Detected unrupted aneurysm in Nov, 2014. Neurosurgeon suggested stent assisted coiling or clipping. Can't decided. Hope to hear experience and stories from you all.
Thanks, Sharon
I was only able to have coiling and stent due to the location of mine at the Basilar tip. My neurosurgeon said that there would be a big risk of brain damage with clipping, so I didn't have that choice. Even then I wavered every few days on which technique I wanted.
I looked up to see where your annie is located (I have never heard of this location) and did some research, as I am sure you did also. I did find that your annie is similar to mine that it is more rare, but that your location has the lowest recurrence rate with endovascular surgery.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22403776
Have you thought about having a 2nd opinion? It's a tough choice. Has your current neurosurgeon talked about the risk of brain damage for both techniques? Hopefully some one else here will have had experience with the same location. Take care and let us know,
Sherri
Hi, Sharon, I agree with Sherri that a second opinion would be very helpful to illuminate your best course of treatment. It may also be helpful to use the search box at the upper right to find others with aneurysms similar to yours in location, and see which treatment they chose.
Sharon said:
Hi Sherri,
Thanks for your reply and the info. I read about the article and it does give me an idea. However, the surgeon mentioned that I might need long term medication to avoid platelets collected at the stent. This is the factor I am considering. Yes, the surgeon mentioned the risks involved.
There are not many neurosurgeon in my city. Will try to explore from other cities.
Sharon
Sherri Long said:I was only able to have coiling and stent due to the location of mine at the Basilar tip. My neurosurgeon said that there would be a big risk of brain damage with clipping, so I didn't have that choice. Even then I wavered every few days on which technique I wanted.
I looked up to see where your annie is located (I have never heard of this location) and did some research, as I am sure you did also. I did find that your annie is similar to mine that it is more rare, but that your location has the lowest recurrence rate with endovascular surgery.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22403776
Have you thought about having a 2nd opinion? It's a tough choice. Has your current neurosurgeon talked about the risk of brain damage for both techniques? Hopefully some one else here will have had experience with the same location. Take care and let us know,
Sherri
Hi Dancermom,
Thanks for your reply. Will try to get 2nd opinion and also the search on this site.
Sharon
Dancermom said:
Hi, Sharon, I agree with Sherri that a second opinion would be very helpful to illuminate your best course of treatment. It may also be helpful to use the search box at the upper right to find others with aneurysms similar to yours in location, and see which treatment they chose.
Sharon, it's true that with a stent you will need to take a med the rest of your life - I take a 325 mg aspirin, which I have been told I will take the rest of my life. I really don't any side effects - bruising does not really seem worse, although I do bleed a little more than I used to when I cut myself.
Another difference with clip versus coil - clipping usually does not require watching (it is considered more "permanent") while with coils you would need to be followed the rest of your life. This was the reason I had wanted clipping originally, but I am happy that the decision was ultimately not mine to make.
Have you had an angiogram yet? I'm glad you found us - this is awfully hard to go through by yourself and I had so much support before and after my surgery from other survivors. Take care and keep us informed.
Sherri
Sharon said:
Sharon said:Hi Sherri,
Thanks for your reply and the info. I read about the article and it does give me an idea. However, the surgeon mentioned that I might need long term medication to avoid platelets collected at the stent. This is the factor I am considering. Yes, the surgeon mentioned the risks involved.
There are not many neurosurgeon in my city. Will try to explore from other cities.
Sharon
Sherri,
Posted some questions to the surgeon. Hope the answers will help my decision.
May I know when was your coiling done?
Thanks a lot for all the replies. Take care.
Sharon
Sherri Long said:
Sharon, it's true that with a stent you will need to take a med the rest of your life - I take a 325 mg aspirin, which I have been told I will take the rest of my life. I really don't any side effects - bruising does not really seem worse, although I do bleed a little more than I used to when I cut myself.Another difference with clip versus coil - clipping usually does not require watching (it is considered more "permanent") while with coils you would need to be followed the rest of your life. This was the reason I had wanted clipping originally, but I am happy that the decision was ultimately not mine to make.
I'm glad you found us - this is awfully hard to go through by yourself and I had so much support before and after my surgery from other survivors. Take care and keep us informed.
Sherri
Sharon said:
Sharon said:Hi Sherri,
Thanks for your reply and the info. I read about the article and it does give me an idea. However, the surgeon mentioned that I might need long term medication to avoid platelets collected at the stent. This is the factor I am considering. Yes, the surgeon mentioned the risks involved.
