Hi Amy, I totally understand how you are feeling. All aneurysm surgeries comes with some risks. I had a clipping in 2011 for a “wide neck aneurysm, 2 mm”. Mine was located near the anterior communicating artery, so even though my aneurysm was small, it was in a complicated area. My niece who is a doctor gave me good advice, she said to go to a large hospital that has lots of experience in brain aneurysm surgeries-neurology; make sure the surgeon is a practicing surgeon and not just academic when checking their credentials; verify that the surgeon will actually perform your entire surgery and not just be “present” which means a residence physician can perform surgery with the surgeon only standing by in presence. Remember that you can ask the surgical team any question, nothing is off limits. Recovery timeframe is different for each person and depends on your current health condition as well as the surgery. With saying all of this, having a life saving surgery would be the smartest decision and give you a fresh start in living healthy again. It’s like giving yourself a gift.
Thank you all for your very encouraging words. My Annie is 3.93 mm I was diagnosed in 2010 with annual checks, it had not grown until this last year it went from 2 mm to 3.93 in the last year. It is in a very complicated area. My Dr here in Kansas said with the placement of it he did not have faith in success to have it done here this is why he highly suggests Dr McDougal Iay Barrows in Phoenix. He told he did think it would have to be gone thru a craniotomy and did not think it could be coiled. Anyone have a time frame of hospitalization and recovery ?
Amy, As mentioned before, My wife at a 30mm Giant Fusiform on the left MCA M2 branch. Very complicated surgery (over 10 hours). She was in Neuro ICU for 6 days, 3 days in Neuro Care, and 13 days at Spaulding Rehab for speech, physical, and occupational). Total 23 days. She then did outpatient for several weeks but she was driving in two months. Please note that her last couple of days in ICU she was up in her chair and doing her therapy. She was doing very well. Again, it was all about keeping a positive attitude. Also, as some mentioned here, everyone is different. Some come out without any or very little symptoms. You should vet your doctors and the facility as well. My wife had it done in Boston by one of the best in this field. Boston also has a Brain Aneurysm Institute now. There are great doctors all over the nation.
Amy Richardson said:
Thank you all for your very encouraging words. My Annie is 3.93 mm I was diagnosed in 2010 with annual checks, it had not grown until this last year it went from 2 mm to 3.93 in the last year. It is in a very complicated area. My Dr here in Kansas said with the placement of it he did not have faith in success to have it done here this is why he highly suggests Dr McDougal Iay Barrows in Phoenix. He told he did think it would have to be gone thru a craniotomy and did not think it could be coiled. Anyone have a time frame of hospitalization and recovery ?
I had the Pipeline Embolization Device implanted 2 1/2 years ago. The surgeon goes in through the groin to the aorta. Inside the tiny tube is a device that will stop the blood from going into the aneurysm. This procedure is non-invasive. The only place you will have a little bit of pain will be in your groin. My recovery time was about six weeks. My implant was done by Dr. Koji Ebersole at KU Medical in Kansas City, Kansas. To find out more go to Kansas University Medical.edu. Type in his name. You will get information not only on him but also how they do the implant. I hope that this information will help.
Sending good wishes your way.
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
I had a 4 mm unruptured fusiform aneurysm on my right middle cerebral artery for which I had a craniotomy on July 2 of this year. My doctor wrapped and clipped the aneurysm. Of course, every situation is different, but in my case, the surgery went well and it was not nearly as horrible as I had imagined. Recuperation was pretty easy and I was back at work after 6 weeks. I don't have any residual problems except that sometimes on the side of my head where they did the craniotomy I feel discomfort - nothing I need medicine for, but I do notice it at times.
Hi. Mine was on the right MCA and it was affecting 3 arteries. I had it clipped, no other option was given to me. It was 8mm. The surgery was close to 10 hours but all in all, I recovered well. It was a long recovery and I didn't come out of it without any problems. My surgery was Feb. 3, 2011 and even though I've continued to improve (slow but surely) I still have lingering issues. Memory, and when I get tired or stressed, my speech changes and I'll start to slur my words and/or, when I'm trying to tell someone something, my speech isn't fluent. It's like hitting a brick wall and I can't think of the simplest of words to keep going with the conversation. All of this and more issues right after surgery but most everything has gotten much better, depending on my fatigue level. It was a long recovery though. I'll also be honest and say that my 'fuse' is much shorter. It too has improved but it's not even close to what it used to be. I was very patient, I was trained to de-escalate situations due to my professional life but I was not able to return to that career because of the unpredictable nature of the job itself and what my reaction would be as result.
Wish you the best but I will say this, I'll take what I have today vs the unknown of when it will rupture.
Tina
Hi Amy,
It does not need to be grim, knowledge is power!
See the following study on un-ruptured aneurysms and you will be wiser.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199812103392401
Remember that we are all different so many of the posts that you will see here tell a story, some good and some have hick ups, but remember we are all different and what applies to one person will not apply to another.
Ruptured versus un-ruptured have different outcomes with ruptured ones being more serious, but as I say we are all different and accordingly the outcomes are different.
Me, for instance have 5, 2 have been treated by endovascular means successfully (coiling & Stents), I also have 2 right side MCA's 10mm and 6mm and 1 x left side MCA ' 5.5mm, I have chosen not to treat these but rather monitor them by annual scans and Angiograms.
My decision alone, as I cannot imagine 2 open surgeries, so I will adopt a conservative approach, watch and see!
I say this because I have no symptoms at all, if I have open surgery I will have symptoms, even if it is a just a sore bloody head, for me the choice is thanks but no thanks, at this stage!
Some people can live with this approach, considering the risks as outlined in the study above, others choose surgery at all costs.
In my personal opinion, the choice needs to be yours alone as your specialist will tell you, you need to consider the risk, your options, endovascular or open surgery or a conservative approach ie: do nothing.
I have known about these little buggers for 2 years and in that time they have not grown, as shown by repeat scans and Angiograms!
The bottom line being, talk to your specialist, then consider the risks and then make a decision, other than the above be healthy, ensure normal blood pressure and live your life, business as usual.
Do not let these things control you, you need to control them.
Best Regards
Martinc
Good advice Martin.
Beth