Im curious what your doctor told you about risks and potential side effects. Please include your age and aneurysm size/location-thanks!
Hi Kit...Have you checked the BAF website for the risks and side effects of clipping? www.Bafound.org
In the meantime, I will share with our members to get a wider base...again ... good luck to you and sending out positive thoughts your way ~ Colleen
Hi Kit. I was 27 at time of clipping (37 now). It was 8mm at bifurcation of right internal carotid artery. My surgeon and the interventional radiologist (coil doctor) both advised the risks for me were lower with clipping. The chance of bad outcome was less than 5% and they were close to 100% confident they could clip without complication. Glad to answer more if helpful. What is your diagnosis?
Hi Kit,
I am not sure my experience will help you. I suffered a ruptured aneurysm in the right PICA area-lower right base of brain, over the brain stem. I was 52 years of age at the time.
The doctors tried to coil it first; however, that was not a successful option. Their next option was to clip it. I was in a coma at the time. My family said that the doctors wanted to wait until I came out of the coma to do the surgery; however, they told the family that I might not survive it. Then my family questioned why they just did not perform the surgery now? Either I would survive or I would not; however why put me back in a clinically induced coma-which they said they needed to do as the brain was so agitated- to do the surgery after I just came out of one?
So, the clipping was done. I also have a shunt, which the doctors are thinking is really no longer needed. However, they will not touch that.
I do not ever remember hearing in all the follow-up visits, any potential side effects from the clipping. I do have side effects from the aneurysm. I view them as my souvenir from the event-many unwelcome, I may add.
Hi!! I was 40… 42 now and life is better than before. 13mm top right, clipping. 100% gone!!!
I was in a life-and-death situation in the emergency room and there was no discussion of risks or side effects, just survival. They didn't give my husband great odds because my right posterior communicating artery aneurysm had hemorrhaged already. About 30% survival relatively intact, 30% survival with severe disability and 30% not surviving. No options other than clipping were given. Next stop, the OR.
i was never told what size was the clipping. I was clipped because of the bleed and stroke. I seen neurosurgeon only once after coming out of a 5-week coma. On my first and last visit to neuro office, I was told by PA i was healed and never have to come back. never told of any side effects. TY
Dear Kit34’
My brain aneurysm was found by MRI before it could rupture. My neurosurgeon clipped the aneurysm, as the opening was too large for coiling, at least in 1999. He said there was a 15 per cent chance that I would stroke out or die during surgery. This meant that there would be an 85 per cent chance I would be fine. My aneurysm was classified as “giant” and ruptured during surgery. In the weeks following surgery, I had a cerebral spinal fluid leak. This was corrected with a second surgery four weeks after the first surgery. I have been fine ever since. The surgeon placed two clips on the aneurysm. I hope this helps. I was 58 at the time. I am 74 now. There have been no side effects. In 2008 I had an aortic aneurysm, which was repaired with an endovascular implant.
David Andrus
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Hi. My Aneurysm ruptured and was on the Basilar artery. I was unconscious just before my clipping so I was not told the size of it or my odds but my family was present and from what they told me due to where my aneurysm was and the amount of blood that had been lost the odds of me coming out alive were less than 25% and the odds of me coming out the same person with no disabilities was even less.
I had a great Neurosurgeon and I came out of the surgery with no complications. I will say this. After doing some research be glad your being clipped rather than coiled. I have seen and heard stories about coiling and the patient ends up going back in for some other procedure related to the coiling later. Clipping is more invasive but its permanent (one and done)
Just my two cents.
Peter Wilson
My annie was 8mm x 7mm with a 2.5mm neck, right ICA, I was told by the neuroradiologist and neurosurgeon that mine could either be clipped or coiled, I chose clipping as I simply could not wrap my head around coiling, I dont know why but I had it in my head that there was still a chance of a bleed if I had it coiled.
myneurosugeon that I see here in Melbourne Australia told me that there was a risk of stroke and disability that could he caused by the surgery, thankfully I am ok.
