anxious about aneurysm
 

Hi my name is Narelle I live in Melbourne Australia, I have a wonderful husband and 3 gorgeous children,my story is,

I had 4 steel poles fall and strike me on my head back in October 2010, after this happened i ended up with a bad case of concussion, which I am still dealing with today.
My GP has sent me for 2 CT scans and both came back ok, he then refered me to a Neurologist, whom ordered a MRI.
This has shown an 8 x 7mm ICA aneurysm with a 2.5mm neck.
Although I don't know if that is big, small or in a a somewhat normal range as far as aneurysms go, I have seen a Neurosurgeon and he has requested that I see a Neuroradiologist to see what operation would be better, clipping or coiling.
My Neurosurgeon has informed me he'd like to operate within the next few weeks.
I am extremely anxious at the prospect of surgery and the outcome, I am also very anxious as the Neurosurgeon said the aneurysm is at risk of bleeding and I am home during the day by myself.
I can't seem to get the fear of it bleeding or rupturing out of my head, I am not sleeping , if anyone has any advice as to how I can get past this at least until my surgery it would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Narelle

Hi Narelle, I totally understand where you're coming from. I had a mild stroke about 6 years ago and an aneurysm was found. They would have never found the aneurysm if I hadn't had the stroke. It was small, about 3 mm, and he just wanted to watch it for awhile. I've been going for routine angiograms ever since. About a year ago after this test, my doctor informed me it was time to do something about it.

I would push for the surgery as soon as possible so you don't have to wait and worry any longer than necessary. That is definitely the hardest part. I had mine clipped and let me tell you, it was not NEARLY as bad as I was afraid it would be. I had a heck of a headache, but they managed that well with medications. Fatigue was a big issue, but I have other things going on as well (figromyalgia and possible MS).

I hope they can take care of ths ASAP cause I know how worrisome it can be. In the meantime, I would take it easy and try to find something to occupy your mind. Do you like to read? That always helps me.

I know how scary it can be. I've since developed two more small aneurysms that they're watching, so I may go through it again. I guess it's genetics? Although I know of nobody in my family that had this problem. Please try not to worry; I know I have a lot of confidence in my surgeon and that helps me alot.

Let us know how you're doing and I'll be thinking of you.

hi , thanks for your reply, my Neurosurgeons receptionist rang yesterday and I should be seeing the Neuroradiologist next week. I saw my GP yesterday as I am stressed big time over it. he has refered me to a Pshycologist.
I am hoping I have input into what type of surgery I can have, as my neurosurgeon said in his opinion the aneurysm looks like a good candidate for either clipping or coiling, he did say to me that if it was coiled I had a chance of needing a 2nd operation later, so if this is the case I'd much prefer the clipping.
I am getting stuck into jigsaw puzzles, that works for a little bit.
I feel for you going through all that and then to find more, omg i would be on edge, you seem to be a very brave person, good luck with it all.
I will let you know when I get my surgery date, and how I progress.
Thanks again.

Hi all, just an update,
I am still not sleeping, feel sad, angry, nervous and all of the normal emotions that seem to run with aneurysms.
I just wanted to let you know where I am at as of today 22/3/11, I have seen the Radiologist and it has been decided that my aneurysm shall be clipped.
I am seeing my Neurosurgeon on Friday, hopefully he will give me my operation date. (soon the better i think)
until my next update, I'll keep chugging along
Take Care
Narelle

Hi Narelle,

I've been reading your posts and am wishing you well for your upcoming clipping. Let us know when you're scheduled for your surgery.

As to how you're feeling, have you thought about writing a letter to your aneurysm, fully expressing exactly how you feel, what it is doing to you and what impact it is having on your life? After you have written it, it can be very therapeutic to then burn the letter, imagining that all the emotions and feelings are being released along with the letter. I know it may sound a little daggy or "out there", but it really can help.

I do understand how scared you are feeing right now, but try not to let the fear control you. Try to live in the moment, find the beauty in the small everyday things, draw strength from those you love, and remember that you are strong, and you WILL get through this!!! Have faith in your NS and in yourself. :D

Nat xx

Hi Nat, thanks alot for your kind words and advice, I took part of your advice for the moment, I wrote the letter to my aneurysm, and in doing so i felt alot better afterwards, I plan on burning the letter the morning of my surgery, which I am pleased to say won't be too far away I have signed all the paperwork for surgery and my Neurosurgeon says i am a catagory 1 patient so I shall be definately operated on within the next 30 days. they are meeting this coming Thursday and will schedule the op then.
thanks again
Narelle

Hi Narelle

Which hospital are you going to ?
I went to royal melbourne hosp last year to get my aneurysm looked after and they were wonderful

Hi I am having my clipping done on Tuesday 4th April it looks like, i will be done at Monash in Clayton.
I go there Monday for my pre op and they said they'll tell me for sure if it's tuesday.
So nervous right now

I fully understand Nelly.
I was the same.
Have faith in the doctors ,they will look after you, they do these every day and please believe that you come through this!
I dont wont that to sound like I am dismissing your fear. I was trembling like a leaf as I went in to mine, the next thing you know I was asking the anaesthetist why I hadn't had the procedure, when in fact I had.
i look back on everything that happened last year and it seems like so so long ago even though other aspects of the year seem like yesterday.

