I was diagnosed with a left MCA with requires major surgery. Everything I have found on line is very Grimm anyone have any encouraging information, I am very scared and torn on what to do
Hi Amy,
I had a 7mm brain Aneurysm and growing fast, and I had surgery 5 years ago on Nov. 6th. It was low in my brain and a big surgery, AND THEY CLIPPED IT, and I don't know the medical language what it was called. It saved my life, and the recuperation was slow but good. Physical Therapy helped a lot. I had no fear, and knew I would come through. I wish you the very best.
Bless you,
Cher
I had 3 aneurysms successfully operated on and clipped over 10 years ago and feel incrediably grateful to the surgeon and for the wonderful life that i have. It is a frightening time for you but this time will pass, I recall reading a lot of very scary stuff on the internet and reading case studies and research findings i think it was all about the process of working through the grief and shock of the diagnosis and treatment options. Find yourself a great surgeon and maybe a supportive counsellor who can listen to your fears and concerns and help you address these in a good way. All the very best with surgery i will be thinking about you.
Amy, I took a look over at NIH. Seems to be positive results on the research I read. I would talk to your Neurosurgeon on what procedure they want to do. Ask a lot of questions! Take a list with you. We also ask the triage nurse to schedule a little more time for us if we have more questions. This way the doctor isn’t rushed. Be careful on looking at any older studies. I usually don’t go back further than 2009 just because the field of neurosurgery is growing leaps and bounds. What was practiced five years ago, is not necessarily done the same way today.
My surgeon here in Kansas has referred me to Barrows out in Phoenix, all scans have been sent waiting on reply from them . With mine being deep in brain makes more risky, he mentioned a procedure called pipelining, have you heard of it. What I have been to is that mine can not be coiled
Hi Amy, i know what you are going through! I had an unruptured 9mm middle cerebral aneurysm clipped 3 years ago. I recovered well (i went to my childrens nativity play 10 days after op)! Just a few small memory issues. It was the most terrifying experience of my life and which i hope i never have to repeat but it is now fixed and i live a perfectly normal life. Sending you my best wishes. You will be fine, these neurosurgeons are amazing. Jo x
I had a 4mm left MCA aneurysm. It’s a tough location to cool, and it wasn’t an option for me, so I had the surgery. It IS major surgery but it’s not so bad. It’s also the easiest location to reach via clipping surgery. I’m 5 weeks post op- let me know if you have any questions
Hi Amy.. Due to the location of my aneurysm, I had the pipeline procedure done in Feb 2012. I believe this procedure is a good alternative for most people. With that said, I did have some complications which I'd be happy to share with you if you'd like. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Hi Amy,
I went to see a neurologist many years ago for a different reason, was told about my aneurysms and did nothing. Forgot about it and went on with my life. Suddenly, in 2011, they ruptured without warning. I am one of the lucky ones who lived- just made it. My advice is to be proactive. Seems the others have all had positive results.I'm rooting for you!
I had my MCA coiled after a rupture. All I can offer is talk to your Neurosurgeon about concerns. What was grim a few years ago is treatable now.
Amy - Dr. Spetzler and his team at Barrow operated on my husband in May 2011 with GREAT success!! His aneurysm was about 5mm and did rupture (which is what began our process). It was on a duplicated AICA, which is next to the brainstem just off the lower portion of the Basilar artery. He was not a candidate for coiling, and pipeline was not yet approved at that time (otherwise, I think that may have been a consideration). Dr. S is an amazing surgeon. Everyone is right - ask lots of questions; do your research. There are risks, but there are lots of people out there with great outcomes. One would not know when meeting my husband that he had a ruptured aneurysm followed by the clipping. Good luck to you!!!!
Hi Amy, My wife had a Giant Fusiform Aneurysm that was 31mm. It was a very complicated one. It was on the left MCA M2 branch. She had over a 10 hour surgery as she needed an EC/IC Bypass of two of the arteries before they could clip the aneurysm. As you may know, this area may effect the speech depending on the location of the surgery. My wide had migraines for 23 years 17-20 per month. She now only has maybe 1-3 and very mild. She did have to go through speech, occupational, and physical therapy. She had the surgery 19 months ago and she is back to work and even was promoted to very important position in her company. She goes to the gym and is doing awesome. Most people would not know if she had surgery or not. He speech os fine. She might have some difficulty when she is very tired but many would never notice. I do because I know her well. Again, She is doing great. Here is a photo of her to show her today. She stayed positive throughout which is VERY important. We will be happy to talk to you and share her experience. These doctors are amazing. When you think of brain, most think of the worse. Anyway, We will answer what every questions you might have. If you want to message me, feel free.
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I had my aneurysm in the same place 15 years ago, and I have had 3 children since then. Don’t worry about it, it will take you some time, but you’ll do fine. Just make sure that your family and friends will help out afterwards and you’ll be fine.
Mine was on the right MCA (actually two of them, but the big one was the reason for the surgery). It was right where the artery bifurcates (or in my case, trifucates!). Because of its shape, I was told I was not a good candidate for coiling. I was told the surgery wouldn't be such a big deal-- no head shaving, incision over the temple/ear area, push the brain lobe up, install clips, close it all up....four days in the hospital and then I'd have ten days or two weeks taking it easy at home. I did have a complication after I got home (a one-time, unpredicted and unexpected but really major seizure), which messed up the plan, but the surgery went just fine.
Be thankful you found this before it really ruptured, and get as many surgical opinions as you need. Not all brain surgeons are easy to talk to, but you shouldn't settle for any scenario that you don't agree is the correct and necessary treatment, or any doctor you can't trust and communicate well with.
