4mm Aneurysm

[Mommy_2_1]

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed last year with a 4mm aneurysm - left internal carotid at its termination (I am 37). My mom passed away from a 10mm ruptured aneurysm years ago (she was 33).

My question is - has anyone had an aneurysm that small that has ruptured? I've been told it's small and the risks of surgery outweigh the odds of it rupturing, so we have MRI's every 6-8 months. So far no change.

Thank you!

[nicole73101]

Hi, I am 38 and was diagnosed last June with a 3mm aneurysm on my left MCA. It is suspected that my Grandmother died from a ruptured aneurysm in 1995. My mom is just now going for a MRA scan. I too have been told that the risk of rupture is small and am being monitored with a CTA scan every six months. It is very difficult for me to live with-knowing it is there and the risk of rupture may increase over time (I have two small children). I think the aneurysms can rupture at any size-feel free to send me a private email if you would like to talk more.

Nicole

[svalmor]

I was recently diagnosed w/3mm annie behind right eye. NS gave me option of waiting and checking with CTA in 6 months, or having it clipped. I hate the thought of having this thing in me and am leaning toward getting it clipped in May. However, I keep freakin' out thinking it may rupture at any time. I've been told it's small and the chances are slim of that happening. I will be going for a 2nd opinion next Tuesday. I hope to have more info then.

I'll pray for you. I know this is a very scary thing. :eek:

God bless,

Sandy

[Tricia1271]

I have two small brain anuerysms and I am 37 years old. I don't have any children, but I would like have the opportunity to find love and start a family. My anuerysms were found incidentally during an MRI 2 years ago.

One of my anuerysms is located behind my left eye and the other is smack in the middle of my brain between my eyes. One anuerysm is about 2mm and the other is 3-4 mm. My mother had a 10mm anuerysm coiled in Feb. '08. I was diagnosed before my mother which is what made her doctor take her headaches more seriously. Initially the doctors told me to take a wait-n-see approach. Now, they are telling me "it's a personal decision", but my chances of rupture are about the same as a person with a larger anuerysm due to my family history.

I'm scheduled for the clipping surgery on April 14th and I'm scared. It's a little frightening to give someone permission to crack my head open. I've been told that they feel they will have no problem clipping one of the aneurysms, but the one in the middle of my brain is the one they are most concerned about trying clip. I'm not a candidate for coiling because my anuersyms are not berry shaped and don't have a defined neck. As far as the smaller anuerysm is concerned they say they may have to wrapped it with fibers because it may be too small to clip.

With regards to your question about small anuerysms rupturing, my NS explained that the Mayo-Clinic study was not as thorough as research that has been done in China and Switzerland. He informed me that Japan and Switzerland conducted studies (post-mortem) of people who died from brain anuerysms. He stated that the studies found that small anuerysms rupture at essentially the same rate as larger anuerysms. You may want to discuss these studies with your doctor.

I've had at least 3 opinions regarding the anuerysms and I'm going for one more on Friday.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this site. It seems like every story on the internet (regarding anuerysms) has a negative or undesirable result. I needed to see stories of survivors.