Kelly, my aneurisms were found by mistake. One is on the back of my head I have four coils in it. Found two more one behind each eye. They haven’t grown any since they have found them they check them every six months! It is scary but the risk is worse if they do the surgery. A greater risk to have a stroke. But I am still scared that they will bust. Hope this helps
Clipped 1 dec 2010, and since then watching a 2mm right supra clinics ICA. Just scanned this yr another in 2016
my aneurysm is approx 8mm x 6mm-and basilar apex and tricky & challenging for surgery and watch ing it for past 3 years.IF it gets much bigger i will have surgery,but due to its position and wide neck I feel best to leave and watch-
1 2 or 3 mca annies (depending on what doc you talk to) diagnosed 1/2011. All are 3 or 2 mm. Watch and wait, don't even bother with testing any longer. They told me will likely never be a problem. Quite a shocker at first and big adjustment, now I rarely even think about them.
I am 78 years old with 3 A's 3 to 7 mm found 3-4 years ago. Annual MRAs show no growth. Trying not to worry and lead a normal life with less strenuous workouts.
Hey guys just checking in with all the watch and wait folks. Some were about to have another check wondering how the scan results were. I still haven’t done my scan , but did make an apt to see dr olgilvy in March ! In response to you all about exercise I never have changed anything I’ve done and when I first found out I exercised more vigorously than ever because I was pushing my fate I quess. A strange reaction I know. I also have blood pressure that jumps around. So still doing ok . Very grateful but always scared when it is scan time:)
Keep us posted, Kelly. I'm a watch and wait too. Will see Dr. Ogilvy after I stop breastfeeding my baby (can't have the procedure until then anyway). Probably will see him in August or September. I try to live a normal life and just forget about it, but some days it's hard.
Have any of you gotten a medical alert bracelet? If so, where did you get it? Does it make you feel calmer? Or does it just remind you everyday of the aneurysm?
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I had my angiogram in December. It was also to check on annie that ruptured (12 month follow up) and 6 month follow up for 2nd annie that was coiled, plus small, around 4mm being watched. All looked fine according to doc so my next angio is in 18 months. Im glad to have a break for a while.
kelly said:
Hey guys just checking in with all the watch and wait folks. Some were about to have another check wondering how the scan results were. I still haven't done my scan , but did make an apt to see dr olgilvy in March ! In response to you all about exercise I never have changed anything I've done and when I first found out I exercised more vigorously than ever because I was pushing my fate I quess. A strange reaction I know. I also have blood pressure that jumps around. So still doing ok . Very grateful but always scared when it is scan time:)
Had an aneurysm clipped by Dr. Oglivy 2 1/2 yrs ago. Have another smaller one on my carotid artery. 2mm. and he said unless I smoke, it'll probably not grow. Have an mra end of this year and then he said not another one for 5 yrs after that. I think I'll make it 2 yrs or 3 yrs. I'm a worrier. I try not to think about the clipped one and especially the other one. thats all you can do. Oh.....and you can live your life a little differently. We saved for one vacation a year. But this year last minute my daughter and her husband and my granddaughter asked us to go to disneyworld with them. I don't know how we'll swing it. Maybe work some more hours, but the old me would have said no. the new me....We are going!!Don't want to miss any opportunities, no regrets in life. Good luck to everyone!
First aneurysm has grown to 3-4 cm behind right eye. Second aneurysm 2-3 cm in left side of brain in speech area. I have been watching for a year. My regular doctor sending me to San Francisco for a second opinion. It is the second aneurysm that my neurosurgeon is at a higher risk to rupture. If that one grows at all, I am to have pipeline flow device. The first aneurysm he feels is not likely to rupture.
My husband has a 2 mm anterior communicating artery aneurysm. The thing with us is that he had an unruptured multi-lobed 6 mm aneurysm next to this small 2 mm one, and it ruptured during the coiling procedure. This was last February, and it led us to a 51 day hospital stay. So now we are more hesitant to treat the 2 mm aneurysm. We sent for a second opinion at Barrow, and were told that given the size of the aneurysm and my husband's fibromuscular dysplasia, they recommend clipping. I would like to take my husband around for a 3rd, 4th and 5th opinion and decide which is the best place for treatment for him.
Hi Kelly, I waited 5 years on a 4mm on left Internal Carotid Artery. I was on a once a year MRI. I have chronic miganes also. So we watched and waited. If you do this you can't constintly think about it. I know thats hard, but stressing about it is not good. Then one day I noticed that my headaches had changed. Went to Dr. and MRI showed growth of my lil cherry aneurysm and it hadfell over (?) That was 11/2009 I had it coiled 01/2011. I still have MRIs but every two years. It has shrank. Know coiling work and it's all good. We still have MRIs because both my mom and dad had them. Hope this helps.