You will be amazed at how "with it" you feel after your procedure

Get as much sleep as possible before you go to hospital cause not only will you be woken up every four hours for observations,the unfamiliar noises will keep you awake.

Thanks for that, it makes me a little more at ease, my children have told me to look at it as a vacation from the housework lol. I am strong, i'll be fine i hope. I am pleased all went so well with you i can only hope for the same, until next i'm online, look after yourself and thanks again xx

Was thinking of you yesterday. Hope all went well!:grouphug:

Hi Fliplovestoea sorry I haven't been on here to let you know how it all went, it's been 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery, the surgery went really good, my neurosurgeon said it actually went better than expected.
I was home day 4 post surgery, and since then i have gotten stronger and stronger each day, i still am having head pain, nowhere near as bad as the first couple of days after.
I am suffering a bit of short term memory loss and mood swings, the hospital told me to stop the anti seizure medication on discharge, but since then my doctor has put me back on them as i was having fits.
other than that I am doing great, I actually even went for a long walk the other day, until i couldn't walk anymore and had to get my husband to come get me.
Oh sorry i forgot to say thankyou for your kind words and thoughts.
hope all is well with you
Thanks agaun
Narelle

Nellybelly,

I'm so glad to hear you have made it well through the surgery. It is so much easier than decades ago when these surgeries were more invasive. My sister had this surgery in 1981 and it was major surgery then. She also had three children.

I am very happy to hear that you are doing well. God bless you and your family. :hug:

Thanks for the update Nelly.
I'm glad you are on the mend.Hopefully you will feel 100% soon

Hi Wiz, thankyou so much for your kind words, sorry about your sister.
Yes technology has come a long way since then.
Narelle

Hi Flip, I am doing really good now, 9 weeks since surgery and improving daily, although I am still on anti seizure meds cause when i stop them I end up fitting, memory is getting there i guess, i still forget alot and very moody now, but other than that doing great.
thanks for your kind words.
Nelly xx

hi Nelly
good to hear you are getting better.

I have changes in my cognitive behaviour as well. I started taking anti seizure medication for trigeminal neuralgia at the same time that I went in to hospital so I don't know whether it is due to the medication or the procedure. I prefer to blame the medication.

Please keep the updates coming . I am interested in how you are going.
Us Aussies need to stick together.

Hi Flip,
I am doing really well now, how about you?
I have been off the Dilantin now for 3 weeks and no seizure (yey) although in saying that I saw my doctor today and he has placed me on some anxiety medication as I am easily stressed now.
i see my Neurosurgeon on the 24th and am meant to be having another MRI, hopefully that's all clear.
I am still rather dizzy and my vision still hasn't returned in my left eye, but as I keep telling myself, I'm here and that's the main thing.
I feel like a gold fish most days lol (my memory is terrible now) it should get better, well i can only hope lol
back to driving locally, cant go too far the concentration gets me dizzy really easily so still not back at work.
anyway would love to hear back from you
tae care Narelle

Hi all, I just thought i'd touch base,
I saw my Neurosurgeon last week, he says all is going good, I am off all medications now and don't have to see him or have another MRI until october of next year.
This is all good and great progress since my clipping in April 2011, the only things that seem to be nagging at me is since my operation my blood pressure has gone sky high and I am unable to sleep, I am getting about 2 hours a night if i am lucky, I am going off to see my GP today as my neurologist says he wants him to monitor my BP and possibly put me on medication for that (oh goody), I am suffering from alot of anxiety which i think is contributing to my sleep deprivation and blood pressure, other than that I am doing great i think lol.
anyway just thought I'd update
Take Care everyone
Narelle

Aneurysm Surgery
 

I currently have a unruptured ICA terminus aneurysm, 2.4mm x 2.0 with 2.0mm neck. I have been trying for 4 years to get my HMO to approve surgery. I have a family history of ruptured aneurysm's and really can't see living the rest of my life without the surgery. My Mom's ruptured and the doctor's said it was a miracle that she lived. I would much rather operate on the aneurysm before it burst, your chances are much better. Your's sounds like a large aneurysm, so your best bet is surgery. I was also diagnosis of seizures when they found mine. I have daily issues with my thinking, finishing sentences, staring, memory loss. The doctors insist that the aneurysm and the seizures are not related, even though they found both at the same time. It sounds like your aneurysm is big enough to cause many symptoms. It has to be putting pressure on important areas in the brain. I wish you luck with your surgery, I know that you will be fine. Please let us know how it goes.....Julie