Thank you, Sher!
I came across your post and feel we share a ton in common. I am a 38-year old husband and father of two (ages 8 and 4) and incidentally discovered a 6mm right ICA unruptured aneurysm in January. In April I had a pipeline device placed.
The situation definitely shakes you, and I had many of the same fears you mention - the mix of my mortality and thinking of my kids and wife without me. It’s so easy to look on the negatives of the situation, especially when the negatives are so severe. Having an issue with the brain is another layer - I kept thinking why couldn’t have been any other body part! However, when I’m thinking and acting as I intend to, I channel those thoughts to how lucky I am to have found this before it ruptured, how amazing modern medical technology is and how those worse chase scenarios are such a tiny fracture of a chance due to the process. It still amazes me that they can go in through my hip, all the way up to fix the problem, and leave an incision the size of a pencil eraser that now, a couple months later, isn’t even visible.
Waiting for the surgery was the hardest part, but have faith that it will all work out. I found having some mantras to keep, (even though I’m definitely wasn’t that kind of person before) really helped: “Go with it”, “I’m so lucky”, “My chances are amazing” “God’s got this” etc.
I spent too much time on Dr. Google and worrying about other folks results before the surgery. For me it was an absolute breeze physically. The pipeline was even easier than the angiogram. I spent one night in the hospital and 2 weeks at home recovering, but I was up and on my feet and feeling good when I left the hospital 24 hours later. I fatigued easily, but that was super manageable. The hardest part for me was laying flat for 3 hours. I picked up a cheap phone stand on amazon that clamps to a bed and brought that so I could watch netflix or youtube during those 3 hours - it helped a ton. Stay hydrated - that really makes a difference. I have no lasting effects now 2 months out - mentally on top of things the same way. The procedure and recovery were a breeze.
If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be to attend to the mental side of the experience more. I wonder if I should have talked to a therapist right after it was discovered up to and past the procedure. I think that could have helped me work through the “brain game” side of things. I needed to give myself permission to be rocked by this a bit, and to use the thinking side of my brain, rather than the fear side, to paint an accurate picture of the situation - I’m a relatively young man with a loving family, surrounded by folks who care for me, who is extremely lucky to be alive in a time when this issue could be detected and most likely completely solved.
It sounds like you are in the same boat too.
Hang in there - you are in a much better place now, knowing and being able to do something about it, then you were a year ago. You and I had a false sense of security before knowing, now we can get it taken care of and have the best chances of spending a long long time with our families and loved ones!
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It was a pleasure to read your account! You share some similarities with my wife who had an announced rupture in 2011. But she’s doing well, and we just finished a cruise and are enjoying a bit of time in Boston before heading over to a family reunion in Ohio. She has coils and a stent. She was rated a 5. She has spasticity, and her left leg has issues, but otherwise she is fine.
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It is scary for sure!! I’m 46, 44 when I had a ruptured subarachnoid hemorrhage (widow maker). I’m healthy, diet, exercise, its crazy to even say this happened. I was in the hospital 21 days. I too, had coils done. Then a year later I began to form another one off the rupture, coiled aneurysm. I then had a stent and more coils. I have been doing great! I did have one side effect. I was taken off blood thinners a little early, 3mo. I had a couple mini TIA’s because blood clots were getting caught on the coils. I was put back on blood thinners another 3 months and it was resolved.
You will do great! You are so blessed to have found this before a rupture!
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
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Thanks, Jonathan. We do have very similar stories and I’m glad to read how you came out alright. Staying positive is tough for us glass-half-empty types lol. Thanks for taking the time to tell me about it.
Thank you, Jenny!
Hi Chris,
Just touching base after my surgery. Everything went really well and I am officially discharged. My surgeon ended up putting a stent in. She came to me just before I was put to sleep and let me know their decision. No more coils went in. I spent one night in ICU then moved up to the neuro ward for one night then free today! There has been a bit of head pain but the dr’s and nurses have looked after me and kept the painkillers coming and the pain to a minimum. I slept on and off for most of yesterday, it really does kick your butt a bit but I went outside for a small walk and fresh air yesterday afternoon and again this morning.