I have a total of 6 aneurysms. One was coiled in 2005 (7 mm, basilar tip), The others are watch and waits! 1-5 mm right cavernous carotid, 1-5mm left cavernous carotid, 1-3mm right ophthalmic, 1-3mm left ophthalmic, 1-2mm left posterior. I've been blessed with no growth for 8 years, 'spose to go back in this year for monitoring, but not sure if I can due to insurance issues. I have continual headaches, but the "experts" say they are not related to the aneurysms. Most of the time I do fine, but nights like last night scare me, got a stiff neck for no known reason, and then my imagination takes off and I feel like a time bomb! It's good to see other posts with those who have gone a long time with no incidents.
Kelly,
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I was a watch and wait. My aneurysm was discovered quite by accident (or God's blessing, depending on one's outlook) in July 2012. My cardiologist was trying to find the cause(s) for my long-term sustained high blood pressure and had ordered an MRA. What we found was a 3 mm bulb aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery. The docs advised we get new pictures every 2 or 3 years to keep a close watch on it. I got my second films, a CT angiography, about 2 weeks ago and my little aneurysm has doubled in size to 6 mm.
I've been a basket case! My husband's mother dies less than a week before I got the CT results. He just lost his mom (on the 3rd anniversary of his papa's death), and now he is afraid he may lose me too. After two weeks of picking up and delivering my images to various neurological facilities, I finally got my appointment with the doc that will be doing my surgery. I cannot begin to describe the relief that I feel. We will meet with Doctor Joel MacDonald at the University of Utah Neurological Sciences Center in two days to determine which procedure will be the best option for me and schedule my surgery.
For me, this a victory worthy of celebration! We will be able to repair this little devil before it has a chance to rupture and begin my ascent to recovery. For my sweet husband, the appointment represents something else. It makes the situation/risk more real and I can see it in his temperament and in his posture that he is so afraid.
I have been scared out of my wits for the past 2 weeks, but now I know it will be alright. I pray that Doc MacDonald can help him to feel the same way during our appointment on Monday.
I have a 5 cm right internal carotid aneurysm now. 18 months ago(when it was found) it was 2 cm. after the last angio and a second opinion, I was told it was time to coil. I go in June 9th of this year for the procedure. Yep, I am scared, but blessed it was found and doctors feel it is an "easy" fix for an aneurysm. Good luck to you, Carol
Hey everyone (I did post that I finally had my MRA ) but figured I should post it here as well dragged it out till May, but results were everything stable! Not sure when or even if I will scan again . I am relieved and glad I checked . Hoping all are doing well and so appreciate this conversation. Feel free to contact me if I can be of help. Kelly
rhonda said:
I have a total of 6 aneurysms. One was coiled in 2005 (7 mm, basilar tip), The others are watch and waits! 1-5 mm right cavernous carotid, 1-5mm left cavernous carotid, 1-3mm right ophthalmic, 1-3mm left ophthalmic, 1-2mm left posterior. I've been blessed with no growth for 8 years, 'spose to go back in this year for monitoring, but not sure if I can due to insurance issues. I have continual headaches, but the "experts" say they are not related to the aneurysms. Most of the time I do fine, but nights like last night scare me, got a stiff neck for no known reason, and then my imagination takes off and I feel like a time bomb! It's good to see other posts with those who have gone a long time with no incidents.
I sincerely hope you are on meds to keep your blood pressure low. I have had at least 3 aneurysms identified 4 years ago, with no growth. Lucky. But also on meds for BP, which can help.
Janice
Hi, I am new to this group. I feel so lucky to find this site. Thank you for sharing your stories/insights!
I need help badly right now from any of you who has experience and/or thoughts about my case. I must make a decision in less than a week to decide if I should go through endovascular coiling procedures for my two unruptured brain aneurysms.
Three years ago I had a worst headache and lost consciousness for 30 minutes or so then recovered by itself. Three days later I saw my family doctor and did an MRA. Two brain aneurysms were detected. The doctors cannot be certain if that headache had anything to do with the aneurysms because I did not get it checked out within 48 hours. The BAs are 6 mm (ok shaped) and 4 mm (bad shaped).
I was too afraid to do the procedure even though my neurosurgeon recommended it. He also agreed to observe them by 6 months and then 12 months MRA.
There has been no change in the BAs in the past three years. But I have been having fear of their possible rupture and thinking whether I should get them coiled. Recently I heard my neurosurgeon who I trust is leaving for another state at the end of June 2020! I became freaking out and asked for the procedures before he leaves. He is kind to schedule it for me. I am very thankful. But Unexpected fear comes back to me. I am hesitating now! I am afraid it is a bad timing because of the pandemic. I am afraid there might be side effects of being coiled for the rest of my life, I am afraid the procedure might go wrong. I am afraid it is a bad decision because my aneurysms may never rupture. After all, only one rupture in 10,000 cases!
Need help! Thank you my new friends! By the way, I am 68 years old and healthy. I exercise daily for 1-2 hours.
My name is Virginia
Hi , the best thing would be to advice with your doctor . You are saying he recommended it in the past . What he is saying at this moment ? I would do coiling if my doctor recommends ( my aneurysm is on the watch ) ,but the time now is indeed difficult and risky due virus . I hope you have a chance to consult with doctors , what they think .
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