Newbie...just scheduled surgery

[pandagurl]

I am so glad I found this site! I just found out I have a 4mm aneurysm on my anterior communicating artery. Everything I've read says that this is a small aneurysm, but my neorosurgeon said that its considered a problem since it is located on a smaller artery. Has anyone else heard this before? I just had an angiogram to confirm everything and he said it does need to be clipped, its the wrong shape to coil. So, I went ahead and scheduled the surgery for October 8. I'm going to get a second opinion before the surgery. I'm really freaked out about the thought of brain surgery. So, I'm really glad I found this site and can read about how other surgeries went. I deal with stuff better when I have an idea of what to expect.

Angie :)

[TitaniumCranium]

Hi Angie -
Sorry about the annie but welcome to the site. Very supportive group and you will receive a lot of info, hugs, website and friends. I had my 3rd clipping surgery 2 months ago. I am very tired right now but will come back to talk to you soon. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Lori (T.C.)

[pandagurl]

Thanks Lori! I hope you get some rest and start feeling better. When you are up to it, I'd like to know more about what I should expect. Thanks! :o

[FireflyR7]

*bunch Hi Sweetie and welcome to the site!! I am Tricia, I am very happy you found us!! There are so many wonderful people here who will help you so much!! ;) Many of us have been on here for years. I was so happy when I found the site!! It helps so much to have people who understand what you are going through and feeling, to help you through and ask questions!!

*smallrose I am so sorry about your aneurysm!!! I know it is very scary in the begining!! We will be here for you!! ;)
How did you find out you had one?? Were you having symptoms?? When did you find out? What side is it on? If you don't mind me asking???? :o

Your surgery is very soon, so at least you don't have to wait a long time to get it taken care of!! Waiting is one of the hardest parts!! I know that the thought of brain surgery is a shock to the system. Getting a 2nd opinion is a good idea. The most important thing is to pick who is the most qualified Dr., and the one you feel comfortable with!! You have the right to the best surgeon you can find!! It is your body and they are working for you! And I might add, making a very good amount of money doing it! Even if you have to change your surgery date and hosptials. I found my own NS and he was awesome!!! :D

I had a 4mm rupture, next to my left optical artery 2 years ago. Mine was stented and coiled.
Coiling is a lot different than clipping, due to the crainiotomy. It seem like either way the recovery time is about the same. Usually more if you have a rupture.

General info. & tips :
You will be taken in and get dressed into your pretty little gown. :p Sign papers, go over a few things... Then taken to the Anestesiologist room and you will talk with him/her and get your IV set up with a little relaxant in it. Then when all is go, they will put some "happy juice" in your IV and the next thing you know, you are waking up in recovery. ;)
You will be taken to the ICU after the surgery is over and you are released from the recovery room. You will be hooked up to I'vs, monitors... when you wake up. You can't get out of the bed. A good thing to take with you is some face wipes with you, I just use the baby wipes. Very handy for wiping off your face or hands. I took some wintogreen lifesavers, you will have dry mouth bad! It also helped my nausia! It is good to drink a a lot of water to flush out all the med's, dye's, anestetic... You will have a cathiter and be on pain med's... You may want to take a hand held game or book? I took word circle books and a hand help little poker game.
Hopefully you will get to sleep in between the nurses doing their regular neuro. checks... They have to do it every so many hours. It depends on how well you are doing as to how long you will be in ICU, every aneurysm is different!!
I was moved from ICU and moved into a room when I was physically ready, then released the next day. I was there 4 or 5 days for my first surgery?? 3-4 for my second one?? Some are out of the hopsital in just a few days, unless it was a compicated surgery or they had to go to the PT floor??? Like I said everyone is different??

When you get home, you can't lift, strain in any way... ( You may need to buy some stool softeners for the medications, can cause constipation. You don't want to strain that way either!! )
The hospital will give you instructions. You should have someone at home with you all the time for a while depending on how well you are doing? Don't be afraid to ask family and friends for help!!! To cook meals, do laundry and take good care of you!! :) You will just need lots of rest, sleep & TLC.
You prob. will spend a lot of time in bed sleeping for a while. It is very important to get good sleep for your brain to heal!! You may get very fatigued easily for a while, it is normal. (Try to stay away from caffien and soda's.) Water and juices are better, I tried to eat a lot of fruit too!

