Hello, my name is Cindy and I was just diagnosed with a 9mm internal caratoid artery aneurysm. It was picked up on a ct scan I had for a bad dental infection. I have met with a well know neurosurgeon at Vanderbilt and based upon my age, location, and size a coil embolism has been recommended. I am 38 single parent to a beautiful 10 year old daughter and I have no family to assist with this process. My coiling procedure is scheduled for May 10th. I deliberately chose this date to get past my daughter’s bday in April. I am terrified and have no idea if I am making the right decision. Have major surgery that can cause significant problems the rest of my life or that I could die from to prevent a rupture that statistically would be improbable to occur in this lifetime. The other option is not so hot either though… Drop dead at any second or survive a rupture and have major disabilities. My close friends all strongly encourage me to have the surgery but I just don’t know what to do. If I could just wait 7 years when my daughter is an adult…but this is a heck of a chance to take. Argh!!! In any case, thanks for letting me vent …nobody seems to understand what I am going through… People either act like having this surgery is no big deal or the act as though I am dead already…lmao… To add injury to insult, I have lost two children (one son at 6 months who died after a heart transplant and one daughter who came way too early at 29 weeks… Very blessed to have my healthy 10 year old.) I know what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger but seriously, I am like “Zena warrior princess” already. I am strong. Thank you for your support, it will be nice to talk to people going through this too:)
I wish for you peace in the decision you have to make. I had one aneurysm rupture 2/09/12. I also have an un ruptured one. Both have been coiled. I have some headaches while I was in the hospital (38 days) but I have been fortunate not to have many since. Nothing that some Tylenol didn’t take care of. As of today I went back to work full time. I went back to work part time in June. Keep us posted. Myra
Hi Cindy and Again Welcome...Thank~you for sharing your story...sometimes it feels good to just write out our feelings...and even though no one can make the choice for you...I think having the coiling to a unruptured aneurysm is a good thing...Hold on to Life and living for You and your 10 year old...and I just have this feeling all will work out...Geez...you have been through enough in one liftetime...Keep it here for support...and know that I am saying a prayer for you right now...Zena will do good...~ smile...Colleen
Thank you all for your kind words and support. It is going to be a long three months:)
hi Cindy! Good job posting here where many will see, keeping you in thoughts and prayers for 5-10-2013 and beyond! Also theres a group here -"upcoming procedures" where folks like to keep tabs, pray, etc etc. So sorry for your losses. Please think positive and stay away from any negative stuff on tv or the internet. Take care!
w
hello Cindy, Will keep you and your daughter in my prayers for sure. At least now you can make arrangements for your while your in hospital.she'll be a great incentive for healing to come home. From a medical standpoint, things have come a long way. the coiling procedures have been working great. This is a great place to find out info-check out the videos-very informative. donna w
Thanks so much Jo and Donna so glad I found this site:) You guys are wonderful!
Thanks Ron!
Wow Cindy! You have been through so much. I pray that you find peace with God’s help and are able to make the best decision for you and your daughter. Min aneurysm was also an incidental find and one was not a candidate for coiling. I had mine clipped on September 17, 2012. After a 7.5 hour surgery my neurosurgeon came out and told my husband that my aneurysm was worse than they could see from th angiogram images and that we had avoided a catostrophic failure by have the surgery that day. My aneurysm had another one coming off the back of it and he said that it was about to rupture. I am 48 and am very glad that we moved quickly. At your age you have so much to live for and you will be able to help others that face one of the things that you have been through. I am so sorry for your loss of your two children. I could not imagine the pain and grief that that brought you. You and your daughter are in my prayers. Please feel free to vent anytime. We love to help our BAF family.
God Bless,
Carol
Hi Cindy,
Prayers to you that you make the right decision for yourself and what you are comfortable with. In your situation you need to think through each procedure and which one would work out the best for you and your daughter. Being 10 yrs of age I just feel she will help you as much as she can in your recovery. 10 year olds are so much more capable than we are aware of. You will be fine and look back and realize how strong you both were considering the situation you were dealt.
In speaking for myself I chose to have my craniotomy surgery because I knew that I could not walk around knowing it was not a repaired aneurysm. Coiling was a very small option for me due to my age/health conditions. I made my decision on the first visit with my surgeon because I felt complete confidence in him and his explanation of both procedures. When I left his office a peace came over me and stayed till the day of the operation, about 11 weeks later.
Prayers to both of you and stay strong. We are here for support. Jeanne
CINDY, I am praying for you . I will not share my story because this is about you. Similar situation. I KNOW GOD has revealed this aneurysm to you for a special reason, and that reason being YOUR DAUGHTER. Your coiling will be fine and find peace in that GOD'S Plan Is KEEPING YOU SAFE TO RAISE YOUR DAUGHTER. WE ARE BLESSED, NOT EVERYONE ARE BLESSED AS WE ARE. WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU. IT is very emotional no doubt.
