My husband is likely going to have a PED done for his aneurysm in March. It was discovered 7 years ago and because it was 3 mm we decided not to treat it. However, it has no grown to 4 mm which is still small, but they're concerned about the growth and proximity to the optic nerve. Plus having the pipeline as an option feels less scary than brain surgery, which is what we were presented with 7 years ago. We're also fortunate to have our pick of 2 great drs. Dr. Coon at Hopkins and Dr. Bank at Washington Hospital Center. We have to decide who to go with.
His aneurysm is a supraclinoid internal carotid aneurysm near the circle of Willis.
Seems like a number of people have experienced headaches following the PED. Do the Drs. acknowledge this as a potential side effect? We were not told about this by any doctor and it feels scary to go from being completely asymptomatic to having bad headaches for months.
What side effects have people experienced from Plavix?
Any thoughts about using an Interventional Radiologist vs. a surgeon?
I had no symptoms prior to a scan that showed by annie. After the PED I experienced mild headaches for about three weeks. I had the procedure n May 2012 and continued Plavix and 325 aspirin daily until Nov. 2012, and then Plavix every other day until Feb. 2013. I continue the 325 aspirin at least for another two years and then may be reduced to the 81 mg. aspirin. I was 65 when I had the procedure, and really have not had any side effects rom the Plavix. Hope all goes well for your husband. Keep us posted.
I had my pipeline done in June and have not had any headaches they treated awide month 10mm so far everything has been fine . Good luck to your husband I had mine done at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville fl I didn't have any troble with the plavix. was back to work in five weeks to a normal 40 hr week. still take the 325 asprin everyday
I had my surgery on 8/2/12 & 9/13/12. I have had a few headaches but nothing painful. I had a complication from 2nd surgery. My artery in my leg was danaged causing a psuedo aneurysm. and Interventational Radiologist treat the psuedo aneurysm caused by 9/13 procedure. I had 2 thrombin injections. Ended up seeing a Vascular surgeon. Wish I had gone to Vascular surgeon instead of letting Radiologist treat my aneurysm. I am doing grear now. The PED peocedures were easier to recover from vs crainotomies. Leg surgery took longer to recover from. Pray from a speedy recovery from your PED. Pls keep us posted
I had PED mid December 2012… I was on plavix +100mg aspirin until 4/02 then had one every two days for two weeks and then stopped plavix completely and now I am just on aspirin. Reading your posts here concerns me as it seems to be a very short time taking plavix, just 2 months. My neurosurgeon asked me to stop the plavix because I am having my 3month angiogram soon…
No side effects noticed… Have had sharp head pains with and without the plavix post PED.
As far as I know, interventional neuroradiologists are the most capable doctors to perform PED. I have a neurosurgeon who takes care of everything else but he works with a wonderful neuroradiologist who has done my PED and 2 angiograms and then they both discuss results.
I had my 5mm ophthalmic/internal carotid artery treated with a PED my Dr. Coon on 1/9/2012. I had a slight headache after the procedure, but wasn't sure if it was from lack of food, the prep with Prednisone, lack of coffee, no sleep, the anxiety, or the procedure....and decided it was probably due to all of the above! I was very tired for a few days after, but attributed that to how nervous I was prior to the procedure. I was happy to know that Dr. Coon had performed over 100 of the procedures, and travelled to help train others. I plan to be on Plavix and 325mg of aspirin for a year. I had no problems with either the diagnostic angiogram , or the PED procedure. The worst for me was the anxiety prior to both, and the need to keep my leg straight after both. The care I received by everyone at Hopkins was excellent....couldn't have asked for better. At my follow-up appointment, Dr. Coon told me to "get on with living....just avoid contact sports!" Since I will be 65 in Sept, the contact sports issue is not a problem...ha ha! I do need to try to avoid bumping in to things...I am a klutz...as I do get a bruise from the meds then. But, I haven't had any significant problems with the Plavix. Good luck with your decision! Rose
I had my 5mm ophthalmic/internal carotid artery treated with a PED by Dr. Coon on 1/9/2012. I had a slight headache after the procedure, but wasn't sure if it was from lack of food, the prep with Prednisone, lack of coffee, no sleep, the anxiety, or the procedure....and decided it was probably due to all of the above! I was very tired for a few days after, but attributed that to how nervous I was prior to the procedure. I was happy to know that Dr. Coon had performed over 100 of the procedures, and travelled to help train others. I plan to be on Plavix and 325mg of aspirin for a year. I had no problems with either the diagnostic angiogram , or the PED procedure. The worst for me was the anxiety prior to both, and the need to keep my leg straight after both. The care I received by everyone at Hopkins was excellent....couldn't have asked for better. At my follow-up appointment, Dr. Coon told me to "get on with living....just avoid contact sports!" Since I will be 65 in Sept, the contact sports issue is not a problem...ha ha! I do need to try to avoid bumping in to things...I am a klutz...as I do get a bruise from the meds then. But, I haven't had any significant problems with the Plavix. Good luck with your procedure.....where are you having it done? Rose
I was told about the headaches; actually he told people have reported more headaches with the PED than any other option. (scary I remember the exact words from so long ago! lol) I didn't take Plavix as it was discovered the morning of my PED surgery that it was not effective, so I had to take Effient. The only problem I had with that was the bruising, which is pretty par for the course on a blood thinner. Oh, and it was really difficult not to be able to take ibuprofen. Tylenol doesn't work for me on my headaches so they had to give me Vicodin to take if I got a headache. My surgery was done by a Neurological Radiologist (is that what they're called??!?!). He's also the only one that does my angiograms; I'm picky about that,.