Hello everyone.
I am new here and I have been reading this website for many months. It has been a great help as I am trying to navigate my emotions. Thank you all. If my story can help someone else I would be happy. I am a woman, soon turning 66 in an overall good health, just a slightly elevated blood pressure for which I have medication. I go for daily walks or bicycling on my indoor bike, I don’t smoke. The morning of October 20 last year, I was on the phone with my son ,he was overseas. I had just started to clean up after my breakfast when I started to have a weird feeling in both my arms and neck, my arms became sort of numb but it lasted only a few seconds.Shortly after this I got a thunderclap headache. My son helped me to call my husband who was at work and I also told him that I needed an ambulance. I understood that this was something serious. I told my son that I will unlock the entrance door and lay down on the floor. After this I started to vomit and I don’t remember much more. I was taken to our local hospital and I was told that I was awake and could tell the first responders how I felt. A CT scan with contrast was made and then I remember a voice telling me that my brain was bleeding and they had to life lift me with helicopter to a specialist center. I had surgery the same day, a drain was inserted into the skull to relieve the pressure, and my aneurysm was coiled. I had a right internal carotid artery aneurysm, size 2,5 x5mm that had ruptured. My family was told from the beginning that I was expected to recover fully but the first 72 hours were critical. I don’t remember much of the two weeks that followed in the neurological ICU. After a few bumps on the road with vasospasm, and low sodium levels I was ready to go home after two weeks.
Coming home was difficult, the strength in my legs were almost gone and my sleeping pattern was a mess. After about one week I started to feel better, we went for short, slow walks and I slowly gained my strength back. My sleep improved at the same time.I also figured out by the lab results that I was slightly anemic so I started with a Iron supplement. At my 3 month appointment with my neurosurgeon, he told me that the aneurysm could not be treated completely during the acute surgery. Due to its location and wide neck the neurosurgeon didn’t want to risk anything. It was treated to about 70% and there is a risk that it will rupture again in the future. The recommendation he gave me was to put in a stent to close the opening of the aneurysm. I wasn’t happy to hear this, in fact it came as a shock. He had already scheduled the next surgery but of course it was up to me if I wanted to go ahead or wait and see. He told me that the wait and see usually ends up with having to do the surgery and it was better to do it now.
After thinking about the options and reading many of your stories and doing as much research as I could, I came to the conclusion that the best way to go is to do the surgery.
The surgery is planned in about a week, almost six months after the rupture. My neurosurgeon told me that he has revised his initial plan and he will put in a stent and then more coils in the remaining aneurysm. I am not as anxious anymore, I have started my Plavix 75 mg and Aspirin 325mg. It turned out that I am over reacting to Plavix so this has to be adjusted.
I wanted to share my story with you. If anyone has a similar experience that I have I appreciate your comments.
Thank you.
Welcome @oct20 to our group! I had to smile whilst reading your journey as it correlates really well with my own journey, though I hope you get it nipped in the bud this second go around. Since you’ve been reading a bit all ready on the site, you most likely know my own story. 4 procedures, this last one in December with the newer Neuroform Atlas Stent. My surgeon had to clear the Plavix with my Rheumatologist due to my dermatomyositis. I’ve already stopped it which was a relief due to all the bruising and bleeding I encountered. I’ve been doing really well with many improvements since my stent was put in I am happy to report. It’s amazing how one little wire cage can help so much with quality of life.
Do you know the type of stent you will be having? I haven’t met anyone on here as yet with the Neuroform Atlas and am just curious. I wish you all the best for your upcoming procedure. Please keep I. Touch and let us know how it goes, Hoping other members will come on and offer support to you as well,
All the best,
Moltroub
Hello @Moltroub
Thank you for your reply. Four procedures! It sounds that you have been through a lot. I’m glad to hear that things has improved for you with the new stent. My neurosurgeon didn’t go in to detail about what stent he was planning to use. I know by reading my chart that the first plan was to use a flow diversion stent, but to my understanding, based on his experience he changed his mind and will be using coils and a different stent instead, and he told me it is a very safe procedure. I guess I will know more about this later.
Hopefully I can go back home after one night in the ICU. Fingers crossed 
I will keep you posted. Surgery on April 12, birthday on the 13th, I won’t leave the hospital until the nurses sings a birthday song 
LOL @oct20 my favorite number is 13! Got my first horse when I was 13, she was in stall 13 and it was March 13! WFBH put a new Neuro ICU in right before procedure #3. It’s a beautiful place with lots of privacy for each patient. Large rooms with a sofa and chairs, not like the barracks style for my first couple of rounds where a chair was a gift to find for visitors. I hope you’ll have the better type of room.
I will try to send you birthday wishes as well! Can’t wait to hear how it goes for you, especially the RNs singing.
All the best,
Moltroub
Hi, I saw you were asking about the neuroform atlas stent system. I participated in the clinical trial for that in 2015. I had an unruptured 6mm ACOM aneurysm that was discovered due to weird blood flow in my arm plus immediate family history of 2 fatal ruptures. Anyway, I had 9 coils plus 2 stents in a Y configuration. I haven’t had any real problems since the procedure.
Hi @Susan722
How wonderful to read about your successful procedure. I don’t know what kind of stent I will get, we didn’t go into the details other than that the neurosurgeon had revised his plan and instead of a flow diversion stent he is going to use more coils and a different stent. I’m sure I know when this is done on Monday. It definitely helps me to read about about your experience. Thank you for your message.
@Susan722 Wow! It’s wonderful to hear someone else has this stent and it has remained a successful procedure. I cannot express how much your experience has helped me. Thank you so much!
@oct20 Happy almost birthday! Enjoy today to it’s fullest, you may be a wee bit tired on the 13th 
All the best,
Moltroub
@oct20 Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Ms. Lenaaaaaa, Happy Birthday to you! 
Don’t forget to have the RNs sing! Hope the operation went smooth and uneventful
Hugs to the Birthday Girl!
Moltroub
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes @Moltroub 
I got the aneurysm repaired with a stent and more coils were inserted. My RN served me a birthday cake and I think this was the best gift I could get, a fully repaired aneurysm and beautiful purple colors here and there on my body. I guess it will take me at least the rest of the week to recover, maybe longer. We shall see. One day at a time.
Lena
@oct20 A birthday to remember that’s for sure Ms. Lena! And a birthday cake! You go girl! I’m so excited for you 
. Take it easy for a few days, get out and enjoy the wonderful Spring weather, read a book or two. Before you know it, you’ll be back doing things stronger than before!
All the best,
Moltroub
@oct20 Hi there! Hope you are feeling better since your follow up operation! Like many of us now, you can fully move on with your life in the new normal that is uniquely you, cheers!
Hi @Al.C
Thank you for your well wishes! I’m getting better for each day and it feels like my worries slowly starts to go away. It’s done, the aneurysm is fully repaired, something that couldn’t be done when it ruptured. The location and shape made it challenging the neurosurgeon said. I saw your profile and you had a difficult journey. It is definitely a roller coaster of emotions to be sorted out. Thank you for reaching out to me, it was very kind of you. 
I wish you all the best, have a wonderful life.