Hi, I have no words of wisdom, nor any advise but just wanted to let you know that I was recently diagnosed with 2 carotid ophthalmic aneurysms. I just had 1, which was almost 9mm in size, repaired with a new procedure called a pipeline stent. The other will be monitored as it was only 2 mm. From what I understand, this stent is used particularly for aneurysms in the internal carotid artery, which is where mine are, near the optic nerve. MY surgery was on June 8, 2011 and I am back to work as of last week. I do have extreme fatigue, a lot of emotional issues I'm dealing with, headaches, memory loss and a few other things. I don't know much about the type of aneurysm that you have, but I wish you well and, if you need support, please feel free to contact me.

I had the same kind and they did clip it off as it started to bleed and then wouldn't stop. Now I have als not sure if they are related or not Good Luck adn my recovery time was about 4 to 6 weeks by 6 weeks I was back to doing everything I wanted

Well, one big problem is living in Nebraska. Where is the aneurysm located? I had a fusiform aneurysm in my Basilar artery and a second one right above it near the Circle of (whatchoo talking about) Willis. The first one was treated with a stent through vascular surgery. (going in through the femoral artery in my thigh and snaking up to it.) When the second was discovered they went in, did a flow reversal, and set a clip. (craniotomy)

I went to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. I was told the best place for brain injuries. (I asked "getting them or fixing them?") Here are some very good texts, quick reads and written for the non science major. (Microbiology undergrad for me)

"Brain Aneurysm" by Robert Spetzler. (one of the best neurosurgeons in the world and they guy who had his hands in my head.) Go look at the group at bnaneuro.net) and "Brain Aneurysms and Vascular Malformations, a Guide for Patients and families." by Dr. Eric Nussbaum.

You should also visit Brain Injury Association of America (biausa.org) and check out some of their resources. The local chapter for Nebraska is http://www.biane.org I cannot stress enough the support and resources these organizations offer. Check this stuff out and check in here. Mine are still growing despite being stented and clipped. They are monitoring them and I am still active. (Nationally ranked wheelchair fencer) How do you fence with a wheelchair? Shouldn't you use a sword? That's another story that would eat up all your bandwidth. I tell people to not make me angry because I have an exploding head and I'm not afraid to use it. (Ha, a brand new audience for my corny jokes)

Hang in there Kyrie. I found out I have a 4 mm brain aneurysm behind my left eye. This was the week of Christmas. A week ago I was told I also have Huntington's disease. I am more concerned about that for some reason. I many other problems ongoing for almost two years now. Mine was an incidental finding so I was lucky. I am scheduled the 18th for surgery at Mayo in Jacksonville.

There is another surgery called a pipeling procedure that I will be having. You may want to check into this as well. It can also be coupled with coiling. It is one to two nights in hospital, one more day in area. I may stay longer due to the 650 mile drive.

I have great family support. I have found they need support as well. We don't need to forgert the worries of those who love us.

Good Luck.

Mike

Hi I am 4.5 months post clipping surgery from a right ICA aneurysm, i too like you were very stressed and concerned about over doing things in case something happened, what I have found since discovering mine is that the Doctors take these very seriously and will do everything in their power to fix the aneurysms before they rupture if they can.
It is a very scary time in your life and i feel for you, as I mentioned before my clipping op was done in April 2011 (4.5 mths ago) and although I am not 100% back to normal yet, I am on the improve, the people on this site are an absolute god send, they helped me through my surgery build up and answered any questions I had, please remember no matter how silly you may think a question might be, please ask it, cause if you don't you may never know the answer you seek, no question is silly.
good luck with everything and I know easier said than done, but try not to stress, need to keep the blood pressure stable.
take care Narelle

Hi my name is Julie. I was diagnosis 12/07 with unruptured brain aneurysm and have a family history of rupturing aneurysms. I have been fighting to have surgery for 4 years. Just had a cerebral angiogram and they found it to be a terminus aneurysm. This is one with important arterties in the neck of the aneurysm, so they will not due surgery. I found out last week and have been so depressed since. I have other issues also, but this just won't let me live a normal life. How many of us are there? I also have simple left temporal lobe siezures, which effect me daily. They insist the two are not related even though they were found at the same time. I will be 52 on Sunday. My mom's ruptured at 53. Are they going to perform surgery on yours? Thanks for sharing......Julie

Not sure how a neurological doc thinks it's an aneurysm and is not sure! Anybody else have this happen?!?

