Diagnosed with ACA Aneurysm at A1

Hi
this is my first time posting, I usually just read what everyone else is talking about. I cry and move on with what I need to get done. I’m 46 yr old and have 3 aneurysms on the left side. There all between 3-4mm. All of this is still new as all this started in October of this year. My wife and I were out of town and I lost my sight in my rt eye along with one hell of a head ache. As soon as we got home I went to the Dr. 3 aneurysms later and still in shock I cry all the time. My anxiety is through the roof, i almost jumped out of the car when my wife and I were driving down the freeway bc I felt like I needed out… some times I can’t breathe when I’m in the shower so I have my wife call me so if anything happened she could call 911…
anyway your not alone and yes even though everyone says that you still feel alone right? Ya me to…anyway my surgery is Jan 24th and I put it off so that if something did happen it wouldn’t be during the holidays… anyway I’m not trying to be Debbie downer but I understand you cause I’m going through it to… anxiety, depression you name it…not that I don’t wake up greatful everyday or now see things differently cause I do…I’m just terrified everyday…
I wish you well…

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HI There,

Sorry for the delay, this is my work email so I’m only on it during the week. to answer your question, I’d say if you are worried about it and can afford a home monitor, do
it. Buy one and monitor. Anything to make yourself at ease and keep your thoughts blissfully distracted from the issue. For me, giving my issue to God also helps take it off my shoulders. Believing that he’s got a plan for all of us and ultimately it involves
us being happy definitely helps. Live, laugh and Love.

Yay no headache! Be well : )

Aimee

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Hi…I thought I woud chime into the conversations with a couple of thoughts. I was diagnosed with a dissected fusiform aneurysm on my posterior cerebral artery. It was discovered after I went to my ophthamologist when I noticed a slight loss of peripheral vision. She was quite certain I had had a stroke and she strongly suggested I have an MRI. Within days, I had an MRI, a CT scan and an angiogram. They were all done at the hospital and when completed,the doctors would not let me leave. The aneurysm was so large they were afraid it would rupture. It probably bled a small amount which was the cause of my loss of vision. Be comforted in knowing if your doctors thought you were in imminent danger, they never would have let you leave and wait until January for treatment. You asked about anxiety treatments…I suffered greatly from anxiety following my surgery. I had a coiling procedure and a crainotomy. Even though my aneurysm did not rupture, I was consumed with thoughts of “what if”. I was not able to focus on all the good which had happened which led to the discovery and treatment. My general practitioner suggested I take a small dose of Zoloft. He provided me with a prescription for Xanex for “break-through” anxiety. I never did take any of that, but I do feel Zoloft took the “edge” off for me. There are many drugs which can help. I don’t like to take any drugs, but I knew I couldn’t enjoy life the way I was feeling, always waiting for the other shoe to drop…just edgy all the time.
I wish you all the best. Please keep us updated with your treatment and outcome.
Blessings,
Cindy

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All that you’re feeling is normal. I had a rupture in 2013, so I didn’t know or go through the waiting, I had to deal with the after math of a (SAH). The best part is that you and the doctors know it’s there, and they will do everything to keep things under control, and fix it. So, try to stay positive, and encouraged. I pray for the best.

Hi Carole, I was also affected by epilepsy which is why I haven’t spent much time here… After the craniotomy clippings of the two annies (I never had the headaches, migranes to alert me, just a random CT scan), I’ve been consumed for eight years with medication side effects, depression, stress of epilepsy. After the surgeries I was able to return to work six weeks later, but I wasn’t allowed to drive for a year. That year turned into eight years because of my epilepsy. I have been seizure free for 1 year (two days ago) and allowed to drive. I haven’t had a “follow up” to see if I have more annies, less or none at all - I personally don’t want to know now. Given the experience I’ve had since 2011, terminated from my job, started my own business, memory loss, being seizure free - I am now in the prime of my life. I have a new normal and it involves medical conditions which I didn’t anticipate and can’t be cured, so I am thankful with the way things have turned out with my unruptured Annies. Three close friends have died in three years from cancer and they knew their fate. I’m catching up on lose time, enjoying life.

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Hi Nattalie,

Please accept my apology for taking so long to respond to your very kind message.

I pray that you are continuing to be seizure free and enjoying the ability to drive and travel.

I have taken anticonvulsants for almost 50 years. My first seizure was more than 1 year after my surgery.:flushed: Over the course of time, when I hadn’t taken the medicine for a few days, I would have another seizure. So, I made up my mind to be diligent about taking the medicines especially since all the seizures, which are grand mal, came without warning.

Congratulations on starting your own business. May you prosper!

God bless you.:pray:t5::pray:t5:

Carole

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How are you doing

Hello,
I haven’t posted in awhile since getting diagnosed last November. My migraines have been under control and just trying to stay positive and not stress, I have my moments. The vascular specialist wanted me to get a CT scan with contrast done so I finally did that yesterday and haven’t heard back from him on results so maybe that’s a good thing that nothing else major was found? Or maybe he’s on vacation and will call this week, I don’t know. I have been having really crazy vivid dreams these past few months it’s weird. I have also started a new job which keeps my mind off “the aneurysm”, I find myself going a day or two then remembering. Hope everyone doing well and having a good new year so far.

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Hi everyone just wanted to give my update. The nurse called me with the CT scan results which she said doesn’t show an aneurysm at all! I’m waiting for the doctor report which I’m guessing the vascular specialist needs to talk to the neurologist. This is all great news of course and I couldn’t be more relieved but what a scary few months it’s been worrying about this.

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Ask your doctor for an MRA. That is how they confirmed my 5mm aneurysm.

I did a CT scan with contrast is the MRA different?

I am going through something very similar. I had an MRA that showed 3-4mm aneurysm. My neurosurgeon recommended I have a CT before scheduling surgery and it didnt show an aneurysm, just an abnormality.

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Yes, the CT uses radiation, the MRA does not. Some articles will say the MRA doesn’t use contrast dye, if ordered it does. CT usually uses iodine, MRA usually uses gadolinium. CTs are a bit faster. I just found out last October from our local hospital that they have to have a specially trained radiologist to read an MRA. Uncertain if it’s true but I’ll go with it. I also read the AHA protocol which is recommending MRAs after the first CT for ischemic strokes. The CT is used to insure no bleeding. There was a push for imaging centers in USA to standardize the amount of radiation in CTs by the ASA a few years ago.

What about the angiogram? Why hasn’t your dr requested that test? It will show right away weather you have aneurysms or a deformity?