I am recently diagnosed with a 4x3mm aneurysm on the left carotid artery behind my eye. My neuro said "don't worry its tiny" Gee. I see an interventional neuro at UCLA today. The stress is horrible and the insomnia is worse. Tiny ticking time bomb is more like it!

Hello,
I know how you feel. I have one that is about 7mm on the basilar artery tip. Really hard to get to my vascular radiologist says, and i'm getting an angiogram on the 22nd to see if it can be coiled. If not I dont know what they're gonna do. He does want to fix it. I told my doctor the same thing. It feels like a ticking bomb and i'm even afraid to sneeze. It's all new to me. I can sleep but every waking moment I'm thinking about it. I want my life back.
I will keep you in my prayers. I've been waiting 4 months now.

why are you waiting so long? I waited one week for a consult with the top neuros in the west. Fix it, coiling is a great procedure. Sneezing will not do anything, high blood pressure will. Maybe you can get some Xanax from the doc.You will be fine!

I recently discovered that I also have a 3mm aneurysm on the left opthalmic artery. I also just saw a neuroradiologist at UCLA. He suggested that I did not get any treatment and just have observation. Did you alredy go to your appointment? I am still really scared especially because I am pregnant and due for C-secition on October 7th. I feel the same way you do, I can't sleep and the stress is horrible.

I feel for you. When you first find out is the worse. I was afraid to sleep or sneeze myself. I'm not lifting any weights now, but most days I don't even think about it. I have a 9x10mm carotid aneursym that is untreated in the cavernous sinus behind my right eye. Of course, I have known about it for 2 1/2 yrs and you can only obsess on anything for so long. Mine is low enough down from the brain that it probably won't cause stroke if it ruptures. I had another 4mm aneurysm clipped a couple years ago. That one put me in danger of having a stroke so I had it clipped. The surgeons go by size and where the aneursym is located when they make recommendations. They don't seem to be in a great hurry to "fix you" when they find one. The chances are only about one in a hundred that an aneursym will rupture each year. That being said, I'd be playing the lottery daily at those odds. You see things from a whole different angle when it's you. You'd have to be crazy not to get freaked out about it at first. Hope you asked a lot of questions. Let us know how things turned out.

Hi everyone,
I had my angiogram and the surgeons say that my aneurysm is inoperable.
Actually the exact words were, " Sorry to tell you this but yer screwed"
That was really nice bedside manner, huh? Geesh. Anyway the aneurysm is an 8.5 x 6 on the top of the basilar artery. There are 5 arteries feeding into it. So I guess its what you call a fusiform? I dont know. They just said it's inoperableand hard to get to. I dont really know what to do and what not to do so it wont rupture. He just chuckled and said Dont be bunji jumping now..What a jerk. He was my second opinion. I'm so scared everyday. I also have hydrocephalus that cant be treated. They say I was born with it. I also had a stroke in the past that I knew nothing about. I'm just thankful to God every morning when I wake up. They said I could live to be 70 or die in my sleep tonight. Cant tell me anything else. Does anyone else have an aneurysm like this one and if so, Did you get it fixed? I have 2 Girls and a wonderful husband and I dont wanna leave them. I cry all the time, have headaches, and memory loss, and cant concentrate. Are these associated with the aneurysm? My headaches are sometimes unbearable but the doctors say aneurysms have no symptoms. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks, Cheri

I think you need a second opinion! Aneurysms can cause headaches. And new techniques are being used all the time.I would go to UCLA or Cedars, I would spend the money and get on a plane and go.

Cheri,

That sort of bedside manner is disgusting!
I would certainly seek more opinions.
I say this because I have a 12mm basilar artery aneurysm and I'm having my angiogram on 20th Nov.
I've had the CT angio and they said the aneurysm is in a difficult place and has a very wide neck.
I live in rural Australia and am under a neuro who is top in the field of endovascular.
Like you, I'm scared he may say the risk is too great to operate but my sister died aged 26 yrs when hers ruptured.
I don't know what's worse........taking the risk of surgery or walking around with a time bomb?

I hope you find someone who can give you better news. Don't give up!

Sam

I had a basilar tip artery aneurysm. They tried to coil it, but couldn't. They sent me to Dr. Hunt Batjer at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He clipped it 3 months ago and I'm recovering well for the most part. I thank the Lord everyday. Check him out on the hospital web sight. I hear theres a good dr in cincinnati too. Becky