Had an appt today as it turns out that my ruptured aneurysm which was coiled in Sept 2024 is back and they are worried about a further rupture. So the advice is another surgery and they plan to use a flow diverter stent. While this is considered urgent the waiting list is 3 to 6 months at the moment.
Feeling very overwhelmed by it all and my husband is.annoyed that this appt followed a MRI is August, so he was not impressed that this is called urgent and I have to wait now while this has been filling up for 5 mths already.
Are you in the US? Are you able to get a 2nd opinion? My aneurysm ruptured in 2013 was coiled then coiling compacted leaving a remnant with blood flowing into it. Dr at the time said it could wait and be watched. Watched it for 3 yrs (constantly worried about it). Then I found a better doctor at a large hospital well known for excellent neurosurgery. I had to travel to get there. The new Dr did both endovascular (coils/stents) and clipping surgery. He did more tests and recommended clipping to fix it permanently. I did that and the clipping surgery was not as bad as I was afraid of and now only need follow ups every 5 years. I’ve had 2 follow up scans since the clipping and no new issues. Changing my doctor saved my life.
I am sooooo sorry to hear this @Bordercolliemum. I can only envision how frustrating this must be for you!! I am happy you shared this update with us though. My is with you!!
I know it is not the same here in the States, but I, too, had to undergo some waiting in the process. My neuroradiologist gave a subtle hint at one appointment that he was watching my aneurysm (i.e., “hmmmm”). It wasn’t until the next appointment about 6 months later that he decided he wanted to treat it with a flow diverter. By the time I had the follow-up angiogram to officially confirm it was occluded was about a year in total, but I was lucky as it was a smaller size aneurysm so it didn’t take as long for the cells to grow over and shut off the blood supply to the aneurysm. I once asked him about the growth rate, and he just said that he has seen some aneurysms grow more quickly than mine. I do not know, but I wonder if the growth rate is a factor in determinibg when your surgery is (i.e., if it was of highest concern, I would like to think they would treat it today!).
This is completely my non-medical observation, but I hear of clippings being “one and done.” To me, therefore, this suggests that endovasculars are not: we sometimes have to go through multiple surgeries in order to get the aneurysm fixed.
I had great success with my stent, and I am sending good energy your way! I am hopeful that they will be able to fit you in sooner, but in the meantime focus on your beautiful border collies and family to help de-stress and let us know how you are doing. Please vent all you need!!
He’s adorable! Hate to read you’re scheduled for another procedure, that sucks! I’m a living example that coils compact but as I understand it many people do get compaction. Like @FinWhaleFan I’ve read craniotomy procedures are a one and done. However, I think we’ve had a hand few who have had endovascular procedures after a craniotomy. Can’t recall why. We’ve had many who have had a FRED used, they keep improving them so that is always in our favor.
Don’t you love how medical professionals use words? Yes, a little sarcasm coming out. I once had what a neurosurgeon called emergency surgery, had to wait a week for my lumbar repair. That’s not my definition of emergency. When I had my stent installed, Dr. Q-W had to talk with her colleagues so I could get in during the pandemic, they only were given three beds a week. Fortunately I didn’t need a angiogram prior as the MRI/A ordered by the neurologist told her all she needed to know. Patients with COVID had the other beds. I ended up getting moved out in the wee hours of the morning for someone who needed brain surgery immediately.
The aneurysm of my neck is not completely occluded. Honestly unless I’m on here I give it no mind. I’ve decided several years ago to live my life the way I want best as I can. Some things I try to do daily is keep hydrated and do my normal relaxation breathing. If you haven’t tried relaxation breathing I highly recommend it as you probably already know. It would be good for you and your husband both I think. Look up @FinWhaleFan at the search feature and you’ll see a lot of different methods. Pick one that you’ll commit to and practice all the time. And don’t forget to hug that pup!
She seems ridiculously sweet! And 11 months!! I am sure it just me, but my story I read into that photo is “Mum, when can we go chase some sherp?!”
Well, tell us all about Ms. Pip! When did you get her? What is she like? What are some of your favorite things about her? Have you always had border collies?
[If you deduced I am encouraging refocusing your attention elsewhere - even just for a few moments - well, you figured me out! ]
We got Pip at 8 weeks old after we lost our beloved Nellie. She was also a border collie. My husband has always had them, my family had always had rescue dogs as I was growing up. Pip is great she loves other people and other dogs. Nellie was a typical aloof border collie and she was not keen on other people or other dogs. So it is alot easier with Pip to be out and about.
She was hard work to start with, as I had just had revision surgery for my shunt but my hubby was struggling without a dog around. I resisted the idea of puppy for a couple of weeks but when I mentioned that we could think about one, hubby had found Pip within days and organised a trip to see her. As they say the rest is history. She is highly intelligent and learns very quickly and I am hoping that once she is old enough and I have recovered from the last couple of years we can try some agility work, just a fun for her and us.
Thank to you for the distraction
I’ll bet she’ll be great at agility! My Vet wanted me to try it with our rescue but I ended up with a few more procedures quickly. How is she doing with basic commands?
She learns really quickly but she is very easily distracted by anything around her. She is still young but we gave up on puppy school. My hubby was taking her and she can do everything at home but as soon as we got somewhere with other dogs and people she was a nightmare… So we continue to work with her at home and plan to try obedience again when she is a little older
is with you!!
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