Hi! I'm new to this group but have been reading since I was diagnosed on 2/1/13.
I have a 7.5 mm wide necked annie of the right middle cerebral artery (it also has a "sister" bulge, or "daughter" or something like that- basically a second weakened wall area that is a risk).
Anyway, I'm a 33 y/o mother of a 26 month old girl and a 7 month old girl. I have recently become a stay at home mom after being a CVICU RN for 13 years (& about 10 months at an oncology office). I have a very supportive husband and am blessed that both my parents and my husbands parents are near and will be able to help during the recovery process. We also have a supportive church family and a few of the women I used to work with still consider me family and will be able to help out.
I have a tentative date of craini and clipping on March 20th. The surgery will be about 5 hours away from where I live. I'm only waiting til March because I need to be able to have enough time to pump breast milk to freeze for my 7 month old. She has only had 2 bottles in her entire life and just today started solids. I have about 50 ozs of milk frozen and need about another 100 ozs in the next 30 days to cover the 5 days I'll be away from her. I have a crazy plan of pumping milk while I am in the hospital (if I don't then I risk not only getting mastitis but my milk supply will not be there when I get home to my baby.)
Okay, so that was a lot of detail to tell you a lot of nothing :)
Please share with me about what recovery is really going to be like. I can't believe that I'm not going to be able to even pick up my baby or my toddler for weeks/ maybe months. I am overwhelmed with the thought of other people having to cook and clean and do laundry. I am the one who takes care of EVERYTHING. How in the world am I going to depend on others? I guess that's what God is doing with this. He is trying to show me I can't depend on myself and I can't be perfect- He is in charge and He will take care of me.
I know this is all over the place and I really do have some specific questions too- I just can't think of them right now! Oh, here is one- I've read some about emotional ups and downs but my surgeon did not mention anything about that. I already have ppd/anxiety and I am NOT looking forward to being even more emotional. How bad is it really?
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes time to read this novel and share your experience with me :)
I am hoping someone will respond to your questions. I was also diagnosed on 2/1/13 with a small aneurysm of right ICA and have been recommended clipping. My kids are 10 and 7 years old and I work as a full time physician. I share all the worries you have noted above. I haven't scheduled a date for surgery yet. Wish you all the best for yours .
In 1998 I underwent a clipping for an aneurysm which was on my third cranial nerve and was rather large/tri-loped...the aneurysm literally pushed my 3rd optic nerve out of its way as the annie was growing, and "snapped" the optic nerve if you will, so my recovery from that was alittle more intense than my 2nd clipping surgery...the 2nd clipping was due to "fixing" coils that had failed (which i had recieved after an SAH in 2006)..the 2nd clipping was far easier to recover from really, and upon my 2nd day home I walked the 1.8 miles around the resevoir near our home with no problem, and was driving within a week and a half. Honestly it was so different than the 1st clipping in that since there were no other nerves involved that had to heal (the optic nerve deal was the worse, double vision for at least 4 months after the clipping) , and the 1998 clipping I was sewn back together with giant staples instead of stitches, so that wasn't real comfortable and sleeping on that side was out of the question for a long time...but the 2010 clipping was stitched, not stapled, no other issues to deal with such as the double vision from the 1st surgery, and I felt pretty good ! I was more emotional then usual (snappy) only for a short period of time after my last clipping,( uncharacterically went OFF on a utility worker from the electric co -- I laugh now about that but I'd imagine that poor guy STILL isn't laughing!) in 1998 I was emotional as well afterward, I think because my surgeon had to cut thru my jaw muscle and to my surprise I couldn't open my mouth to eat anything substantial ( Ate yogurt for months)! However my jaw muscle was left untouched on the last clipping, so eatting was not a hassel.
