Hi! I was wondering if anyone could provide me with any feedback as my neurologist doesn't like to return phone calls!!!

I have been experiencing headaches, confusion, and eye problems for about 4 months now. I have had an MRI & CT scan done that show a 12mm cyst on my pineal gland and Intracystic acute hemorrhagic??

I have seen my neurologist twice and while I came prepared with questions, I of course blanked out & didnt ask half of them. He said that something happened with a blood vessel in my brain, that it had weakened. He has since referred my to a neurosurgeon, but my question is what does that mean and is this something I need to be concerned about??

Thank you!

I am no expert but it sounds like something to do with the artery if it was mentioned. Why don't you make an appointment with your GP and go armed with a written list and ask that question...it's your right to know what you are dealing with...and it may be something less worrysome and he can put your mind at rest !
That is one thing I get so annoyed at...they know we get confused and forgetful so why don't they write it all down on paper before you leave in a way that you can understand what the problem is !
Best of luck for a happy answer

Dear Red21,

I see that your post is about 8 weeks old...so what I have to tell you may be irrelevant by now. But perhaps, if your issue is not yet resolved, or if things have gone badly and you stiil want to learn more about what happened to you...or perhaps another reader would like to explore your question...maybe I can help.

I am a survivor of a ruptured brain aneurysm. I have a blog about the experience here:**Please drop by.

From what you have described so far in your post - I'd say "It's doubtful" that you have a brain aneurysm. I'll explain why below.

But do hope that you went to that neurosurgeon prepared with a neatly typed LIST OF YOUR QUESTIONS to ask, so that if you blanked out again and forgot them, he/she could have just read from your list. You NEED some answers! if the neurosurgeon is/was unhelpful, I suggest you ask for areferral to a different one, and tell your referring doctor WHY you are requsting this.

My Roget's dictionary defines a cyst as : "a membranous sac or cavity of abnormal character containing fluid." This doesn't make me think of a rupturing aneurysm.

The one thing that makes me doubt an aneurysm diagnosis is that a hemorrhaaghic aneurysm is a SUDDEN, CATASTROPHIC event that KILLS QUICKLY if not operated on immediately. This bleeding cyst of yours sounds to me more like a slow process. Am I right on this?

For your further info, here are a few time-tested truths about brain aneurysms:

Aneurysms, contrary to much mis-infomed opinion out there, DO NO start with nagging headaches over an extended period pf time. Those are called migraine headaches. They are not budding aneurysms. An aneurysm is a SUDDEN CATACLYSM that comes crashing at you out of nowhere. It is SUDDEN! There is virtually no warning.

Brain aneurysms are not heriditary. If your aunt, uncle, grandparent had one, this does not mean you will too. Even though in your brain there has to be a congenital preponderance to developing an aneurysm to begin with, that weakness is not inheritable.

A brain aneurysm IS the result of a weaked blood vessel in the brain, which begins to blow up slowly like a balloon, until BOOM - one day it bursts.

Personally, I've never heard of a case of a neurologist or a neurosurgeon taking a casual approach to a possible brain aneurysm. That would be beyond all likelihood. It is ALWAYS urgent. And it sounds to me, from what you have described, that these two doctors you are seeing feel little sense of urgency about your cyst.

Well, as I said above, this is 8 weeks after your question. You probably have some answers by now. Be a friend and post here to let us know what happened with your case?

I'd lay a bet it's not an aneurysm.

I ain't no doctor so don't go taking my word on this.