I'm Lynz, 29 years old and about to deliver via C-section next week. I was diagnosed with an AVM and aneurysm after hemorrhaging in my brain. Worst headache of my life is an understatement. I also had a horribly stiff neck and could barely move my upper body. I truly thought it was a migraine as pregnancy was bringing out all kinds of new problems. Finally went to the ER after about 24 hours of suffering. It was a brain bleed caused by an AVM and they incidentally found a small aneurysm. After a very unpleasant "awake angiogram", they decided to only treat the AVM and leave the aneurysm alone. They seemed reassuring that the aneurysm would either regress after the AVM was removed or remain stable. I just about lost my mind worrying about the craniotomy. Amazingly, my recovery has been fine. I feel numbness on my head but hardly any post-op pain. I'm just now worrying about the aneurysm. People refer to them as "ticking time bombs" which is pretty accurate. Many sources say that small aneurysms have a low risk of rupture but they don't talk about ones that might be associated with an AVM. Plus, let's face it: AVM's are supposed to be very low risk and mine still ruptured. I don't take statistics to heart anymore because they clearly don't apply to me. I'm not sure why they didn't treat my aneurysm and they don't want to evaluate it until next year. I'm having a hard time coping with the unknowns of my condition. I'm also unbelievably nervous about having a C-section after everything that has happened. I'm worried for my baby, I'm worried about my ability to survive a major abdominal surgery, and I'm worried that I haven't had a chance to prepare for motherhood if everything goes well.
I could use some inspiration and reassurance from anyone that can offer it! Bless this site!
I got chills reading your story--you have already survived one of the most feared surgeries in the world, abdominal surgery for your C-section should be a cake walk in comparison to what you've already been thru! I've never had a C-section but i've had several abdominal surgeries and 2 craniotomies, and believe me, you will be able to get thru the C-section and be able to welcome your new baby with open arms! YOU are an inspiration to ME !
Peace to you as make your way thru all this and into Motherhood, Janet
Hi Lynz! good of you to write on here- now we can all join together in prayer-luv your title!! Yeah i'm sick of the number game too - i beat the odds in all medical but not the lottery!!--lol ie 10% of chicken pox patients get shingles-lucky me, 10% of those get them on face-lucky me!!, had hodgekins, get gout etc etc So anyways i know how you feel but think positive you'll be fine!
Thank you all. I'm grateful to be here while also discouraged that it happened in the first place. It's pretty ironic - I am a hypochondriac about most things but aneurysms never concerned me. There would be moments where I would ponder the possibility of an aneurysm but always took comfort in the low odds. AVM's are considerably more rare than aneurysms... and I get both. It's such a shame to be in this dark space when I'm supposed to be focused on my baby. I appreciate your prayers/good thoughts. Praying for health and happiness to everyone here.
Oh my you have been through a journey...and you and your baby have survived...you know what that means? You both are tough...and Brain aneurysm survivors are tough...right now... focus on having that beautiful baby...and taking care of YOU and Resting...and let your Doctors know of your fear and concerns...~ You have my prayers and positive thoughts coming your way ~ Colleen
It sounds to me that you need to talk to your neuro about the anxiety you have regarding the aneurysm. What you feel is completely normal. They probably just want you to try and relax, have a happy delivery and recovery and then address the annie. Try to put it on the back burner of your mind...and don't let it overshadow this miraculous event. God Bless you and your baby honey.
Wow! That is a lot to endure during pregnancy. I have had 2 c-sections and survived a craniotomy.
Do you have help for after the baby arrives? I will not lie, your stomach will hurt. However, it does get better. The first few days are the hardest. Getting out of bed was a chore. Do as little besides holding and feeding the baby and resting as much as possible. If people offer to help, let them help. I don't mean help by holding the baby. I mean cook, clean, do the laundry etc. If someone offers to bring you food, accept it. That does not mean that need to stay for a long visit though.
What size is the annie and where is it? Did they say anything about treatment- coil vs. clipping? I would try to focus on the pregnancy and baby. Right now you can take care of you and the baby once he or she is here.
If you survived a craniotomy, you can survive a C-section, promise! I had a C-section with my third and final baby (and thank the Lord I did, because I didn't know about my giant aneurysm yet and I firmly believe that natural childbirth would've ruptured it), and at the time, it felt like the worst medical experience of my life. Then I had gum graft surgery and thought THAT was the worst. And then I was diagnosed with a giant brain aneurysm, and I had not one but two PED surgeries (and I think I'm up to five angiograms now), and decided those must be the worst! LOL I sure hope I've met the peak of my worsts and it's all downhill from here. ;) If I were you, I'd focus on motherhood now, like you said you haven't been able to, focus on the wonderful birth about to be, and when you are recovered from the C-section (someone below detailed it well - get as much help as possible and REST, much like brain surgery!), find some time to talk to a neurosurgeon and have them explain more about your aneurysm. Size, location, probability of rupture due to those stats (and I know, stats are mostly useless with aneurysms, but you have to start somewhere), etc. There are treatments available for aneurysms that are much less complicated/risky/invasive than a craniotomy, and if they aren't concerned enough to have already fixed it, it probably would be an "easy" fix when you do have it done. For the record though, if you ever again experience the symptoms you described that led you to the ER, DON'T WAIT! It's critical with a brain bleed to be treated ASAP. You are truly blessed to be here, about to give birth, and doing so very well!! Be sure that your OB/GYN is fully aware of your situation when you go in for your C-section, and you should be fine. Congratulations on your impending birth - may it be a safe one! Remember to have someone taking lots of pictures too - my hubby forgot to take any during my C-section and even after, so I have nothing of my youngest's birth. :( That was much more devastating to me than the surgery, and believe me, I was really angry about my C-section for a long time - all the way until I realized it probably saved my life! Yes, it's hard, but the end result is tangible and beautiful, and worth every pain!
While I haven’t been diagnosed with aneurysm I have dealt with an AVM, two bleeds, gamma knife, seizures, brain necrosis, and finally open brain surgery/craniotomy last April. I’ve had several angiograms and so many CAT scans/MRI imagining studies I've lost track of how many times total now it is I’ve been “tubed”. Like you I’m also a mom.
I think it's really good news that the doctors feel the aneurysm isn't a threat to you or the baby. Sometimes there is no choice but to have an aneurysm clipped. In those cases it’s a blessing because it certainly beats the alternative, however if the aneurysm will go away, not need further treatment - from a medical standpoint that’s even better!