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Had first aneurysm (left posterior communicating artery) 4 hr.surgery by clipping 1-24-03, followed by a CSF leak "repair" on 1-31-03. Had 5 hr. coiling on 3-4-03 for second aneurysm -on malformed basilar artery, with 20-30% chance of success - and it was filled 90%!!  I didn't fully appreciate the seriousness of my condition and how very blessed I am until finding out about the basilar artery aneurysm.  God is good & I have the best drs. on earth!!!!! /// Three weeks after my coiling my 34 yr. old daughter was found to have an 8 mm MCA!!!!!  She was in the hospital for a pulmonary emboli and was having dizziness and they did an MRI and discovered the aneurysm.  When she had her surgery they said the walls of the annie were very thin with many bulges, so we are so very, very blessed it hadn't ruptured -especially since she is on a blood thinner!!!!!  Our Guardian Angels have been working overtime.

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Went to work feeling fine, when it was time for lunch went to the lounge and passed out, thank God paramedics took me to Strong Hospital in Rochester

Had 9 hr surgery for rupture and one week later a 2nd surgery for two

annies on the other side of my brain.  I am doing fine, with the usual hang-ups but nothing major.

Had an emergency clipping on November 18th, had to wait for my neurosurgeon to fly back from Florida. Had  what I thought was a week long sinus headache. Was reading when I felt like I had been hit in the eye with a hammer. Lost my vision and my legs went numb. Local hospital shipped me off to University of Chicago for a craniotomy. I had a clipping which took 5 1/2 hours. I spent a week in ICU and  five days in a regular room.

This is a link to my "story"

 

Successful Clipping performed on 1/20/03 of unruptured right carotid opthalmic aneurysm. Surgery was 4 hours and I stayed in the hospital for 6 days. My aneurysm was worse than they thought. It had an "extra weak head" on it that was not seen on any of my films! It would have ruptured soon. I have a little vision deficit. I am blessed to be a survivor!

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I have a 6.5 mm aneurysm on my ICA & a 5mm one on the MCA ,diagnosed over a

2-month span during the Fall of 2002. Both thankfully on the same side...my left side, so could be gotten to during the same surgery or coiling. Seeking out more info re: options...my smaller 'annie' is a bit odd-shaped...boot-shaped. This makes it tougher to coil. Trying to decide what to do, still! No family history of these...no high blood pressure & I've never smoked. Hard to know what to do...  

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My aneurysm was an accidental discovery.  I had surgery in June of 2002.  My aneurysm was entwined around the carotid artery so it took a lot longer than they thought it would.  Amber is my daughter so most of you already pretty much know my story.  I have been to the chat room a few times so I thought it was time that I post my story.  Thank god for all of you!

My email address is maddydee2@aol.com

I had aneurysm surgery in April. I had no systems of it, never knew I had one. My eye doctor did not like the results of my visual field test and sent me for a MRI. He was looking for a tumor, there was no tumor but they found the aneurysm in my head. Five years ago, the eye dr. (different one) that I was going to did not like my test results and sent me for an MRI, the radiologist that read the test said everything was normal. I took the old & new MRI to the neurosurgeon and guess what, the aneurysm was there 5 years ago. It was smaller but it was there. I was very luck. I came through surgery great. They had to shave my hair but it is growing back. I had no bad effects from the surgery. They say you can have short-term memory loss or a stroke, etc. Again, I was very lucky. I was out of work for 10 weeks. I am back to work now and doing great. You never know what is going on inside you.

My email address is maddydee2@aol.com.

I would love to hear from everyone.

My nightmare started as a severe pain in my neck that rapidly became my worst headache.  Went to a clinic that gave me pain killers and sent me home.  2 weeks later I was finally referred to our Urgent Neurology Unit at the fabulous Foothills Hospital who immediately admitted me and did the angio.  I was fortunate that I didn't have a full rupture but rather a leak that sealed itself off.  The artery was clipped by Canada's first FEMALE neurosurgeon!!  Was feeling good until my car door episode which required a second operation.  I have only minor deficits that seem to only appear when I am very tired (get stuck on words sometimes and left & right).

