Thank you for allowing me to join your group! I've been reading quite a bit and am encouraged by all your stories and how much courage you all have....
My sister was preparing to go on a TV show that fixes plastic surgery gone wrong!! She was in an accident and has had several surgeries on her nose, but the outcome never seemed to be right.
During her prep, the Dr. ordered various tests, including a cat scan, which showed that she had 2 carotid artery aneurysms, which was a total shock.
The annies are on both sides of her head and the Dr. immediately told her that she would need (2) open surgery to clip them. I'm not sure of the size, but have seen the photos and would guess one is medium and the other large.
She went in for a angiogram and the Dr. then decided to coil them. Again, not sure why he decided to coil after saying she needed to clip them. This Dr. in Boston seems to be well known and a true professional in this area. However, he is speaking to the Dr. who was scheduled to do her nose and she wondered if his decision was based on the TV show.
We discussed and I thought the coiling was so much less invasive that it would be better for her, and I'm sure this Dr. will do what is in her best interest.
Her concern is having to re-do the coil vs. clipping (one time).
Anyway, she has 2 surgeries scheduled, the first is this coming Monday! the other is for a week later.
This is so scary and I can't imagine anyone having to deal with this. I pray for you all and hope for the best. As her sister, would anyone recommend that I have myself tested?
I wish you all the best during this Holiday season and sending good thoughts for a healthy New Year.
My neurosurgeon said all my kids and my siblings should be tested. So yes, I believe it would be a good idea for you to be tested.
Good luck to your sister. It is really scary but there are wonderful doctors out there who deal with these issues on a regular basis. If your sister would prefer to have the annies clipped she should discuss that with her surgeon.
I personally had mine clipped so I wouldn't have to worry about it later down the road.
My positive thoughts and prayers are with you both.
I just had F.R.E.D. (Flow Re-direction Endoluminal Device) done......not all Dr.'s are doing it since it is new and still a clinical trial. However, it is designed to eliminate the aneurysm completely!!!! If It had been around in 2006 I would not have had coiling done and would never had to have this second surgery. Mine was done at MUSC in Charleston, SC however, other states are also doing the trial. Surgery was shorter and recovery, so far, appears to be much easier than my coiling.
Family member testing was also recommended by my Dr.
For us coiling or clipping could have been done depending on the evaluation of my wife's doctors. In the end they coiled, and the result has been good. I would hope that your doctor would not be basing his decision in some way upon a tv show. That's another issue, and, if you are in doubt, you probably should seek a second opinion by someone you consider objective.
It does make sense that you would be checked as well. We have been told that at some point our daughters, at least, should be checked.
I hope you can enjoy and be encouraged by the Christmas season even as you deal with this new challenge.
I went in for surgery thinking he was going to clip but was able to put 4 coils.its been 2 yrs since my surgery and 2 angios later and all is good! My only issue is constant migraines which my neurologist said is aneurismic migrains ,I wish your sister well she will do fine happy holidays
Because it is your sister who has the aneurysms, I would suggest that your GP make an appointment for you to have an MRI. After my experience with clipping, my daughter had an MRI, and was cleared. I don’t think enough is known about the familial connection, but it would be better to be cautious. When I had clipping done, coiling was fairly new, but is now the preferred treatment, if that helps. Good luck to you and your sister.
I just had my coiling procedure on the 1st of this month. It went really well! I trusted my doc because he's the chief of neursurgery and he's done over 1000 of these procedures. I am new to this site and I realize that everyone has a different story. I am just glad that my Annie was well suited for coiling. Iam doing great and glad that I can go back to work next week! It was very scary for me because of the unknown but all I have to do now is follow up at 6 & 12 months and now my anxiety has subsided.
Really depends on location and where the aneurysm is and other factors my wife had the one that broke coiled and one that was fairly good size clipped because the neck of it and location was not doable And if you can have it coiled is far less invasive
I’ve heard the coils can move…I’d say go for the clips. I have one and have had no problems. Mine is MRI compatible too…it may be more invasive but I think I’m better off with a clip. Just my two cents.
It really is based on location and size. A second opinion will give you a bit more comfort with the decision. Mine was coiled four years ago, and so far so good. I do have headaches, but I’ve been told that would have occurred no matter what.
Dear Lisa, first of all: definitely get tested yourself. I come from an “aneurysmal” family, my grandma, mom and I all had/have at least one. Given that women are more likely to develop annies, you should get tested asap. As for the treatment, no one here can tell you what’s best except for her doctor. I myself asked for a second opinion before getting treated.
It’s always reassuring. My mom and I both got coiled. She had a ruptured aneurysm and was coiled 2 years ago and is doing perfectly fine. I got the first one coiled in Sept 2014 and the second one coiled/stented a month later. I have had no issues whatsoever. Both procedures went GREAT, I was home three days later with nothing but a bit of pain in the groin:) however, if the docs decide that the annies are too large or located at a difficult place, she might have to get clipped. I know of a case of a man who was told he had to be clipped, which was a tragedy for him, since he was a pilot and would not be able to practice anymore. His doc - who is also my doc - suggested trying the WEB device, developed 5 years ago. It worked and he is doing fine, still flying. So you see, there are options sometimes:) try and find the best possible specialist where you live and I wish you and your sister health and happiness in the new year. Try not to worry, I know it’s easy to say… But you’ll see once it’s over you’ll feel happier than ever.