I am now 3 1/2 years post surgery and the only things I notice that still bother me is pain where they cut the muscle at the side near the temple area I guess, and my memory still isnt the best, well not like it use to be.
I go for another scan next month to see if there is any more (gee I hope not) and then I see my neurosurgeon again in November.
I guess the way I looked at things when I went in for my clipping sugery was every operation isnt without risks, but I much rather annie under control than wondering if it was going to bleed on any given day.
hope this helped
regards
Narelle
Hi…I was 37 when I had a 7mm clipped on my right side…it was unruptured…in ct it was said to only be a 4mm…but once inside it was much bigger and had a sister annie on it.I still have side effects…short term memory loss but not all the time…everytime it thunders my head hurts because of barametric pressure…my balance is still off…I like to work out and when I do lunges its hard to stay balanced…I’m tired more.I’m shocked when people say they are 100 percent afterwards…the surgeon is in your brain messing with your control panel.I may look totally fine and have learned to act like it so I can keep doing what I use to do but the effects are stil there in some form…even if minor…as of now my latest ct shows I have 3 more on left side now that we are watching! Good luck with your surgery!
Hello there Kit.
- Hello I'm Ricky..celebrated my 20th Bday on Dec9..On Dec15 I had an Rupture Anuresym left side of my head,I wasn't told what size because I had 95% chance to survive so they did clip/Coil procedures. IF i do covery I would have to learn who to walk/talk everything like a new Baby and allot of Meds..I walked out of the Hospital on Jan25 Where Doctors/Nurses are still puzzled. Now I 32 still have memory problems and get confused easily if my day not plan,Headaces etc.
Hello Kit:)
I was 37yrs when it happened.
Before, I had my best job, drive all day, and everything else.
After, I passed out two time while getting ready for work. I had a B.A., Stroke, Aphasia, Memory Loss & Vision Loss. I didn't get my size with my clip but rupture cerebral artery. The job I had and they let me go, I can drive but not in the night time. I always smack my legs & feet and squash the dogs and cats on accident:). I talk different but it's better then nothing. I like my self and I'm glad that I am still here:)
Thank you for questions and I hope you will be great:)
My annie was 10mmx7mm left MCA.
My age at the time was 48, my Surgeon told me before the clipping it would be 90% success rate.
Possible side affects 1% risk of seizures (to date none) my operation was on the 26th November 2013.
Oh yes forgot to mention March 2014 I had a CVA stroke and was discharded from Hospital the next day with no deficit.
Now on meds that include Clopidogrel (Plavix) and Simvastatin.
They wanted to stent/coil mine because of the tubular shape… It is in the rt carotid artery in the circle of willis. It is very near the optic nerve. I was told with clipping…it is very invasive…could cause blindness, deafness or both. Since the neuro sent me right to a stent/coil specialist…it is the way we went and I felt very lucky that this procedure could be done. I hope this didn’t frighten you…just is my story…
Mine ruptured so I didnt have the option of having a conversation with my Dr. to get the chances etc. I was given all that info after I came out of surgery and the hospital. The main side effect for me was being chronically tired for 6-8 months. I slept a lot. However my Dr. told me that sleep would be your friend and alcohol your enemy, and boy was he right. After 2 drinks now I start to get a headache. And beer does it to me quicker than wine or whiskey.
Hope that helps.
Peter
I have a 4mm MCA aneurysm, and the risks are 1%. Of what- I don't know. I have a consent appointment on October 22nd and my surgery is on October 28th. Ideally I'd have more information sooner, so that's why I have all the questions!
That's amazing- any side effects?
What an amazing story. What hospital were you at? I'm in Toronto (my surgery will be at Toronto Western)
Hi Narelle,
My aneurysm is wide necked and coiling is not an option. But I agree with you- I would still feel paranoid about bleeding with coiling. At least the clipping is more permanent.
Have you managed to work despite your memory issues?