Thanks Carol: I changed my surgery to June 7th as my daughter will be out of school then and my neurosurgeon doesn't believe there is any urgency. I hope I don't chicken out of the surgery. I really don't think I could possibly live like this the rest of my life. My new joke is, "Well we all knew I was brain damaged, now it is confirmed!" Ha ha, I have to make light of this or I will go nuts:)
Thanks Robin:) I would love to hear your story. I think it helps to be able to compare/constrast. Additionally, I find all of your inspiring. I mean look at what all of these people have been through; yet they are still here and they are still strong. Yes, I too believe this was revealed to me for a reason and all I can do now is try to get through these next 3 months without going insane. The whole thing was just so bizarre. I was hospitilized right after Christmas for a really bad dental infection (I had a root canal years ago and it had a crown over it, the tooth literally never hurt-I thought it was a sinus infection). Anyway, the infection got so bad that I was hospitlized and they initially did a CT to see the extent of the infection. The annie was not seen or discovered when I had my first CT. The odd thing is, I had been sick for about 2.5 months with this before ever going to the ER. I had been on antiobiotic ater antibiotic and nothing would clear up what I thought was a sinus infection. Long story short, after being hospitalized on IV antiobiotics the infection STILL would not clear. I have literally never had an infection in my life that did not clear up after max 2 rounds of antibiotics. I had oral surgery and they actualy put in a drain in to get the infection out (so disgusting). Anyway, the infection STILL would not clear after a week in the hospital. Finally, they decide to do another CT last minute which is when they found the aneurysm. They immediately ordered an MRA a couple days later. Guess what?? When I had the MRA 2 days later, the dental infection was totally gone!!! I have to believe this was revealed so I could fix it. This certaintly brings a new perspective on life. ARGH!
Hello, Cindy. I pray you find the answers you need and peace in your decision. This site is full of amazing people and testimonials, that's for sure. As for myself, surgery was more imperative as it was already bleeding when we discovered it in the ER. My 4.5 opthalmic artery annie was coiled 3 days later. It was terrifying at first- all I could think about was not being there for my then 18 month old.
But I finally had such an amazing peace as I went into surgery. And it's so amazing what they can do through one tiny incision. I had very few after effects...I experienced some facial/neck numbness and visual auras which all completely went away after a couple of months, and which may have happened in the first place because I had been bleeding already (I had an aura before surgery). I was back to work a month later; though I feel I could have been back sooner, the neuro wanted to evaluate me at 1 month before release.
As scary as the discovery was, I feel so incredibly blessed we discovered the annie before full on rupture and horrible consequence. Had my discovery only been incidental with no bleed, I'm sure my decision would have been tougher, weighing statistics and all. But I know I would always be anxious about the possibilities...and about the future. If I discover an unruptured one in the future, I’d definitely do it all again in a heartbeat.
You are Zena, and you will rock this.
Thanks Cindy:) I am trying to find some meaning and peace in all of this. Thank goodness they found your Annie before a full on rupture. It truly is a miracle anytime one of these are discovered before full rupture. Yes, this is a horrible decision. I think ultimately I have to go through with coiling as I cannot bear the thought of my daughter finding me in a coma or worse. I work from home and have for 6 years; my daughter’s school is across the street. If something happened, she will most certainly be the one dealing with it as we live alone. At least the hospital will be a controlled environment. I will be okay and just need to try to stay busy until the surgery. I am back at work until June 7th-surgery day:) Thank you for your warm wishes and sharing your story… Back to work for me:)
Hi Cindy,
Wow, how strange is that to have the dental infection finally clear up when they finally found your annie!? Yes, things do happen for a reason! I'm sorry you have to wait it out til your surgery, but so glad that .........things happen for a reason! Take care, Janet
Hi Cindy Here in this lovely place u will find people who have walked a mile in your shoes. I will pray for u and yours. I have had two Annie one on the left side and one on the right. I had pipeline stent done on both of them. One done in December and the other one 4 week ago today. After the second surgery I had a ct scan done and the doctor had some good news the one on the life side was gone. Yes u are scary as all of us was at one point but just pray and read some of the story on here and u will find a group of people who r here for u. Keeping u in my pray.
good Morning Cindy, wow, i have just read this for the first time this am. I will pray for you every day (and your doctor). Keep us posted. It really is amazing what they can do with the coils and stents today. You have lived through so very much heartache that this doesn't seem fair but we all know it doesnt work that way!! Much love to you and please take care. donna w
Hi, Cindy. Welcome! Assuming you feel comfortable with his/her opinion and have a reputable, skilled neurosurgeon I would follow the doc’s advice. If not, a 2nd opinion should be scheduled asap. I had a ruptured Left ICA , sounds like yours and mine was similar sized. I am very fortunate to be among the survivors. The rupture resulted in a subarachnoid hemorrhage too, reducing my survival chance. The size of the bleed, subsequent blood clot formation, etc from the SAH cause me to experience headaches, everyday. Everyday. Not only is having a headache everyday, almost all the time… painful. It can be frustrating, depressing and even isolating. Noise of any kind, lights, action in my peripheral vision are just a view things that add to the pain. My doc says he would have loved the opportunity to coil mine prior to rupture. Your chance of survival without rupture is much, much better and your time in the hospital is significantly reduced. I also have a 2nd one that we are monitoring closely. We will coil it if necessary. My maternal grandmother died at 36 and my aunt at 42, both a result of ruptured aneurysms; without and warning. We are survivors, so…take care of yourself so you can watch your beautiful daughter grow up. Best wishes to you! =)
Thank you Gloria: I appreciate your kind comments and I am so happy you got good news! Everyone here is wonderful- you will be in my prayers too:)