My name is Kate and I had three sister's that had Annies. Same parents. The last and olderest sister had a total of 4. 3 clipped and one coiled was done. She is doing well today however the coil might have been lease invasive but please check all areas with her surgeon of any side effects since it is still a very serious proceedure. I would most diffently get checked since it is first generation. I wish your sister many prayers and a great recovery.
Lisa, my doc suggested I tell my nieces and nephews. My partner called them as I was not speaking well at the time. My oldest niece did tell her neurologist as she gets migraines. The doctor will follow her more closely.
I’ve been coiled, twice. I had a rupture so did not talk to doctors about various methods. I also had a multilobed aneurysmal sac. I don’t blame my doctor for having to go back in and coil. I praise her for saving my life, numerous times! All I can say is your sister has to have faith in the ability and knowledge of her surgeon. Ask the doctor why the change in procedures. I don’t know any doctors worth their salt who would be influenced by any tv show. I also understand from members here Boston is a fantastic place with some of the best doctors!
Coiling is obviously less invasive than clipping, secondly if the entrance / neck to the aneurysms are wide, they can place a stent at the entrance and then coil, this is a trusted method with wide neck aneurysms.
I have had 2 coiled and stents inserted in the last year, both successfully as recent scans/angiograms have shown.
Compacting of coils is not so common, but is does happen, also if the physician, is recommending coiling I would go with his decision, he is recommending this based on scans as well as location, size etc.
Importantly, cutting holes in someone's head will have consequences, however small, I still have 3 more that can only be fixed by open surgery, but my decision is no ways are they cutting holes in my head, unless there is no other option.
So I will watch and monitor those ones.
There is nothing to fear from coiling and stents, she will go to sleep, wake up and the job is done with no side effects, trust me on this one, for I have been there twice.
I would however ask the Doc why he changed his mind on the method of treatment.
Hi - coiling vs. clipping depends on so many factors. If Dr. Christopher Ogilvy is not your sister’s doctor, she should see him for a second opinion. He’s “the guy” in Boston to see - he’s the co-founder of The Brain Aneurysm Foundation and is the director of the Brain Aneurysm Institute at Beth Israel (formerly he was at Mass General). Best wishes to you and your sister.
Lisa, your sister is so lucky that they found the annies before rupture. I was the same - it was found when my doctor was ruling out a tumor close to my ear and because I had pulsative tinnititus, other doctors had recommended a MRA.
Neurosurgeons would not be swayed to having a particular surgical procedure because of the possibility that your sister might be on TV. They would look at the best way to treat. Mine was in the basilar tip and my neurosurgeon told me that he could only coil/stent and that clipping could give me brain damage because of the location. I had vacillated between the two and in the end wanted clipping because it is permanent, but that wasn't possible. My surgeon did a great job in 2011 - I have yearly MRAs to check it and to make sure that I haven't "sprung" another one. Boston is well known for their expertise on brain aneurysms, so I am sure that whichever procedure he chose was the best choice.
I would definitely talk to your GP about getting tested since aneurysms can be genetic. MRAs are fast and painless. Good luck to your sister and she will be in our thoughts.
Hi, my prayers are with you and your sister. I know the shock the news of an aneurysm can be and the stigma of brain surgery. It is great that you are getting information and be a support.
I had coiling of a large Basilar artery aneurysm with stent and that surgery was a success as at the 8 month post-op angiogram the aneurysm was totally gone.
My diagnostic angiogram done 2 weeks prior to coiling found another aneurysm on the right side of my head and was small/dual - there were 2 2mm "bulbs". My neurosurgeon stated that IF he could coil them he would do so at the same time as the Basilar but due to the location in the brain, they would require clipping.
This leads me to conclude that there isn't a choice of coiling or clipping - the decision for the procedure is based on the location of the aneurysm. My suggestion to you would be to ask your sister's surgeon is if this is in fact the reason for his decision. It is location, at least in my case.
Based on the location and procedure - my 2nd annie is being monitored - my surgeon really doesn't want to do a craniotomy/clipping - that is very invasive BUT if clipping proves to be necessary, then that is what will have to be done as coiling isn't a choice.
Hope this helps. Best wishes to you and your sister and may the new year be happier and healthier.
I would seek a second opinion unless the doctor can articulate a reason that he changed his mind. In my case, they originally thought coiling was an option, but after doing the angiogram saw that the annie was wide and not very deep making it more likely that a coil would fall out. In view of this, the doctor recommended clipping. Coiling is less invasive, but there also seem to be more complications after coiling. For example the coil can fall out. As far as doctor's to visit for a second opinion, I recommend Dr. Coon at Hopkins.