just found out

[bth1799]

i just found out last friday that i have a...6mm right posterier artery aneurysm. i am asking if anyone can give me info on this...brain or vein surgery. i live over 50 miles from a major hospital and my dr.s office is trying to get me to a dr. soon. the earliest the other "clinic" could even set me up for an appt. is next tuesday. i need all the info i can get. my family live in other states. thank you :confused: :confused:

[Craig]

Take a deep breath! The world has not ended even though it may look like it to you right now. Discovery is always a shock but many here will agree with me they you are an extremely lucky person. Many of us around here have only discovered there aneurisms after rupture which is a ugly complicated potentially devestating affair!

Rupture can sometimes be a life ending experience in fact lots either don't make it or end up with some deficit presented in many different ways. If you have discovered it before rupture there is no reason to think it will rupture any second. Many people have aneurisms and die from other natural causes. What you need to do now is consult closely with competent medical professionals as to what should be done if anything. I know it's rough but try and stay relaxed and keep a positive outlook. The normal course of treatment is coil or clip or monitor. Coiling is a relatively simple affair which is a usual overnight procedure with minimal recovery time required. The simple explanation is they enter your artery through your groin and send some platinum coils into the aneurism to fill it up and make stable. Sometimes due to location they cannot be coiled and must be clipped. This is far more evasive and recovery time is substantial. It requires entry via your skull so obviously it is more evasive. The other option is to simply monitor for growth and not to worry about it unless it shows growth. This is not a popular option since it can be difficult to accept a potential huge problem and do nothing proactive with it. Never the less it is a viable option for some.

I ruptured and have been coiled 3 times with one aneurism (sometimes the little guys are stubborn) and presently monitoring a second aneurism which cannot be coiled due to location. Take a deep breath and try not to panic or worry. We all know it's difficult and been where you are now. Chances are you are safe so relax until you get some expert opinions.

I hope I have helped a bit, I'm sure others can elaborate more...

Craig

[Craig]

I should quickly add that three procedures I mention are by far the most usual. There are other less popular but required procedures depending on your particular situation. Please don't forget your best source for medical advice is trained professionals but use this board for support and additional opinions, not expert advice. Many of us have been where you are and understand what a desperate situation it seems to be right now. Get comfortable, Iv'e been in the battle for 2 years and expect to be for a lot longer still. It gets easier with time.

Craig

[Nancy D]

I'm one of the unusual ones that has to have a bypass, harveseting another artery to bypass the artery with the annie. The surgery is scheduled in 7 1/2 days. I'm traveling 90 miles one way to get to the best teaching hospital with the best doctors in the area. After all, it is MY brain.

[FireflyR7]

:o I am so sorry to hear about your "Annie", you have come to the right place for answers and support!! I had a rupture with no warning June 05. I had to have 2 surgeries in Sept. & Oct. 05, I went undiagnosed for a while which added to complications. You are bery lucky they found it before it ruptured!! How did you find out you had one?? Headaches?? :confused: I know you are scared and have a lot of questions. I did a lot of research on the web. There is a book I highly reccomend, it is called "The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Workbook". It was very helpful to me & my family to understand everything about it! It even has exersizes (mental) for after your surgery to help guage your progress! You will prob experiance a lot of anxiety, don't be afraid to ask your Dr. for some xanax to help get you through!! I was allowed to take them the morning of my surgeries and the test. There is a lot of info. on this site if you click on the red sun symbol at the top right corner of the main page. I will keep you in my prayers and I hope they get you in soon!! Love Tricia / Firefly

[FireflyR7]

http://www.brainaneurysm.com/index.html

The next 2 are this sites info that I was looking for with the sun symbol

http://www.bafound.org/

http://www.bafound.org/info/index.php

I hope these help you, I printed out each section. Good luch hun Tricia/ Firefly

[hstupno]

Hi there,

I'm with the others...get the best possible care out there no matter where it is. I was lucky enough that the best guy here who did coiling was on vacation, but came back in to do mine. I feel he saved my life and it's all he does. The whole team here at Portland Maine Medical is fantastic and i'm so glad I was transferred here. You're lucky that you DO have the luxury of picking your care facility. I was rushed by ambulance from one ER to ICU and it could have saved my life.

It's treatable...remember that. There are some amazing Dr's out there and they can guide you. Thoughts and prayers are with you, I know it's very scary. I'm still in the hospital recovering from mine and I'm typing on a message board!! :-)

Heidi

[Kitty]

I agree with those who say that you are lucky to be able to pick your care a little. I ruptured May, 05 and was helicoptered to a teaching hospital that is a 4 hour drive from my home. It was worth it!! I had the best neurosurgeon and the best care in ICU. Good luck and we're all pulling for you. It isn't fun, but it's doable, we're all witnesses to that!!

I agree that you might ask your doctor for some xanax if you are very stressed. I know it's not easy to relax and wait. I had a total of 7 annies, and 3 surgeries. So there was some waiting involved. I got through it all;)

Kitty