Hi Jeanne,
Our stories are very similar. I sought medical help because I experienced some vision loss, which I thought was an eye problem. I was admitted for observation into the hospital in July, 2014. I was there three days. They did all kinds of tests on me and on an MRI found a 6 mm (now 7 mm) aneurysm. My vision cut right out diagonally in one eye and then came back. They found an aneurysm on the opposite side of my head. (not on the side with the vision problem).
Finding thus meant that another badly needed surgery, scheduled to be just days away, had to be put off six months. (I have Moderate to severe Spinal Stenosis and a herniated disk in my neck). Then my local neurologist suddenly quit his job and I had no one for my neck problem. The neck problem is still waiting.I have a primary care physician who does not want to medicate for pain. For some reason, he thought I could just assume that the aneurysm was stable and just get the neck surgery done.
I was told to a register at hospital in Boston, which is well known . It took them until the end of October, 2014 to see me. I was supposed to to meet with a Pediatric Neurosurgeon and an Interventionalist. The Neurosurgeon said that he didn't want to do surgery. The interventionalist never showed up. In his place was someone else from Radiology (quite young and silly) and an Nurse Practitioner. Coiling or waiting was suggested. I was not favorably impressed.
I then I made an appointment to see a Neurosurgeon at a hospital in a Boston suburb. It was entirely different. I expected to hear Coiling, but, much to my surprise, was offered Surgery. He had a MRA with Contrast done which showed that my aneurysm was now 7 mm because it was weakening, producing a "daughter" and was leaning toward the membrane which they do before rupturing. He said it is easy to get at. It means this will be done and over with. I won't be comfortable after I have it done, because my head will feel very heavy and I will want to keep taking naps. This, he says, is because my brain will have been disturbed.Then he went on to discuss risks.
So, this is no longer a completely stable aneurysm. Not that it will rupture real soon, but better to take care of it sooner, rather than later.
I have a history of high blood pressure, but have been on meds for years. My last BP reading was 118/68. I have had a history of migraines, but not that was years ago. I was pretty sick with them.One of my medications that I have been using for years is Verapamil. I'm wondering if you experienced was actually Vasospasm, because I was told that they often use Verapamil to treat it.
I was supposed to get this clipping done last week (01/14/2015) but developed an upper respiratory infection with a lot of post nasal problems and asthmatic coughing in December. I've had two rounds of antibiotics, and am now on prednisone until Sunday. They this will work, and surgery can be done on 01/21/2015.
The area where they will go in (over and in back of ear) to get at it..It is "near the distal ICA at the origin of the MI segment and the right posterior communicating artery." There it sits waiting for my neurosurgeon to clip this nuisance into non existence!
My hair probably will fall out. I've lost some before when I lost hormones, when I went through a house fire, etc. Why not now. Maybe I'll need a wig.
Curiosity questions....Does the plate in your head get really cold in the Winter? Colder than your skull? How did they get those staples out? It looks pretty scary and I know they are in a sensitive area.
Two comments. Thank you for writing and answering. I believe the only real peace with these is to turn these things completely over to Him, and not take it back. Being in a support group also is a great help. This is which is really beyond one's self to deal with. No matter how strong that person is.