) and Aspirin. The dosage was higher to begin with and they tapered them down after a while. So yes, we had to have blood thinners and for most of us we stay on a baby aspirin for life. You can buy a package of so called blood stop if you happen to cut your self or something else, that piece of fiber looking thing will stop the bleeding very quickly. I will be thinking of you next week. Please get back to us when you have energy enough to do so. Good Luck 
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I can’t add much more than what @oct20 already said, as that is exactly what happened to me (she’s one smart cookie! 
). For me, I was able to stop the Plavix/clopidogrel after I had the angiogram in which it was officially declared that my aneurysm was occluded, so in total I was on it for about 6 months (it was about 3 mm by that time), and I am on baby aspirin for life.
I had my stent in mid-October, and like you, I live in the northern part of the world (admittedly not as lucky to be as far north as you! ) I mention this because besides the usual random bruises that I would shrug off, I had a couple of really bad nosebleeds in November and December, and I am not really all that prone to them. I blame it on both the clopidogrel, as well as the fact that it was winter with our dry, cool air and no summer humidity.
One trick I learned was to use a saline spray to keep the nasal passage moistened. Of course, there are other options if you prefer instead;. I know someone who swears by petroleum jelly, so keep that idea in the back of your pocket should you have issues. For me, once I started using saline spray, I never had problems with a bloody nose again.
I was soooooo happy after the stent was implanted, as it felt like we were playing offense for the first time with my aneurysm instead of defense. Can’t wait to hear how it went - we’ll be thinking of you!!!
Fin Whale Fan
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