Good morning… I’m having a little anxiety lately… I will be having surgery on March 5th to treat my 4.5 aneurysm. The Dr will do a stent and coil procedure. He says it’s a pretty straight forward procedure. The hospital called yesterday to go over all the risks… seems like there’s a lot! 
I guess with any surgery there are risks. It’s just really nerve wrecking! 
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@KTP
I’m sorry to hear about your newly found aneurysm. It’s a scary thing for sure. It is normal to feel anxious when you know you need surgery. I have to say that you are lucky that it was found before it ruptured it may sound strange but that’s the truth. Many of us didn’t know that we were walking around with an aneurysm in our brain and one day it popped. I’m one of the lucky survivors with minimal symptoms, but I can tell you that it hasn’t been easy. I had to do a second surgery sex months after the rupture because the aneurysm couldn’t be mended completely. I got a stent and more coils and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, there are a lot of serious risks involved but the fact that you are recommended to fix it means that the risk of a rupture is greater. I assure you that you don’t want to go through a rupture!! It was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. You can read the chain of posts that started by @ccr-4 who asked for potential side effects of a web device, we have posted several answers to her and has given her our story.
When is your surgery scheduled?
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Here’s some corroborated info to assuage your moments of small anxiety, KTP. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/strokeaha.111.000641
“Favorable outcomes were seen in 99% of elective patients and 51% of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.” - Under Results. (You will be experiencing an elective procedure, thankfully).
“Stent-assisted coiling of intracranial aneurysms is safe, effective, and provides durable aneurysm closure.” - Under Conclusions.
You will be benefiting from a procedure that has been time tested, fortunately. Much to be grateful for, yes? Gratitude strengthens the healing process too. 
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I had my 8mm paraclinoid opthalmic anueryms coiled and stented just over a year ago. I had lived with it for a year first, it’s size and location meant it was right on the fence between needed to be fixed or OK being watched. After a year it hadn’t grown but in all the reading I had done on here and in facebook groups I decided to have it repaired. It really went smoothly. They went in through my wrist which is easier than the groin, and I was up and around at will that first week at home, though very tired and had quick stabbing headaches whenever I moved too quickly. Napped each day which I have never done. By the second week I was more of less back to normal though still a bit tired and some headaches, but by week three I was totally back to normal, sports, errands, yard work, etc… I flew during the second week, and since then have done all activities, though I did not ski while on Brilinta as I like to ski hard or why bother. Play alot of tennis and have gone SCUBA diving and both are just fine! Only lingering thing is that in the beginning I was getting daily occular migraines and now I get them about once a week. They are the visual disturbance of a migraine without any headache, and mine are pretty short, 5 minutes usually and the sort of flashing starburst in my vision is way off in the peripheral, so it doesn’t really have an impact on my functioning, it’s just strange. And a couple days after my procedure I went tingly all down one arm which led to some hours in the ER getting MRIs and MRAs etc, but I was fine, no stroke. That strange numbness happened here and there over the following two months but then stopped completely. At my 6 month angio my annie was fully occluded, though I did stay on Brilinta an extra 6 months because of some minor narrowing inside my stent, but studies show those almost ALL diminish by the 1 year mark. So now it is baby aspirin only, no more stress worrying about a rupture when I am not near a hospital, and so much better overall. Here’s to you having a very smooth event free journey!
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@oct20 My surgery is March 5th…glad your second surgery went well.
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@Peter, thank you for the info. As nerve wrecking as it is, I’m grateful I found out I have it.
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@sbseattle, sounds like you’re doing amazing. Happy you had a quick recovery. Praying I will have a quick one too. 
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Will be keeping you and your docs in my prayers next week. Do you have someone to help you at home that first week? Will need more help if they go through your groin, less if through your wrist.
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Don’t forget to breathe! @Peter posted a really nice guided imagery under Merl’s topic for relaxing- give it a go. I actually can make it easier as I still have it open https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8WFV1V8F-gQ Hope you don’t mind @Peter.
Please start hydrating now and stay hydrated well after your procedure. If you’ve been reading a lot on here, you probably already know I’m a huge advocate of hydration and protein😂. Any time we are going to be stuck with a needle be it for bloodwork or an IV, the folks sticking us have a much easier time which means we do as well. I’m also a huge advocate for relaxation breathing. When we focus on our deep breathing we really can’t focus on anything else that wants to take demand of our attention.
Every time I’ve had an angiogram be it diagnostic or the fix, we would go out to a nice restaurant the evening before. Many times we would also stay at a nice hotel because I got an awesome discount and I’d have to be at hospital by 6:30 am. I also had to pre-medicate.
Don’t forget to clean your house so you don’t need to worry about it after your procedure for the time you need to be recovering. I like to play the music I love whilst cleaning. It will also keep your mind busy focusing on other things. If you’re a spiritual person, check in with your Higher Power. I’ve always referred to the two as getting your house and House in order.
As @sbseattle shares I too found the radial entry much easier than the femoral entry for recovery. However, we never get the choice, it’s up to your surgeon and the hospital. When I had my one and only radial, they had to check it first to make sure the catheter could go in, I’m really tortuous (squiggly) in all my arteries. Many of my angiograms, I was able to ask the team to play music I like while I was waiting for my Neurosurgeon, and I would joke around with her team. I always ask my Neurosurgeon if she’s slept well the night before, gone to the head (potty) and eaten something before she starts. When I asked the first time, she asked me why I was asking. Simple I said, I don’t want you to be doing the potty dance when your guiding that cable through me and I want your full attention on my arteries and not on an empty stomach.
Have some simple to prepare meals for you and your family ready for after your procedure. If you have someone living with you assign them to be the head cook and bottle washer for a week.
I’m also with @oct20 on ruptures, better to learn before about cerebral aneurysms rather than after as we did. It isn’t much fun at all and recovery seems to be never ending.
Keep talking to us, we are here for you!
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@Moltroub, Thank you so much for all the info… I appreciate everyone’s support and prayers. 
I will check in again on here after my surgery. Take care.
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Hello, I believe that everything will be fine with your procedure. All of the emotions you are having are normal. I had the same procedure except mine was an emergency. Here I am 2 years later living life and I am so thankful. Prayers for you and your family…
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That’s great! Glad to here you’re doing well. 
Thank you! I will be glad to get the surgery behind me. It’s been a long four months of trying to get to the bottom of this aneurysm…
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Prayers for you. My advice is have faith in surgeon & faith in God. I never knew I had brain aneurysm until u had cerebral hemorrhage. Woke up in hosp miles from home memory still foggy & for a few days I don’t know much. Mine aneurysm was found in 2009. I had to stop think pray & learn. My surgeon was amazing. Explained things clearly gave me visuals to c what was going to take place in surgery. Explained possible issues and things to read. I had to think about it come to terms with it & knew God would guide me. I was at peace when u had coiling surgery. Knew it might work & might not. For me it didn’t work. Had a couple angios then had craniotomy to clip the aneurysm. Once again I had faith & was not scared. I have had times since 2009 that I see changes in my cuz of my hemorrhage. I still have blood in pouches in brain. I forget words. I forget names of ppl all the time I never used to do that. My no advice research it with your surgeon be at peace & have faith
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Thank you for your post! Yes… having faith is helping me get through this. Praying this procedure will work for me! It will sure be nice to get this behind me. Take care 
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