I hope this was some help?? Feel free to ask us anything, that's why we are here and support!!
I will be keeping you in my prayers hun! *cross

Please keep us posted, and take care! God bless you hun, you are in my prayers!! Tricia!!

*cg20

[pandagurl]

Thank you so much firefly! All that information is so good to know. Here's some more details on my situation.

I'll be 33 on my birthday tomorrow. I have a 2 1/2 yr old boy and have been married for over 6 years. I work full time and I go to school full time to finish my bachelors in accounting. Two months ago I was 100 pounds overweight and feeling really uncomfortable with that. So, I started eating about 500 cals less a day and started taking swimming lessons at the local Y. I am now 24 pounds lighter and still losing! I started having severe headaches shortly after I started making changes in my healthy lifestyle. I had an appointment with my nepherologist because of I have polycystic kidney disease and need to see him yearly. I mentioned the headaches. He said that people with PKD should take headaches seriously because they have an increased risk of aneurysm. So, I went to see my family doctor and requested an MRI/MRA. My family doctor thought I had migraines, but agreed that the tests were best to be on the safe side. The MRA came back saying there was a possible small aneurysm. My family doctor said that it would probably be something that is just montiored and watched to see if it grows, and he referred me to a neurosurgeon. My NS specializes in aneurysms. He said that the anterior communicating artery where my aneurysm is, is a small artery (about 2mm wide) in the front middle of my head (he pointed to the middle of the forhead). He said my aneurysm is 4mm wide, so its twice as big as the artery and therefore needs to be treated. He said the shape of it would prevent coiling. We did an angiogram just to confirm everything last Friday (8/24). It was a terrible experience! I was supposed to be awake, but not feeling anything and pretty well sedated and if I fell asleep it would be okay. Turns out the pain meds they used didn't work on me for some unexplained reason. So, I was awake and uncomfortable the whole time. At the end when they closed the artery, I felt everything and screamed and cried as they tried to calm me down as my crying was making it bleed more. Needless to say, my NS promised if I ever have one again, he'll put me under. Anyway, the results confirmed everything he originally told me. So, he said it needs to be clipped and I scheduled the surgery. I am getting a second opinion because everything I've read about aneurysms says that small aneurysms might not need surgery because the risks of surgery are much greater than the risks of it rupturing. My NS said that's because most aneurysms are in much larger arteries than mine. This makes sense and may be true, but I want to confirm with someone else. I live in the Nashville area. My NS is at Vanderbilt Hospital, which is well-known to be a good hospital. I'm getting the second opinion from another NS that specializes in aneurysms at Baptist Hopsital. I'll keep you all updated.

This may be more info that you needed, so I apologize. Thanks so much for your kind words and information. :)

[ChrisC]

Pandagurl, welcome to the site - it's full of wonderful people with extensive experience with aneurysms.

Aneurysms of ANY size are not to be ignored. It's sometimes not the size, but the weakness of the walls. Several people on this board have had small aneurysms rupture and cause problems. If they can find it before it ruptures, (usually by looking for something else and the annie is an incidental finding!) they can make a good detailed plan to fix it in the best way possible for you. It's a much better recovery because your brain just has the surgery to deal with, not the aftereffects of the blood inside the brain, where it shouldn't be.

Second opinions are always good, if nothing else than to justify the first opinion! Go with the surgeon that you trust the most - and you will know which one it is just by your gut instincts. The most important thing right now is to take one day at a time, think VERY positively and know that they found it so they could fix it. We're all here for you and we'll be sending our prayers that your surgery goes well and you'll be on the mend in no time!

[goldie411]

Hi Pandagurl, welcome to the site..sorry to hear about your annie...second opinions are always nice, it puts your mind at ease. I had a rupture of my anterior communicating artery 3 years ago..although mine was able to be coiled..then coiled again, then stent placed with more coils..this seems like it has been going on forever..I'm greatfull to be here though!! Mine was a 5 mm but, it must of been a different shape than yours..my doctor really didn't specify what shape mine was...when I saw it on the exray it just looked like a bubble..Wishing you the very best, please let us know how the second opinion goes...take good care Cindy

[pandagurl]

Thanks Chris and Cindy.