There are not many neurosurgeon in my city. Will try to explore from other cities.
Sharon
Hi Sharon-
I did quite a bit of research before choosing my treatment option. We are lucky that we get that option, but it is also overwhelming. I met with a coiling specialist and several top rated surgeons in my state. I went in armed with a list of questions and my husband. He asked lots of questions as well. My annie was Mickey Mouse shaped. Very wide neck. For me, my age played a factor. At the time, I was 38. The coiling with stent procedure was roughly 15 years old. Meaning, they did not have stats older than 15 years. Even the coiling specialist said that if I was a 60 year old, he would do the procedure in a heart beat. He referred me to a surgeon for a second opinion. I got about 4 of them.
When all was said and done, I wanted it fixed and gone. So while clipping was major surgery, more, risk, longer recovery, that is what I chose. My surgery was smoothly. I recovered with flying colors. I now have a clean bill of health. Best of luck.
Terri
Hi Terri,
Thanks for the info. Happy that you are healthy and happy now.
Age is definitely a factor. I am 52, personally I think clipping is invasive for me. However, the surgeon said either procedure is fine with me because of small size.
Sharon
Terri said:
Hi Sharon-
I did quite a bit of research before choosing my treatment option. We are lucky that we get that option, but it is also overwhelming. I met with a coiling specialist and several top rated surgeons in my state. I went in armed with a list of questions and my husband. He asked lots of questions as well. My annie was Mickey Mouse shaped. Very wide neck. For me, my age played a factor. At the time, I was 38. The coiling with stent procedure was roughly 15 years old. Meaning, they did not have stats older than 15 years. Even the coiling specialist said that if I was a 60 year old, he would do the procedure in a heart beat. He referred me to a surgeon for a second opinion. I got about 4 of them.
When all was said and done, I wanted it fixed and gone. So while clipping was major surgery, more, risk, longer recovery, that is what I chose. My surgery was smoothly. I recovered with flying colors. I now have a clean bill of health. Best of luck.
Terri
Hi Sherri,
I have not had angiogram but did ct scan with dye. When is this angiogram supposed to be done?
Sharon
Sherri Long said:
Sharon, it's true that with a stent you will need to take a med the rest of your life - I take a 325 mg aspirin, which I have been told I will take the rest of my life. I really don't any side effects - bruising does not really seem worse, although I do bleed a little more than I used to when I cut myself.
Another difference with clip versus coil - clipping usually does not require watching (it is considered more "permanent") while with coils you would need to be followed the rest of your life. This was the reason I had wanted clipping originally, but I am happy that the decision was ultimately not mine to make.
Have you had an angiogram yet? I'm glad you found us - this is awfully hard to go through by yourself and I had so much support before and after my surgery from other survivors. Take care and keep us informed.
Sherri
Sharon said:
Sharon said:Hi Sherri,
Thanks for your reply and the info. I read about the article and it does give me an idea. However, the surgeon mentioned that I might need long term medication to avoid platelets collected at the stent. This is the factor I am considering. Yes, the surgeon mentioned the risks involved.
There are not many neurosurgeon in my city. Will try to explore from other cities.
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
I know for me I saw 2 neurosurgeons and it was worth it, they each gave me different info to think about.
I would ask about getting a angiogram done cause it gives the surgeon such a 3D picture up close of everything more then the CT scans do.They will most likely have you do one anyways or they should once you get to that point.
For me the clipping was what I wanted. It's longer to recover but I wanted it gone with no more worries.
I didnt want to have to go through CT scans and be put on meds for the rest of my life like you do with the coiling. With the coiling some times ( down the road) they'll have to go in again to redo it. I didnt want to take that chance. But it is less invasive.
Once you find the surgeon you want to use, talk it over with him, they'll tell you the pro's and con's of both.
I had my clipping done 2 1/2 months ago and I have my ups and downs but I know I made the right choice and had a great surgeon in BOSTON MASS.
I wish you the best and please let us know what you decided........
hi Sherri,
Aneurysm on basilar tip of 13mm x 8mm was detected by ct scan and had coiling done on Nov. 28, 2014. Feel fine and not taking any meds.
Sharon, I am just curious what is going on with your annie?
