Hi there. I will find out on Wednesday whether they are going to clip or coil my 2mm aneurysm. I really don't want a craniotomy but does anyone? I'll happily do it if the outcome is more permanent as I am allergic to the contrast dye and and don't want to do that every 3-6 months. But if coiling is best, can anyone out there describe it? I hear that you are awake. I don't know if I could take that. ANy thoughts anyone can share would be most appreciated
Thanks,
Susan
Hi Susan...I was not awake for my coiling...it took about 4 hours...and everyone and every procedure is different...I donot think any one person can tell you ... exactly what it will be like... I think you should go back to your Doctor...I have never heard of anyone being away when coiled...~ wishing you the best on your procedure...~ Colleen
Hey Colleen. Thank you for your reply. How are you doing?
I like you, did not want to have the testing every few months. I had a crainotomy ten years ago. I am doing fine now. Like with any procedure you will have some recovery issues to deal with, wheather it be headaches, fatigue, wierd feelings in your head, tingling, the list goes on. The important thing is it was found before it ruptured and now you will have to just deal with what comes next. When you go Wed. you will feel much better. Who is your doctor? Are you going to Emory? Keep us posted.
Hi Robyn. Yes, I am going to Emory, to Dr. Daniel Barrow.
Robyn, I know everyone is different but how long did it take to feel good again after the craniotomy?
Hi Susan,
I had my coiling/stent surgery on 9-25-12. I was not awake for the surgery. Everything went very well. I have a headache that I hope will diminish with time. Today the headache is much less. I hope this helps…
HI Dale and thank you for writing. Glad you are feeling well. Gosh, that was last Tuesday! Great news.
May I ask, what size was your aneurysm? Mine is 2mm.
Thank you,
Susan
Some days are very good...and some not so good...I learn to embrace both...still have a journey ahead...you take care of YOU and keep us posted....~ Colleen
I was up walking in a few days. I remember walking up 3 flights of stairs 3 weeks after surgery to go to Sunday School. It is not a fun recovery, but doable. I was 42 when I had my surgery. Dr. Barrow is probably the best in my opinion in the Southeast. He had done over 1000 aneruysm surgeries 10 yrs. ago when he did mine. I had a crainotomy mine was behind my eye and here in Anderson, SC my doctors did not think it was operable. He had no trouble. He is such a skilled surgeon. After surgery I just went to my regular Doc. for check ups and my neuroligist just a few months ago because I was having some balance issues. I have had a CT scan but thats about it. At the time of my surgery Dr. BArrow said he did not see any more aneruysms forming. This is the best site for you to come to for info. There are some smart people on here who can answer questions for you. I had a choice of coiling or clipping. I chose clipping because coiling was fairly new and had just been approved by FDA. My husband said I would worry about those little things in my head, but I have screws and a titatium clip. I really don't think much about them. You can drive yourself crazy thinking about all the what ifs. Recovery is different for everyone. You can expect some pain, but mine was well controlled with Loritab and eventually ibuprofen. I guess you will just have to trust Dr. BArrow. I know I would. He can tell you what he thinks is best. I am so glad you are going to him. He and his staff are all great. Feel free to ask any question regarding coiling vs. clipping. You will just know in your heart which is best for you. I pray for a peace for you if you have to make the decision yourself. Maybe you want have to make a choice, and Dr. Barrow will tell you what he thinks needs to be done. Whatever happens know you have alot of support here. Hang in there and try not to worry. There are so many of us living post aneursym, some with ruptures and those of us lucky enough for ours to be found before they ruptured. Keep us posted. Good luck Wed. I will be praying for you.
Hello Susan!
I had a craniotomy but the Dr. didn’t dare to clip because another vessel was wrapped around the Annie so he sent me to TUFTS on Boston where I had 3 annies coiled and a stent placed. The healing from coils is much faster. I was asleep for all my surgeries. in my opinion having had both, of I only had 1 or 2 annies I and given a choice I believe I would want the craniotomy. It feels to me like a more permanent fix. Othersay have a different opinion and you should talk to your surgeon about both. Ask lots.of questions a d write them down beforehand so you don’t leave his office thinking you should have asked but forgot! Good luck in whichever you and your surgeon decise, I will be keeping you in my prayers! If you have any questions you feel I might be able to help with, please don’t hesitate to ask! Hugs, Cindy
hi Susan!--noooooonot awake- i was "out like a light" for recoiling thanks to Anestethiologist- next day felt really groggy and slight pain all over so i called nueros and they said" nooooo nothing we did would make you feel like that! you must have the flu"!!!!! 2nd day felt a little better. Be prepared to be scared when the fear comes just knock it down to size with a prayer- then you will drift off to the"magic kingdom" the very next thing you know you will be in recovery room where they will watch you earnestly while you "come back to earth". You will be very disoriented having lost a few hours and waking in a different place! really its more like a weird dream than reality --step one- i only slept a couple hrs the night before -got up @ 4 am to be in city by 5:30 step 2---register step3 - put on 2 party dresses(robes) step 4---i v team time step 5 ----wait then realize they scared the piss out of you so you now have to hobble in to bathroom with your new buddy the drip thing and figure out how to pee with drippy and 2 robes on!!! step 5 the assisistants finally come to wheel you in, they see the fear in your eyes & will console you step 6 ---- you will meet & greet the anesthesiologist and the OR nurses who will ask if you like the Black-Eyed Peas then put on their music and start dancing!!! Dr feelgood will then carefully administer drugs and you will quickly be "out"!!!! this was just bizaar by this point & not scary, honestly this is what happened- forever etched in my brain. When the fear comes -pray, visualize loved ones,next vacation, what you will do when you get home etc,etc, go to your happy place! Please post your date in "upcoming procedure" group at the top so we can all send positive thoughts & pray for you! God bless you & yours!