I was born in May'67. My aneurysm caused Hydrocephalus. Possibly because, the aneurysm either developed in utero, or after birth. For the first eight months of my life, my head kept growing faster than the suggested percentile of growth during the first year of life. My aneurysm was clipped during my first brain surgery. I was also shunted for the Hydrocephalus. My first surgery, and the five revisions I have had so far, all happened from eight months to nine years of age. As a result of the surgeries, I also have Epilepsy. I have Depression because of all the things my health has kept me from doing in my life, and the guilt over those that have died little or no medical problems that were younger than me when they died, and/or their medical problems existing for a far shorter time prior to their death. I am not referring to people like Janis Joplin who died at 27 of a drug overdose. I am referring to people like Neil Peart. His 19yr.-old daughter was killed in a single-car accident back in 1997. At about the same time his daughter was killed, his common-law wife of 22yrs., was diagnosed with cancer and died within ten months. I have had my health problems for 44yrs.. If there is anything for me to be thankful for, it is being glad that not only were you not born with your aneurysm, that the technology exists today for getting rid of an aneurysm.

I will get off my soapbox now.

Hi my name is Cass. I have recently been diagnosed with 3 aneurysms (6/11/11). There is 2 in the right posterior commnicating artery (PCommA), 7mm n 2mm and 1 in the left PCA, 3mm. I spent a few days in hospital after having a type optical seizure, my 3rd in 2 weeks.
I have since suffered depression, anxeity, panic attacks. I cant drive or visit a shopping centre as I become fatigued, confused, i start shaking, my temperature rises. I am off to see my neurosurgeon in Jan 2012 to discuss my options. Ive had to give up work as it was a very physical job and I am very scared.
I am 46 i have 1 adult child and a littlen of 11y.o. I have been given little information and i have since visited my GP who has been a great help (she hurried me to hospital after discribing my "seizures".) I have also researched as much as i could to find out about my condition.
It has been wonderful to find this site and being able to read others stories and to know i am not alone. The thing i hate most is the amount of codeine i am taking as normal painkillers do nothing for the constant headache. Some days i want to curl p n die it becomes so draining. My partner has been a great wealth of support and now wears my apron. But I miss being able to walk long distances and play sport and attend zumba classes and I feel right now like my life is wasting away.
How can anyone live like this... all words of advise are always welcome but no one I know has suffered anything like this. My best friend is going thru cancer and tries to console me, but she is still active and can think straight and doesnt get confused and the list goes on.
I am in Australia and I was diagnosed just as everyone closed down for the xmas break. My question is this.. If I cant cope with trips out and can only feel comfortable and safe at home... how do i live?

Hi Kyrie,
My name is Mike, and I'm a neurosurgery physician assistant. It sounds like your aneurysm is small (if it was misdiagnosed on imaging) and therefore probably best watched/monitored. I hope you don't smoke or have hypertension, because those are the two biggest risk factors for hemorrhage. Also if you have a rare condition called familiar polycystic kidney disease, you would have to be hyper-aware of cerebral aneurysms. Remember, most people with aneurysms die with them... unruptured. What I mean is, aneurysms are not the cause of death; cancer, diabetes, heart disease etc. are the real killers.

What may eat u up psychologically is thinking you have a "ticking time bomb" in your head. Since your post describes a lot of anxiety and stress, I highly recommend reading up "nonruptured" or "unruptured" aneurysms. Treatment varies by location. In general, and this is only "in general," an middle cerebral artery aneurysm is treated with craniotomy, and a basilar tiip aneurysm is treated by endovascular coiling. ** Best of luck.
Mike