As for pain, I remember they'd given me vicodin in 1998 (Which just made me vomit--nixed the vicodin right away!) ..same for the last clipping, no narcotic pain killers , just Advil Liquidgels was enough for me. My hair grew back both times just as it should have, the incision sites were a bit itchy as the nerves came back to life but not a big issue at all . I experienced more numbness in 1998 and to this day that side of my skull is still alittle numb--not so on the 2010 clipping, infact I have full feeling on that side now. You'll look a little banged up ofcourse, will probably have a bit of bruising and a shiner on the side the clipping is on near the eye, but beleive me that heals up quickly and you'll be back to "you" in no time.
If there is little involvement in other areas of the brain (such as the optic nerves) then for the sake of healing, things will undoubtbaly go the way my 2010 clipping did--which was quite easy in comparison to my 1998 clipping. Give yourselves time to relax and heal--take advantage of the help you'll be offered, but undoubtably you won't need that much help ! It will make those who are helping you feel better if you just LET them help you though, and Cordie You'll be able to carry your little one with a lot more ease then you may be thinking. I wish you both luck and have you in my prayers , peace to you both ! Janet
Ashhan, Thanks for your response to my lengthy babbling message :) I hope you find the answers that you are needing so that you can find peace for your family. Your kids are a bit older than mine but I am sure that as a mother you do share the worries that I have- we mom's seem to do it ALL and we are everything to these little people (not to mention taking care of the husband, too!)
Please, keep us updated on what you find out when you go for a second opinion. I was lucky enough that with my opinions I received the EXACT same info, so I didn't have to worry about who was "right"; we just had to choose who we were more comfortable with. I will keep you in my prayers.
Hi Janet! Wow, you have been through a LOT. I can't imagine going through this again and again; you must be one strong woman!
Thanks for your response and sharing so much detail with me, I appreciate it more than you know.
My doctor said I'll be able to drive as soon as I am off narcotics. He also said I won't be able to lift my kids for 4-6 weeks (maybe longer). That's the part that I'm most worried about. I'm sure I will be able to lift them, but that I'm not supposed to is what is going to be SOOO difficult. I want to heal well and quickly; so I don't want to do what the surgeon tells me not to do. My baby weighs about 18 pounds and my toddler weighs only 24 or 25. They aren't "heavy" and I pick them both up a thousand times a day. The thought of needing someone with me just to get them in the car is crazy! I keep trying to remind myself it's a small "price" to pay for getting this potentially life threatening thing FIXED!
I really do know that God has a plan for using this whole time in my life to mold me and change me and to somehow help others too; I just don't see His whole plan yet and it is HARD for me to not be in control. Of course we aren't EVER in control and I think He might be wanting me to understand that a little more!
Anyway, thank you again for sharing so much. You made me feel like I'll fly right through this :)
I had a clipping Nov. 20, 2012 of the left mca. Mine had a daughter dome as well and when the surgeon clipped it she told me it actually had a third dome as well. I'm glad you're having it taken care of now, better to be safe than sorry. I actually had no deficits from the surgery and basically within a few days of coming home I was back to doing basics around the house, cooking and a little cleaning and laundry. I wasn't supposed to vacuum but I did anyway. I was just very careful and took it slowly. If I got tired I would rest for awhile. But I have to admit I felt pretty good, no headaches not a lot of pain. I'm sure you'll do well. Try to keep a positive attitude and have faith in God and your surgeon. I had gotten a second opinion because I never felt comfortable with my first surgeon and I'm so glad I did. I went to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia where they specialize in neurological issues. I had a 10 pound limit of what I could lift until my followup checkup two weeks later and she said to be careful not to strain while lifting. I'm now able to lift my four year old granddaughter with no difficulty. This Wednesday will be my 3 month anniversary of the surgery and I feel great. Sometimes my head feels a little tight especially if the barometric pressure is low but even that is feeling better. I feel so blessed that everything went well. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck to you Cordie and take care,
Bonnie, thank you so much for your answer to my post. I appreciate EVERY response I get! I know my first post was rather rambling... I think I'm just getting more anxious about this than I should be. I need to just take some deep breaths and try to remember that I am in God's hands and He is in absolute control .. and that all the little details will work themselves out!
Anyway, I'm so glad you're doing well after your clipping and I hope that in a couple months I'll be posting to encourage other people too!