I first had a severe headache attack while watering my flowers in June 2002 associated with a stiff neck, N&V, and visual disturbances.  Went to a local hospital and was sent home with migraines.  2 weeks later I was driving with my sister and 2 kids to the beach and blacked out at the wheel.  My sister took control of my car and called 911.  I first went to Easton Maryland Hospital where they did a CT and then life flighted me to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore, MD.  On July 8th they clipped my aneurysm and I was finally discharged from the hospital on August 3rd.  A long hospital visit that I was ready to escape from.  Since my surgery I returned to nursing school in late October 2002 and graduated with my class on Dec. 16, 2002.  I finished a make up class on March 14, 2003 and thank God I'm done with school and am now studying for my state boards exam, which I plan to take in April, 2003.  God has really blessed my recovery so I can go out in the world and make a difference with my RN degree.  Kelli from Maryland

I had coiling on my left ophtalmic artery aneurysm on 4-1.   I received two totally different opinions as to treatment.  I figure try the coiling first.  They will use the double catether system thru both groin arteries. 

I have a 5mm Anterior Communicating artery aneurysm. It was discovered when I had an MRI for a temporary vision loss I suffered in early November, 2002. I had an original surgery date set for March 6, 2003, but it was canceled for insurance reasons. All my care is being handled by the Veterans Administration. Scarry, huh.

 

Update: Surgery is done. Brain seems to be working, thoughts are scattered but still there. Eyes are working. Can hear from both ears. Face is a little swollen and numb across the top of the skull. Not bad for one week after surgery. Now to try and relax. That is the hard part........

My mother is Tammy.... she is one of GOD'S finest. She was diagnosed with 6 brain aneurysms in Nov-Dec 2002. She just had a coiling procedure done the 15th of April 03'. She came out okay. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful and beautiful person as my mom and my best friend.

On November 24th I was working out, and apparently said that I didn't feel well.  I had a seizure and fell off of the elyptical trainer (machine) and the ER doctor who just happened to be exercising behind me kept my oxygen levels up until EMS arrived.  I was airlifted to Stanford Hospital, and a couple of hours later my neurosurgeon, Dr. Steven Chang, performed a craniotomy and clipping.  The aneurysm bleed caused a Level 4 SAH and I was in ICU for 3 days, and the neuro ward for 13, for a total of 16 days in the hospital.  I had vasospasms until the day before I was discharged, and apparenlty was close to death for a long time.  I don't remember most of the week before or the time in the hospital.  After I got home from the hospital I had another petit mal seizure and went to ER.  They had had me on Dilantin, and then after the second seizure put me on Depakote.  I had a severe allergic reaction (hallucinations, additional pain, and full body skin rash), and another ER visit about 5 days later.  I was changed to Keppra, which has seemed to work, at 2000 mg per day.  I have had terrible headaches since the operation, but within the last 2 weeks I have seen some relief.  I have been up walking since I returned home from the hospital, and am back at the gym 4 times per week, with lots of physical gardening, other walking and hiking, etc.  I vary reading, exercise, eMail, housework, bill paying, etc. as mental and physical exercises to get me back into health.  Before my rupture, I was a executive/director with HP, in great physical shape, low blood pressure, great health.  Since my rupture I have not returned to work (expect mid-June return) and even with all the exercising I do my stamina is not great.  I have seen my neurosurgeon 3 times since I returned from the hospital, a neurologist once, a neuroopthalmologist for my right eye problems, and a neuropsychologist to determine cognitive deficits.  I also see an occupational therapist 1-2 times a week.

I cleared out our local Huddle House on a Friday night. I guess if someone was in the floor throwing up in trash cans, praying out loud, and dying by the minute, I would have left too. That was the worst day of my life, but the beginning of my second life. I am not the same, but maybe I'm better in the important ways. Love of God and family are at the top of my list now. That's whats important.

I first felt that something was wrong on August 17th'02, I was at my 20 year grad reunion.It was like someone had to the volume off on the room for about 30 seconds, then I got very dizzy (dropped my drink, which everyone thought wow how much has she drank?For the record it was my second drink) I went to the hospital(in Victoria) and was sent home saying I had a headache(oh really I think thats what I told them) I came home 3 days later,thinking I had just wrenched my neck, so I went to my chiropractor he would not touch me (thank god) I went to my family docotor and he also knew right away that something was seriously wrong, he said he knew then but didn't tell me. I was sent for tests at our local hopital and then sent right away to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminister,B.C. where an angiogram was done to discover I had 3 aneurysms( I always do things big) surgery was performed the next day and I came out of it great more or less. Hey thanks for letting me go and on. Stacey

My friend Mary had an angiogram done on March 1 2003. Her doctor found an aneurysm in the shape of a four leaf clover.They had to perform an emergency coiling. She was scheduled for a follow-up angiogram on April 8 2003, but had to cancel because she is allergic to the dye. Finally had it done on April 15 2003. Her nerosurgon found that the coiling procedure is leaking.She will see her doctor on May 9 2003 to see what the next step will be. Mary and I are so grateful for this group.We are learning so much.