Two years ago an Incidental finding was made of 2 right middle cerebral aneurysms of 5mm and 4mm.
My New Brunswick neurosurgeon requested a referral for treatment to the local surgical Radiologist. Sadly after a year of waiting he declined to treat me. My neurosurgeon then arranged a referral to a neurosurgeon in Toronto Ontario. I was finally treated today for both of the now 6 and 5 mm anis via endovascular coiling.
Apparently all went well. They were able use a new technique whereby they insert a “mesh box” into the aneurysm and then fill it with the coils. Apparently better outcomes with more stability and less compacting of the coils.
I was in recovery for about 4 hours and was unfortunately not able to meet with my surgeon prior to being moved to a room for overnight stay and observation.
This contained 2 male patients and myself (a female) with one bathroom. I requested any other room and was told there were none. While I commiserate with the hospital’s limited resources and staffing, personally I morally could not share a room with two strange men.
In hindsight in the interest of my recovery I probably should have stayed in that room under duress, however doing so would surely have exacerbated my already crisis mode anxiety I was undergoing at the time.
In the end against the better judgement of my husband and the practitioners I signed myself out. And returned to the hotel we are staying in which is 5 minutes walking distance of the hospital.
I did not get any discharge instructions and was wondering if anyone could share some general post treatment information or tips with me having undergone similar procedures.
In the interim I have left a message for my surgeon as well.
JJ, I moved your topic to the “General” category instead of the BAF categories as that’s where the BAF post their information on support group meetings. Lobby Day and other things we may be interested in. The General category is where we post most of our questions and Support for when we need a little help from our friends here.
I imagine it was discomforting to be in a room with two members of the opposite gender was my initial thought. I would have asked if there was another room available as well. But when I read you checked yourself out AMA, I thought goodness me! Here in the USA, we would get the full bill from everyone involved. We once inquired as to receiving a discount when I was still on private insurance (something the local hospital does) and the lady checking me in said the total bill would be $240,000 for everything and we could pay $60,000. That was just for a diagnostic angiogram, no coils or other hardware, about a decade ago.
Rules change with the type of entry - femoral vs radial. Weight limits and restrictions so the plug doesn’t pop out. It’s been awhile since I had my stent placed back in 2020 and I honestly don’t remember all of the restrictions. We didn’t have stairs back then so that was never put on my discharge but there were a couple femoral entries I wouldn’t have been able to do stairs.
For every one of my procedures I’ve had to drink three of the 32 ounce Gatorades and twice that in water for several months probably due to my allergy to the dye. But hydration is needed for our brains to recover as is protein. Stents require blood thinners. I started out with Plavix and aspirin reducing to just aspirin. I’ve had so many rules given to me I don’t remember which ones were rupture related and which were procedure related specifically.
I hope your NHC covers the bill and I hope your surgeon gets back to you. I imagine the surgeon will give you a lecture so be prepared for that. You might try reading past topics about stents here. But you really need your surgeon more than us right now.
That doesn’t seem like a lot of fun and welcome to the community!
I went through coiling for a ruptured aneurysm back in February and stayed in neuro ICU for three weeks, before going to a step-down room and then finally being discharged from the hospital a month after being admitted.
My experience was with a ruptured aneurysm and I had vasospasms afterward. I have no experience with coiling of an aneurysm that hasn’t ruptured yet, but I’m certain someone on this forum does.
Good luck with everything and I certainly wish you a speedy recovery!
Welcome to the BA family! Boy, I know I am finally relieved you got your procedure finally done, so I can’t even imagine how you and your family must feel! Such relief!
Even though it was just 6 months ago, that’s old news in the endovascular world. I am part of the ruptured/coiled/then stent later on club (pipeline flow diverter installed 6 months ago), so a similar - but of course different - endovascular procedure. I happened to include my discharge insttructions in the below post. [On the phone, so this is easier versus working between multiple platforns!]
Of course, I completely agree with the others that your medical team will now what is best for you. FWIW, I am also able to access my discharge instructions and notes in my system’s online portal, too, should you have that option as well.
I also would confirm with your medical team since it is a different procedure to be sure, but I have no restrictions from flying. So, fingers crossed, you can go home to New Brunswick soon!!
Please let us know how you are doing - this procedure sounds great!!
I think based on past experiences with clients who left without the proper discharge process is “Pt left AMA”. That was here in the States and over a decade ago, prior to portals. Hopefully @Seek1ngAnswers has something better and will let us know.
i’ve been wondering this too for over a year..
i finally asked my neurology NP a few months ago and she said it’s totally safe.
I don’t know, i’ve read different things. some say no some say ok. i think having anxiety just plays a different role
for me when i already have the answer from my NP.
Some say the pressure isn’t good. idk what to believe frankly. the ones who actually have experienced flying with their anni. or my NP with the medical experience.
I’ve flown several times since my rupture but none since my stent just because of the pandemic and then we went and bought a house. My only issues with flying is the people, the noise and the bright lights, not to mention the guy in front of you that wants to lay back or the guy in back of you that for the entire flight can’t get his legs comfortably situated and keeps kneeing your back.
We’ve had members here who have flown to the other side of the world with no ill effects. If y’all do a search with the magnifying glass on flying, you’ll find a couple of pilots who fly, a study on why it’s safe, etc.
@jjajjj@Moltroub
I’m one of those members who had a ruptured aneurysm that was coiled and six months later a stent was inserted.
I have flown from the USA to Europe several times since then. I’m actually overseas now. I couldn’t miss the baptism of our latest grandchild
My neurosurgeon told me after my six month angiogram follow up that nothing could happen inside my brain during the flight. I was anxious the first time and brought an eye mask, ear plugs and sunglasses. I think I used the mask and plugs to filter out the light and noise.
I have never had any issues during takeoff or landing. I hope this helps.
Thank you for this. I have been having concerns and anxiety about flying and it’s encouraging to hear you had no issues with it. I am 7 months post rapture and coiling.
I am part of the ruptured/coiled/then stent later on club (pipeline flow diverter installed 6 months ago), so a similar - but of course different - endovascular procedure. I happened to include my discharge insttructions in the below post. [On the phone, so this is easier versus working between multiple platforns!]
