Hi, gk79, Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and opinions with me! It means a lot to me because in three days I will meet with my neurosurgeon!
By the way, Do you know the rupture rate of the ba patients? My struggling is that if the rate is very low and my case is either/or, I may not have to go through the procedures? The procedure itself has an average risk of 1-3% I heard. My neurosurgeon assured me his risk is lower than the national average.
Look forward to hear from you and others again!
Virginia
I donāt know the rapture rate , but I feel there is more risks: car accident , stressful situation , head injury that can easily cause the rapture . In my situation , the aneurysm is on the watch , but I havenāt been feeling great last 5 years ,fatigue , tinnitus, headeches , etc . So I would do the treatment I think in my case if doctor offers so . My check up will be in fall . Have you talked to your doctor ?
I had a MRI on March16th, 2020. Reason for MRI was to rule out MS. I have some eye issues ongoing for awhile now. Anyways the MRI found a cerebral aneurysm! At that moment, my life changed. I was told to go directly to the ER. I went and all they did was referred me to a neurosurgeon, not a neurologist. That made me nervous. I had a week to wait to see the neurosurgeon, plus we were placed "Stay at Home orders from covid-19 and non essentials businesses were closed. My stress and anxiety rose. I saw my family doctor and she put me on meds for high blood pressure. Did not know it was an issue as many times as doctors and nurses checked my blood pressure. Stressing! Saw the surgeon and he said looks small maybe 3mm. Lets do a CT scan and probably monitor the aneurysm. Ct was done that same day. I received a call before I got back home. Which was only 20 minutes away. They ordered a angiogram for the following week and mentioned discussing treatment, coiling or clipping. After the angiogram they determined a 8 mm irregularly shaped unruptured ACOM. . A craniotomy for clipping of the complex aneurysm was therefore recommended, scheduled 5 days later. All this happened in less then a month. It has now been 2 months since they clipped the aneurysm with 3 clips. I mentally feel different still today.
Welcome klein11! Wow arenāt you lucky! It seems like the stars aligned all in the best of order for you. I believe itās much better to have an aneurysm stabilized prior to rupture than having one rupture, but thatās me. When you say you feel mentally different, what do you mean?
Janice,
Iāve been having major trouble with high bp for the last few months, finally just in the last week itās decent (120ās/80ās) Iām really feeling paranoid and trying to get an appointment with a vascular neurologist, theyāre 'spose to call by next week.
What size are your aneurysms? Have you had any treated before?
Virginia,
I had a 7mm coiled in 2005, it wasnāt a hard proceedure to go through and it has been stable since. I am now 63 years old and in good health. I have 5 other aneurysms and have been fighting high blood pressure, Iām hoping to get the two that are 5mm coiled, think it would be worth doing just for the stress relief. Would much rather have unruptured ones coiled than take the chance of a rupture. I think the fear of high bp and rupturing probably contributes to the high bp.
My best advice would be to spend time in prayer and listen to your Drs. advice.
Thanks for responding. When I say I feel different is I found myself separating myself from everyone. I feel somewhat better. Every week is one more week to full recovery. I now get stiff neck and pressure on the side of my head where they made the cut to enter to clip.
Thank you klein11. After I ruptured and was finally released from Neuro ICU, it took me months to be able to be around people. My parents were still alive and they babysat me. Their tv was too loud, the house too bright and it hurt. After a couple of months, we finally went out to eat breakfast with friends. I was overwhelmed when the place filled up. My tremor and speech issues escalated. We learned to make sure I sat with my back to the sun, to sit outside whenever possible, etc. It took time, a lot of time. Even though I was never a social butterfly, we gradually increased our outings. Not just the number, but the length and group size. It takes practice. It can be very difficult during this pandemic to practice, but itās something we need to do. Of course if you venture out, where a mask, wash your hands, remember social distancing. Use FaceTime, Skype, Zoom etc to have visual contact while talking. Try the groups that BAF is doing with Zoom and their other online interaction. Get a hobby and interact with internet groups concerning that hobby. As humans, we are gregarious, meaning we do better with others, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Make life more than your aneurysm. Keep in touch, please!
Thanks for responding. I am feeling better. I guess 2 months in recovery for me was the hardest, even when I started back to work. Still on the mend but feeling much better in every way. You canāt even tell I had 32 staples down the right side of my head.
Happy dancing youāre feeling better! And back to work! Thatās really, really good news. I realize working can be exhausting, but check in with us every now and then please.
Yes you are right in top Neuro Surgeons in Boston.
I wouldnāt think twice about having surgery with Dr. Ogilvy. I would rather have surgery than watch and go through all those emotions mine was done a mgh before he went to Beth Iseral. My also was small 3mm and was a wide neck but wanted to leak upon surgery. Glad I made the choice i have one in my canverious sinus which is unoperable , . Dr Ogilvy doesnāt forget a name and his nurse Dede is wonderful to. Still visit him and Dede when Iām in the building.Yes heās one of the top in country. His personality is like a neighbor next store. Lucky if you have him.
I have a 7.5 mm aneurysm and having treatment (coiling or web) August 12. Assuming & praying all goes well, how can I expect to feel after surgery and during recovery? My anxiety was so bad, Iām on an antidepressant now and feeling less anxious. Also trying to keep my blood pressure down. Thanks for any advice.
Craniotomy - 7-8mm wide left CTA done 11/7/2017
Other than itchy scalp, I can say that I am forgetting all about my surgery.
Thank God for everything.
Wishing you all the best on the way to the recovery and find your new life after your treatment (whether surgery, coiling, or waiting).
Mine was very similar I had a pipe line repaired at Washington Hospital Center 5 years ago in February. Iām on 81 mg Aspirin daily dosage. I still Bruce very easily.