I will be thinking of you on the 20th and hope the whole process goes as smoothly as mine has. Wishing you all the best 
Nat
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That is fantastic, Nat! Thank you for thinking of me AND for the good news. You are too kind!
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It’s nice to be able to reach out to someone in the same position. If I can help one person that is going through the same thing as me, then I am stoked. I also joined the research studies they do at the hospital for the same reason of if I can help even one person then that is awesome!
Stay strong and think of those kiddies. I know mine give me so much strength. I can’t wait to see them tomorrow when I get home!! Sucks being over 1000km away from them while I go through all of this. But worth it to see them every other day!
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First of all - thank you for your service. Second, everyone is different but they haven’t ruptured - huge plus and makes a difference in recovery time. I’m a year and change out from coiling of bilateral annies with subarachnoid hemorrhage and subsequent stenting of one of the coils last April. I think you’ve got this and will say a little prayer for you, your brother and Natti who had her surgery today. God bless ya’ll
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ccw7993 Have just been reading this thread with interest. Wanted to wish you all the best (I think your op is tomorrow) and wish you a smooth recovery.
I think lots of people here are wishing you well 
Thoughts are with you,
Mike,
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Thank you, Mike! That’s correct, 0830 tomorrow (Central time). I appreciate the good vibes and will update as soon as I can afterwards.
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No problems - best of luck tomorrow and for a nice, mellow recovery - be kind to yourself afterwards
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Best wishes for tomorrow and to a great recovery
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Hope all went well!
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Good morning everyone! So far, so very very good.
As I sorta expected, Dr Diaz said he preferred to correct just one this time; the largest and easiest to access. He used just 5 coils. He said they wanted to see how the recovery went with this one and he didn’t see any reason to rush at this point. Likely, for the next one, I’ll need a stent. So they will bring me back in 6 weeks to correct the last one and see how well the first correction progressed.
I developed a headache after the procedure that lasted throughout the evening. I’m sure not eating and forgoing coffee had something to do with that. They gave me a small dose of morphine last night and that kicked it. I’ve been great ever since. They took me off Plavix and I’ll continue with just Aspirin until about a week prior to the next procedure, starting back on Plavix again.
Overall, so far, the worst part of this was having a catheter. Fellas, that sucked.
I’ve got the next two weeks off work to “take it easy”. As good as I feel now, I’m very optimistic!
For those of you that have followed along and kept me in your thoughts/prayers, I can’t thank you enough. From all over the world! It’s truly humbling. And all of the experience and advice from all of you really helped with questions for my doctors.
I hope to pay all this kindness forward so if anybody has any questions about my experience so far, I’m happy to oblige!
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Woohoo! So glad to hear it all went well for you so stoked.
Make sure you take it easy over the next couple of weeks and all will be fine.
I found the coiling to be easier to recover from so I hope it’s the same for you.
I’m still lazing around on the couch after my surgery. Still having bad days but mostly good ones. To be honest I think I have had more pain in my arm where they couldn’t get the art line in and took 21 attempts (that I can count) it’s been bloody sore!! Taking it easy so I can go to the supercars racing in 11 days. That is going to be a test for me but I so badly want to go haha so I’m going! Has been my motivation since the surgery.
Anyways, I’m so glad it has all gone well for you and I truely hope the next round is equally as smooth sailing.
Here if you ever need a chat! Take care of you
P.s … yes, catheters really suck! 
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@ccw7993 - I am so happy for you. Glad part 1 is over and I am confident the follow-up assessment will be a good report. Get some good rest and eat some really good food too!
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Happy Dancing for you Sarge! Stay hydrated!
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Hi Sarge,
I just wanted you to know another person who had 2 different coilings, 1 year a part, who had no problems what so ever.
I was in the Neuro-ICU for a couple days, home for a week or so and back to work full time after.
The second coiling, I told the nurses in Neuro-ICU that it seemed like they had more urgent patients to take care of so, if I needed anything I’d call them. That’s how easy it was.
Now clipping is a whole other story and I won’t get into that.
My interventional radiologist has been with me since 2001. (I still have to have regular neuro-angiograms.) You are so lucky to have found one with so much experience and success.
Take care and good luck with your second procedure,
Mary
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