Cindy, hearing that you had an aneurysm that was 5mm in the same artery as mine, makes me really glad that I'm getting my 4mm one taken care of now. At first when the NS's nurse was telling me how lucky I was, I was thinking that she's crazy. How can I be lucky? I have to have brain surgery! But, the more I read about ruptures, the more I realize how lucky I really am. My NS said that my headaches probably aren't related to my anneurysm, but he said some patients have their headaches go away after surgery anyway. Now I'm kinda thankful for the headaches (well, easy to say while I'm not having one!) cause without them I might be dealing with surgery after a rupture.

Thanks everyone, as the surgery nears, I will probably be finding your support and survivor stories even more important!

Angie :)

[goldie411]

Angie, we will be here for you whenever you need a shoulder to lean on..hope all goes great with your surgery..take care Cindy

[Nippet]

I too have an aneurysm on my anterior communicating artery. Mine was coiled the first time May 2001 and recoiled and 2 stents placed this past July. I also had headaches and had an MRI which is how they found the aneurysm. My headaches have gotten a lot better since the oringinal coiling and hope yours will too.

[tink]

Hi Angie! Welcome to the site! I wish you didn't have to be here with us, but these are a great bunch of people! You are lucky that they found your aneurysm and they can do something about it. I had a 9mm annie that ruptured on my right posterior communicating artery. I had no idea that I had an aneurysm. I had 2 clippings. I know that words "brain surgery" sounds so scary, but it really is not that bad. They keep you so drugged up that you really don't know what is going on. They want to keep you quiet nad keep the stimulation to your brain at a minimum. They kept me very comfortable once I came out of the coma. My situation was so different because my annie ruptured and I had a stroke. You are fortunate in so far as they found your annie and can do something about it. I can sit here and tell you not to be afraid, but you still will be and that is perfectly NORMAL. I wish you all the best and I will keep you in my prayers.

Lori

[tink]

Hi Angie! Welcome to the site. So sorry you have to be here in the first place. I had a 9mm aneurysm on the right posterior communicating artery that ruptured. I had 2 clippings on it nad I am thankful to be alive. I had 2 brain surgeries and they weren't that bad. They keep you do drugged up you really don't know what's going on. They want to keep you quiet the first several days. They kept me very comfortable and I can honestly say that the whole time I was in the hospital, there was never a time when I could say I was suffering in terrible pain. You are fortunate, they found your annie and can do something about it. In a few months, this will be nothing but a bad memory and you will be going on with your life--- healthy instead of having a time bomb in your head. I know the words "brain surgery" are scary, they still scare me to tell you the honest truth. It's amazing the inner strength you find that you never even knew you had, and you make it through. You're young with a wonderful life ahead. I can tell you not to be afraid, but you still will be and that is perfectly NORMAL. I can only tell you from my experience that it was not that bad. I do wish you all the best. Please keep us posted and I will be keeping you in my prayers.

Love,
Lori

[sarahin]

Angie,
Welcome to the forum. I had a 6mm posterior annie clipped in March and have a 11mm untreated annie that I have different opinions on treatment vs monitoring. Positon can make a difference. If you read back through the old posts I think you'll get a good idea of the what it has been like for others to go through the finding, treatment, and recovery from the clipping of unruptured annies. I think it will actually make you feel better. It's the unknown that really scares the heck out of you. I wish I had found this site before my surgery. Let us know how you are doing. If you didn't feel crazy at this point, then, well, that would be crazy. Hang in there.
Sarah

[tink]

Angie, welcome to the site. I'm so sorry that you have to be here with us. I am glad that your aneurysm was found. Your doctors sound very good and knowledgable. The surgery itself isn't that bad. Unfortunately, I had a 9mm aneurysm on the right posterior communicating artery that ruptured. I had to have 2 clippings. The first one I don't remember at all because I was in a coma. The second one I do. They keep you so drugged up that you realy don't feel anything. They want you to rest and also want to rest the brain. I can honestly say that in the time that I can remember, I was never in pain. I would ring for the nurse and they were right there. My incision is underneath my hairline, so you can't even see it. When I came home I was really fatigued. This is very normal. Just tell everyone that this is your time to be the pampered princess. Don't expect too much too soon. It's normal to be afraid, but try to focus on the fact that your surgery date is the first day of the rest of your life! Happy Belated Birthday! You will be in my prayers.

