Hi Could anyone give me a bit of advice? After having a TIA (mini stroke) Last November and having the usual scans i have been diagnosed with 5 brain aneurysms! 2 aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery either side 3 and 7mm, which i have been told that these two will not be suitable for coiling! Basilar artery aneurysm, an anterior communicating artery aneurysm and a pericallosal artery aneurysm! I saw a consultant at Kings and was told they would do a follow up MRA scan in 6 months which i have had i'm due to see the consultant neuro surgeon again next week, really worrying what they are going to say? Could anyone give me advice on questions to ask when i go there, re surgery, recovery etc, i,m sure i will forget to ask probably the most important things, as my head is all over the place?
Hi.....I am so sorry you are going through such a stressful time. You have definitely come to the right place for support and good information. I would ask OR INSIST on an Angiogram. Gold standard test. I had a coiling of my middle cerebral aneurysm almost two years ago. At the time of Angiogram they found that I have a Vascular Disease called FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA. THIS disease causes Aneurysms. Being that you have multiples, you would want the arteries looked at more closely. I also have the DISEASE in Cerebral, Cartoids and Renal Arteries. I hope this helps. Good luck and God Bless. I will keep you in my prayers. Remember to BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE.. ASK QUESTIONS AND BE INSISTENT OF YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS. RESEARCH SPECIALISTS. Second opinions are a good thing. :)
John, welcome....hope and expect you will have a lot of responses here...
You may want to try the Groups of Upcoming Procedure and Unruptured Aneurysm...a/w/a here the forum...
also, John, responses may be slow because this is one of our 3day weekends where many are involved in activities and travels...
Prayers you will get lots of data here and, that you will begin typing/maintaining your list of questions that you can edit / add to from people here...
First, usually the MCA are done w/open surgery/clip...Because the ACoA is so close, ask if they would be done on the same surgery...and the pericollasol...depending on if both the same side of one MCA...or one on each side w/MCA... Basilar is definitely a diff location...and so much would depend on sizes of the various aneurysms...
First of all, John bring someone along with you...that can take notes and also lend another ear...this is important because you will only hear about 3/4 of what is said...Then you should ask which Annie's will be treated and by what method...? Why one method over another? What are the risks? What must you do to prepare for surgery? etc., If you want more questions to ask...go to "Mayo Clinic" and put in Brain aneurysm...the last page gives sample questions to ask your Doctor...that will help tremendously...
Hi John and welcome, I kept a note book with me and each time I thought of a question I wrote it down that way I didn’t forget. I also kept/ keep a diary of how I was feeling, I felt that helped to relieve my stress. I think the main question for me was treatment options as depending on the type and where the aneurysm is located there are different treatments. I had mine treated with PED. Recovery time, how long will you be in hospital, will you need rehab., everyone is different but we all understand what each of us have gone through, ask any question you want there will alway be someone here to help.