The word "aneurysm" terrifies just about everyone, including plenty of doctors who have seen the damage they can do, and there is plenty of scary on the Internet. But your experience doesn't have to be that way and plenty of people have uneventful clipping surgery. If you have a good outcome, you're a lot less likely to hang around the Internet talking about it! Finding it and dealing with your aneurysm now can make sort of like fixing a hernia that doesn't hurt yet but likely will in a while, or removing a tumor before it can do damage.
Remember everyone has a different set of circumstances so gather as much information as you can, but remember, each person and situation is unique.
I had an aneurysm on my right middle cerebral artery. It was in a place where the blood vessel split and so I wasn't a great candidate for a coil embolization. I also had many, severe food allergies which prevented me from coil embolization with their use of all the dyes needed to navigate that process. I had a clipping surgery on 3/5/14 and had it fixed..."FIXED" ...! As you know there are risks with the surgery but for me personally I felt like I was a walking time bomb and felt that the odds were significantly in my favor if I had the clipping surgery. My choice was to take those risks up front and hopefully put that worry behind me.
After the surgery, my negative side effects were: a very bad headache for the first 24 hrs., then a bad headache for about a week, then a moderate to slight headache for an additional 5 weeks and significant fatigue during that time period. I tried not to lift anything heavy for a month or so and slowly increased my physical activity levels up. Now the only time I am aware of that surgery area is if I get very stressed about something and I have a feeling of pressure in that area and the skin is still slightly numb in that area, but that's it! I have no other negative side effects!
I know I am very blessed to have such a good outcome. My understanding is you want to find someone who does a ton of these surgeries day in and day out. Depending on where you live, get some references for the best person for a clipping in your area.
It was tough to walk into a hospital knowing they are going to cut into your head but for me, I was facing risks and potentially life altering or life ending risks and I chose to play the odds for "my particular" set of circumstances, which were in my favor and wanted to have the risk of a rupture behind me.
With my clipping procedure I was told I didn't need any follow up. Coil procedures sound like they usually do need monitoring afterwards and possibly recoiling. Again, every situation is different.
Good luck with your decision. Gather as much information as you can from your medical professionals so you can make the best decision for yourself.
Good luck.
Beth
Amy...I am excited for you to be going to Barrow...and there are two books listed on this BAF site.. one by Eric Nussbaum, MD in Michigan; the other by Robert Spetzler @ Barrow in AZ ...You may already have gotten them...Best wishes/prayers for continued success...
Amy Richardson said:
My surgeon here in Kansas has referred me to Barrows out in Phoenix, all scans have been sent waiting on reply from them . With mine being deep in brain makes more risky, he mentioned a procedure called pipelining, have you heard of it. What I have been to is that mine can not be coiled
Hi Amy , I had a left MCA rupture in 2013, I’ve been coiled and am still slowly mending. It is a grim thing to have, a major issue and no mistake , hence the information you find is confronting. But it’s all doable, you can get through it and your determination to achieve the best possible outcomes for yourself will set you on the right track. Write down your questions as you think of them and go over them with your neuro. Get your friends and family to research it too, they’ll need a heap of patience and understanding to help you get through it. But don’t hesitate to have the surgery, dealing with a rupture is worse afterwards and if it can be avoided, do 
lHi Amy! What size? Have a look at the info below the biggest study done on un-ruptured aneurysms.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199812103392401
It is both informative and the best info out there to date!
I have 5, 2 have been coiled and stented, 3 remaining, 2 x Right side MCA 10mm and 5 mm, 1x left side MCA @ 5mm, all three have not changed in size over 3 years, checked by scans and angiograms every 8-10 months.
Treatments for these things are evolving not only year on year but month on month, so much so that my endovascular specialist tells me that what he was not prepared to touch a year ago by endovascular means, he would now treat.
With that as a bit of background, what is evident is that treatments of these vile things is growing, as is the treatment, procedures and equipment, so when you look at the risks on the tables above, also consider the progress that has been made in working with them and sorting them, since that study was published!
My personal philosophy for them is as follows, Understand them, for knowledge is power. Once you understand them and the risks then make your decision and thirdly once you have done the above, live with your decision, for that is true power!
Do not be afraid, talk to your specialist and ask him/her for guidance and then make your decision on the way forward, it will be your decision alone, but be happy once you have made it.
All that said, relax, chill for all will be good.
Best Regards
Martinc
Hi Amy,
I am 3 weeks today recovering from my aneurysm clipping! All went well and I am very happy to have this over with! My aneurysm was found incidentally and was not ruptured. When the went in there, they found another one right behind it that was ready to pop! I still have a few more weeks to recover fully, but this surgery was much better then I expected going in! I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do, but just knowing they are gone forever has made me a more calmer person!
Hi Amy, so sorry for your diagnosis. I had migraines for a few years and due to some severe symptoms one visit to my osteopath, she sent me for an MRI on day 15 of a migraine. They found a 3mm annie and thought it was leaking or had leaked. They never did a lumbar puncture but decided it was nothing to worry about after an angiogram a couple weeks later. A 2nd opinion doc (head of brain surgery at OHSU) said I had 3 annies. At my 1 year MRA that doc said I have 2. All the docs said nothing to worry about so I try not to. I've read so many people have these and they never need treatment. They said they wouldn't choose to operate under 7mm. So I'm supposed to have an MRA every 3 years or so. I can't have a CTA or angiogram to check them because I donated a kidney and can't handle the dye. They did say because at least 1 is on the MCA trifurcation with a very wide neck, I'd need clipping and offered that but I said no. I'm coming up on 4 years since diagnosis and don't think about them much. I wish you well!