Love,
Lori

[heartland]

Hi Angie and welcome to the site. Great bunch of folks and a lot of support and information to help you through your Annie experience. Can't add much more to what's already been said, but wanted to say "Hi" and Happy belated Birthday.

Lisa

[pandagurl]

Thanks all! My birthday was pretty good. I've lost some weight, so I went shopping for my birthday and I am down two sizes! Its frustrating that I was just starting to get a more healthy lifestyle going and I found out that I have an aneurysm. In the past few weeks I have gone through depression, fear, and denial since I found out. I guess I am dealing okay. I am feeling more and more greatful as I read all the rupture stories on this site. I'm very thankful that my doctors found this problem and can fix it before the rupture.

I have a question. My NS told me that I might be out of work for anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks depending on how I recover. I know that everyone is different, but I am wondering how long other people that had surgery on unruptured aneurysms were out of work. I work an office job that is pretty stressful and requires a lot mentally, but not very physical. I am just wondering what to expect.

Thanks all!
Angie :)

[sarahin]

Angie,
You are having a clipping, right? I can only tell you that I pretty well slept for the first month. My first follow up appointment was in 6 weeks and I might have been released to return to work at that point, but I had some neurological issues post-op. I ended up going to therapy for the next 6 weeks and returned to work after 3 months. Fatigue and brain fog made things very hard at work. Everyone's recovery is different. I'm sure you'll get a lot of feedback on this point. I have never heard of anyone returning to work two weeks after a clipping. I wasn't allowed to drive for six weeks. Make sure you are ready to get back to the workplace and consider working part time the first couple of weeks. I know now that I returned too soon and a new coworker has not been very understanding of my current, but hopefully temporary, need to focus on one thing at a time. I'd count on being home for at least six weeks. I'm interested in seeing the soonest return to work that anyone that replies has had. Best of luck during the clipping. I over-estimated how bad the surgery would be and and under-estimated my recovery time. Recovery has been slooow and steady.
Sarah

[FireflyR7]

*bunch Happy belated B-day sweetie!! :D I know it is difficult to deal with all of this and all of the emotions you are feeling are normal! You are very lucky they found it before it ruptured though! I had a near fatal rupture, I had mine stented and coiled so I can't speak from a clipping point of view. But, it seems like a lot of people who have clippings have healed faster than myself due to my complications and lack of immediate care. (long story) Anyway, I am 2 years post surgeries this month and next month. I am getting better all the time but, am still pretty much homebound. I am not the norm though. I was a firefighter until my rupture, with no warning. Everyone is different and obviously a rupture complicates things a bit!!
I would imagine you will be off for a while to heal, The brain just takes a little longer to heal than most things. Sleep and rest is the best thing you can do after your surgery. Your body will let you know when you are ready to start doing things again. Don't be in any hurry, you will need to heal in your own time and your own way!! Everyone is different so there are no set times for recovery. Only you will know how you feel, so don't let the Dr's try to rush you into going back to work. Listen to your body, it will let you know!! ;) You might want to get some family and friends to help you out when you get home. To help take care of you, cook, clean... I am very lucky, I had a lot of people to help me.

Do you have a date for your surgery?? I will be keeping you in my prayers!! We are here for you to help you get through it all. :D Take care and keep us posted!! We are here if you need to talk about your fears, answer questons... You are not alone here!!! We have all been through the emotions... God bless you hun, you just have to have faith!! ;) You are in our prayers!! Tricia

*cg20

[pandagurl]

I also think that two weeks is a bit early to be going back to work. I get the feeling that this recovery is going to be harder than my doctor keeps acting like it will. But, I think it will be hard to not rush back to work. I do not have any vacation time saved up because I have been dealing with migraines and doctor appointments. I do not have any short-term disability benefits. So, my recovery time will be unpaid time off. Add that to the expense of the surgery (I'm sure my insurance is not going to cover all of it), and I will really need to get back asap. That is my financial reality. So, I am sure I will feel the financial pressures to get back to work. I am worried that I might end up going back before I'm ready. I told my boss that I will be out for 6 weeks. I hope that I feel well enough before then though.

