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Old 05-23-2013, 08:34 AM
Synnove Synnove is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 314
10 yr Member
Synnove Synnove is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 314
10 yr Member
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Hi Linda Z
I had a 7 mm cerebral aneurysm repaired by coils and stent by an interventional neurologist. I considered this doctor to have saved my life, he is a neurologist as well as interventional specializing in thease things. I actually knows of another woman that travelled many states to come and have this same procedure done by him.
My aneurysm was just noticed and diagnosed due to that I had headaches, and visual problems, had MRI, and there it was.
I was referred to this doctor, and had the procedure done within 2 - 3 weeks.
The procedure took about 2 1/2 hours, and went fine. I can remember bits of it. I was heavyly sedated, but not under anastesia. That is because during the procedure the doctor has to comunicate with the patient at certain intervals. to hold the breath etc.
I stayed in neuro intensive care unit in the until the fallowing day, and was discharged.
One has to be under care of a family member or other for that day.
After this procedure, doctor usually prescribe double antiplatelet treat ment wwith Aspirin and Plavix for a few months, then only Aspirin.
After 6 months, you have to go back and have a Cerebral Angiogram to check on the stent. Sometimes the doctor wait with this until 12 months, or do both, as it was in my case. This was due to the fact that I had 2 episodes of TIA and one with a small stroke, due to small cloths forming in the stent. So that is one of the risks of this procedure, both during and after. It is amazing how doctors can do this.
But, I will say, it is very important to have this aneurysm fixed. Leaving it untreated, can cause rupture at some point, and that becomes very dangerous and risky, with an often poor outcome.

I hope this information was of help to you. This was my experience.

It is now 2 years since I had the procedure, I am still on Plavix, now only 3 times a week. I did not have any majore effects from that small stroke I had.
I feel that it was a miracle that my eyedoctor ordered MRI so that aneurysm was found, and I had it repaired. another miracle was that when that little stroke came on, I came through OK. I was employed and working, had a few weeks leave from work before I returned. and I continued for 1 year. But I have had other health issues in last year, so I now have retired.

Good luck. If you will, reply on this, I do not know if I can mention this doctors name on this forum I would recomend him. I know of 2 other woman that this doctor is monitoring their cerebran aneurysms. But their's are smaller. I think the guide line is that the seize over 6 mm should be fixed.
Synnove
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