Sherri
Hi Sharon - I had a right PCOM if I remember correctly and I had coiling done February 2014. I had no choice as it ruptured and that's how they resolved it. Since then the coils compacted and I had to have another coiling (added more coils) done this past October. I again didn't really have a choice since the location of my aneurysm is close to another artery and at high risk of damage of that artery which could possibly lead to paralysis. Well, the clipping option went out the window. There is more follow up with coiling so that is a consideration. My coils compacted because I have high blood pressure and basically my blood was pounding on the coils causing them to compact as they are soft and the doctor felt I was now at a higher risk of a re-bleed. The recovery after adding the coils wasn't bad although I think anytime you poke around in your head you're bound to be affected by it! As others have said (or will suggest!) get a second opinion if you feel you need it. Some folks are adamant about the second opinion but you, of course, need to decide if you need to. Best of luck with your decision and the best of recovery whichever it is!
I had a stent assisted coiling last year and usually you are put on a med called plavix for a while until a follow up to see if the stent is healing over, then you stop the plavix. It's a pain because it does cause you to bruise easily but is only taken for a while. some people are only on it for a few months, I was on it for 6 months but that may be a bit longer than normal Im not sure. After my 6month check I was taken off it, I now just take aspirin every day. Lots of people take aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke so it's not that uncommon out there even for people who don't have brain stents. I dont seem to bruise easily or have any problems with the aspirin and I figure maybe it also gives me a lower risk of things like heart attack/stroke etc as a bonus.
Stent assisted coiling is much less invasive than clipping, and coil compaction is more common when there has been a sah from rupture. If they need to add more coils, again it is less invasive and the recovery is pretty quick. what does the doctor suggest is the best approach?
Sharon said:
However, the surgeon mentioned that I might need long term medication to avoid platelets collected at the stent. This is the factor I am considering.Sharon
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for the info. Have decided to go for stent. Waiting for Doctor's office to confirm the date.
Wendy said:
Hi Sharon - I had a right PCOM if I remember correctly and I had coiling done February 2014. I had no choice as it ruptured and that's how they resolved it. Since then the coils compacted and I had to have another coiling (added more coils) done this past October. I again didn't really have a choice since the location of my aneurysm is close to another artery and at high risk of damage of that artery which could possibly lead to paralysis. Well, the clipping option went out the window. There is more follow up with coiling so that is a consideration. My coils compacted because I have high blood pressure and basically my blood was pounding on the coils causing them to compact as they are soft and the doctor felt I was now at a higher risk of a re-bleed. The recovery after adding the coils wasn't bad although I think anytime you poke around in your head you're bound to be affected by it! As others have said (or will suggest!) get a second opinion if you feel you need it. Some folks are adamant about the second opinion but you, of course, need to decide if you need to. Best of luck with your decision and the best of recovery whichever it is!
Sharong,
Doctor said I can choose either one procedure. I have decided stent and waiting for a date.
Thanks for the info. Praying for a smooth procedure.
Sharon
sharong said:
I had a stent assisted coiling last year and usually you are put on a med called plavix for a while until a follow up to see if the stent is healing over, then you stop the plavix. It's a pain because it does cause you to bruise easily but is only taken for a while. some people are only on it for a few months, I was on it for 6 months but that may be a bit longer than normal Im not sure. After my 6month check I was taken off it, I now just take aspirin every day. Lots of people take aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke so it's not that uncommon out there even for people who don't have brain stents. I dont seem to bruise easily or have any problems with the aspirin and I figure maybe it also gives me a lower risk of things like heart attack/stroke etc as a bonus.Stent assisted coiling is much less invasive than clipping, and coil compaction is more common when there has been a sah from rupture. If they need to add more coils, again it is less invasive and the recovery is pretty quick. what does the doctor suggest is the best approach?
Sharon said:
However, the surgeon mentioned that I might need long term medication to avoid platelets collected at the stent. This is the factor I am considering.Sharon
Hi Gisele,
Happy to know your treatment went well and have a good recovery. Will go for stent soon.
Gisele said:
hi Sherri,
Aneurysm on basilar tip of 13mm x 8mm was detected by ct scan and had coiling done on Nov. 28, 2014. Feel fine and not taking any meds.
Hi Sherri,
Met the surgeon again 2 weeks ago to get more info. Decided to go with stent and waiting for a date now.
Feeling better now after all the anxieties since the 1st meet with the surgeon. Praying that there is no leaking/rupture while waiting and also a smooth procedure and recovery.
Thanks for your concern.
Sharon
Sherri Long said:
Sharon, I am just curious what is going on with your annie?
Sherri