lol @ Ron
Hi Susan,
BAF does a pretty good job explaining both procedures with text and graphics so that you understand them. Go here for clipping: http://www.bafound.org/treatment-options-0
and here for coiling: http://www.bafound.org/treatment-options-2
other procedures are along the left side of that page and include occulusion w/ bypass, stents with coiling, liquid embolization (think glue), the PED, wait and watch, as well as any risks -- there's also an FAQ which is very helpful.
I really wish I had stumbled across this site before my surgery, not that I would have changed what I did, but I would have felt more secure in choosing what I did, if that makes any sense. I had the PED inserted which is around the same procedure that Ron explained above, except instead of coils, they insert a small metal fish net sleeve into the artery adjacent the aneuysm. I was very fortunate and had the choice of all three: open surgery, coiling or the PED. I chose the PED for the reason you mention above, it's more permanent. However, it does not instantly correct the issue as the other two do (it can take up to a year for the aneuysm to go away), so you kinda go around wondering what is going on up there, not that you wouldn't be in the same situation with the other two post-op. As with coiling, you do get tests done, but it depends on your surgeon how often. Not sure if that's an option for you, but it wouldn't hurt to bring it up and see if they didn't already mention it to you. I know liquid was not brought to my attention but that may be because it's newer?
My biggest tip for you is that once you decide you don't second guess. That about drove me crazy. I was very lucky to have a spouse that reminded me why I chose what I chose.
Hang in there!
Tara
Robyn. Reading your note was tremendously helpful. I deeply appreciate your taking the time to write me. I will consider everything you wrote and know that I am in skilled hands with Dr. Barrow. Thank you so much for caring .
Susan
Ron! Thank you so very much for taking the time to describe everything in such great detail and with a fun sense of humor :) I hope there was someone who did this for you before your procedure. I also hope you are very healthy and thriving.
Thanks again,
Susan
hi again Susan!-your very welcome, no unfortunately my re-coiling was before i found you all here at baf , thank you for your well wishing! My original coiling was an emergency type SAH so i can't recall nor would we want those details! keep the faith!
HEY. I go to see my doctor tomorrow where I hope to finally know how my 3mm will be handled. I too have heard the craniotomy to be more permanent. Most of my knowledge/experience is from my mom's rupture 27 years ago and my sisters this sumer. I know I am lucky to have found it before a rupture, but the waiting is getting to me. My mom had cran. which was her only option at the time. Sister had coiling. I just want to know. I have had an MRA and a cat scan. Will I need an angiogram just to take a closer look? I thought tests were over. Good luck to u and may all go well.
Laraine
, I had a second angiogram yesterday and 25 years ago had an allergic reaction to contrast dye. They gave me a dose of pregnazone the night before, middle of night and the morning of the procedure. I was fine.
Hi Laraine. Yes the waiting is getting to me too. It's as if everything is on hold and every strange little feeling in your head just might be THE rupture! It's exhausting to be in a constant state of fear.
I am very interested to hear the plan for you. I will let you know what happens at my appt. too.
Good thoughts and hugs,
Susan
I had emergency coiling the morning of 9-7-12 after being taken to the emergency room for an aneurysm rupture. Granted, they had already given me morphine when they announced they were going to do the surgery, but I am only vaguely aware of the coiling even happening. I was completely out for it. I only remember them saying they were going to do it, then being told it happened and it worked. I had a bandage on my leg near my groin. It was very mildly sore once I started walking around. Once they removed the bandage, I couldn't even tell where they had pierced my skin. Of everything that has happened, the coiling was the easiest part.
Well- I received good news and bad news today. Good news-Doctors are debating my situation. Is it or isnt it an aneurysm. May be a "looped" artery. I go for an angiogram this Friday. I will be feeling very good but still able to respond to doctors. They wanted me to wait 3-4 weeks to have it because they are backed up. I basically said no-I dont want to wait that long. Got in for Friday. Bad news-now have to wait until the 17th to get results. I know I am lucky that I got the test so soon and that they are even doing further testing.
Doc also said if it is an aneurysm we may want to wait on repair if % of risk for waiting is 1 and % of risk for repairing is 10. I said no-I have seen what it can do, if it is there, I want it repaired and wont change my mind. Hope your app. goes well.
Thoughts with you as well,
Laraine