My surgery is on October 8. My dad and his wife and my sister are all traveling here to Nashville from New Mexico to help out after my surgery. I have a 2 yr old son and taking care of both of us would be way to much for my hubby. I feel a lot more relaxed knowing that they will be here. I will have less to worry about as I recover. They have said that they can stay for 3 weeks. We also have some friends that have offered help, babysitting, and meals for us. So, I think we will be okay. I have noticed that when I mention this upcoming surgery to friends and family, they are eager to offer support. So, I have made a list of people we can call when we need something. Whenever someone offers to help or says to let them know if we need anything, I add them to the list. I did the same thing when I was pregnant, and it really came in handy because I ended up having an emergency c-section and a premature baby. Whenever we needed some help, we would just start calling on the list, and we always found someone to help out with a ride to the doctor, a meal brought to the hospital, etc.

[FireflyR7]

It sounds like you have a good support group around you!! :) That means a lot!! I was very lucky to have lots of help too! I hope you can focus on healing and not worry about bills... Some hospitals are willing to write off some of the bills and work with you on payments!! But, most important is your health and recovery!! God has a way of making things work out, so just put your faith in him!! He has continued to provide for us as we enter the 2 year mark! Everytime we think things are tight, he does something to fill the void!! :) You just have to put it in his hands and keep the faith!!
I hope you can think about your recovery and taking care of yourself after the surgery! That is what is most important!! Since you have not had a rupture, you could heal very quickly!! Some have done very well and back to a normal life in no time!! Hopefully that will be the case for you too!!
It is normal to be afraid and emotional as you go through this!! We have all been there and know how you feel! :o We are here to talk anytime you need too!!! Waiting for surgery is difficult, try to surround yourself with loved ones and do things you love & pamper yourself! ;) I will be keeping you in my prayers! God bless you hun!!! Tricia

[pandagurl]

I am sure that things will work out, and my faith is strong. I'm convinced that God is puting me through this as a way to turn me back to Him. If only I could be a better follower and never leave because I hate it when He does this to me! ;)

[wendyv]

hAVE THE SURGERY FIND THE BEST NEURO SURGEON YOU CAN BUT THE CHANCES OF RUPTURE ARE HIGH MY HUSBANDS WAS 5MM AND VERY NEARLY KILLED HIM THE EFFECTS OF RUPTURE AND BLEEDING ARE SO DEVASTATING DO NOT TAKE THAT CHANCE. RICHARDS WAS ALSO ANTERIOR COMMUNICATING ARTERY. I KNOW YOU ARE SCARED BUT BELIEVE ME SURVIVING A RUPTURED IS HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE

[pandagurl]

Thank you Wendy. I know that I'm having the surgery. I have read the stories of rupture on here and I know that I have to have the surgery. I am still waiting for my second opinion, but I seriously doubt it will change anything. I'm scared, but I am also blessed that this was found. I'm truly one of the lucky ones on here and I know that now.

I am praying for your husband. Don't give it up on him because he can get better. The stories of survival on this site are amazing!

Angie

[wendyv]

Angie
Thanks for the prayers. You will also be in ours. Richard is recovering really well but it as been a living hell for almost 2 years the likes of which I would not want anyone to go thru if it could be prevented. Best of luck wendy

[FireflyR7]

;) I feel that God did this to bring me back to him also!! :D I am glad that you have the faith and will be keeping you in my prayers!! It is normal to be afraid, we will be here for you if you need to talk or answer questions!! I know waiting for the surgery is nerve racking!!! Getting a second opinion never hurts!! It will help them to plan your surgery and give them more info. to go on!! I had trouble getting diagnosed after a rupture and my second opinion saved my life!! :D We have all been there and understand how you feel!! We are here for you hun and keeping you in our prayers!! ;) Tricia

Wendy, it is good to hear from you and that Richard is coming along so well now!! :D It has been a hard 2 years for myself and my family also! I know you have been through a lot with Richard, God bless you for your patients and care!! Sometimes I think it is harder on the caretaker?? You have both been in my prayers! I hope that he continues to recover more as time goes on!! ;) Sounds like we are healing about the same pace?? Take care and please keep us posted!! As always in my prayers!! Tricia

[Carrie - Walpole]

Hi Pandagurl,

I'm new to this forum but I wanted to see how you are doing. I, too, have PKD and was diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm. I've been told by my NS that he would lean towards treating it now. I'm probably going to schedule something soon. Can you let me know how you are doing?

Thanks,
Carrie