Does anyone know anything about aneurysms?

[Lords_skyfire]

Hello and thanks for reading my thread...I hope it is easy to follow but it may not be; I just found out that my mother has a cerebral aneurysm. She actually has two.

We are not strangers to this. In June of 2005 she had one that ruptured. We were incredibly lucky in that she got to the hospital in time. She knew exactly what was going on and why she needed to go to the hospital. Five minutes after she arrived at the hospital she went into respiratory arrest. Three months later she came back home. Her life is changed but her recovery, although lengthy, was remarkable. "Amazing" according to her neurosurgeon.

She gets yearly angiograms to check the status of her coil (they fixed it with the coil procedure) and another aneurysm she has. Friday she had this done. They found a new one. One that requires surgery.

I know a lot about aneurysms. But I want to know more. I want to know only about cerebral aneurysms. Her neurosurgeon said that aortic aneurysms are a different breed than cerebral ones.

I guess this is something she will be dealing with the rest of her life. I'm extremely close to her; she is my best friend. Any knowledge or anything anyone has is welcome. I am especially interested if it runs in families, I guess. The neurosurgeon says it either does strongly or it is totally an isolated case. I just worry because I get headaches all the time as she did earlier. I know this sounds really selfish of me to worry about me at a time like this but I can't help but being scared. Her neuro said he would write me an order for an MRA...I may take him up on it.

Anyway we have some excellent, truly excellent doctors so I am relieved a bit I guess. I know she is in good hands; skilled, kind, and thoughtful hands.

If you pray (I do) if you could keep her in her prayers it would be appreciated.

Sincerely,
sky

 

[buxxxom]

Sorry, no information to impart, but will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Lords_skyfire]

Thank you

buxxxom,

Thank you so very much. I appreciate it more than I express.

sky

 

[EJFan]

i also have nothing to offer here but you, she and your family are in my thoughts. my best to you all and i look forward to hearing more about her progress.

 

[LordOfAnarchy]

Always in my thoughts and prayers ...

If you havent checked out WebMD ... there is a bunch of links to various sites and information regarding this.

Here is a link to the search engine results:

Web MD Search Results

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

An aneurysm is a weak place on an artery. They often make a bulg or bubble. The serverity is determined by where the aneurysm occurs.

If it occur on the aeorta, it's really bad news. If it ruptures, the patient bleeds out and dies in about 3 minutes.

Aneurysm's in the brain are just about as common. They are just as dangerous, however, if they rupture, you have a lot more time to react. Typically, a aneurysm in the brain will cause loss of motor function, loss of speech and so on, just like a server stroke. Depending on where the aneurysm occurs in the brain it is possible to repair them. Besides the coil system there are a couple other procedures, including arterial transplant, I believe.

Tell your mom to get it done as soon as she can. She doesn't need another long term recovery from a rupture.

 

[Hinemoa]

aneurysm

Ok six years ago I had an aneurysm slightly bleed on the front right lobe of the brain. When diagnosed I was advised to make out a will and was advised to have surgery within three days. I waited a week as I wanted to celebrate my birthday just in case. ( I'll never regret this ) I also had a coiling done. In my case it caused a partial stroke, all this took me about two years to recover. However it has left me with a major memory problem, which I work on daily. Every new aneurysm decreases in danger, as the person matures, so the older you are the less damage is done. This is what I was told.
It's Russian Roulette as some people leave them unattended. I was given this option also.

All I can say is be strong and support her all you can, I don't know what I'd have done without loving support. I'm sure you will. From one who knows first hand, the major life transformation it brings, good luck and know that many people who read your letter and more are supporting you. Big hug to you both.

 

[MR.GGG]

I'll say a wee prayer. I hope it all works out for you.

How old is your Ma?

My X was a neuro nurse. She always said that was the way she wanted to go *boom* - that's IT. No wasting desease, no impairment - just "lights out." I thought she was talking about 30 or 40 yrs from now. I'm sure she was too.

Christmas Eve a few yrs ago now she blew a cerebral aneurysm. She was "gone" before she hit the floor. We'd been together 21 yrs. If ya gotta go I can't think of a faster, less painful way. Surviving that loss is made easier knowing that she didn't suffer in any way. When I say the loss is made easier it is, of course in relative terms. When you're with somebody 21 yrs and your lives are basically one then the loss is like nothing you can imagine.

My best friend just lost her husband to the same thing. Weird.

 

[Bandit58]

Both my parents have had bleeding on the brain.

My mother had two small aneurysms bleed on the right side of her brain - she went to lie down one afternoon with a severe headache and my father couldn't wake her. She survived and is as good as she ever was - she was extremely lucky. She has been left with a "pulling" sensation on the side of her head where the staples were, which gets annoying sometimes but that's it.

Ten years later my father, who was on warfarin at the time, had a bleed into his brain. It must have been slowly leaking over several days, because he had symptoms of something wrong which the doctor couldn't pinpoint - until he collapsed at home one afternoon. He was rushed to emergency and flown to Auckland Hospital where he had emergency surgery. He recovered but was left with some slight weakness on his right side, and he walked with a cane until his death two years later. He also had seizures and was on epilepsy medication until it was reduced - which may have caused his death we don't know. He had another seizure or maybe a stroke which left him bedridden and incontinent.....he died just over three months later.

So far I am fine, I'm hoping this isn't hereditary

 

[Lords_skyfire]

Thank you everyone

Thank you to all who responded. I appreciate the information and the good wishes and hugs so much.

I found out yesterday that hers can be treated with a stent. I am not sure how that works, I know how it works in other cases but this one puzzles me. Guess I'll be turning to my friend Google.

====================================

EJFan - thank you for your good wishes and for posting. I'll be sure to update you as we know more. Dr visit is on the 25th and I am going to be there!!

LordofAnarchy - thank you; you and yours are in my thoughts and prayers always, as well

Jenny_Jackson - thank you for the information. I really hope they will be able to treat her before a rupture occurs. The last time she had a rupture she had a stroke as well and has balance/coordination issues now; I don't want her to ever go through that again. Thanks again for the info.

Hinemoa - thank you for sharing. I can relate, a bit, to what you've said. I can't totally as I have not had one but I know the devastation it brings. Do you know what caused your stroke? In my mother's case it was vasospasms. She had the hemorrhage Monday morning, the coiling procedure on Tuesday, and by Thursday she was alert and taken off the ventilator. Then Friday she went downhill and had a stroke that night. We didn't find out about it until weeks later but we did know they had to inject her vessels with something to dilate them that night. Thank you for the hugs and the good wishes. They are much appreciated.

MR.GGG - my mom is 54 now, 53 when she had the rupture. My mom was extremely lucky, she made it to the hospital in time...in fact, she knew what was happening the entire time, when she told my stepdad to call the ambulance she said it was an aneurysm. As I said, she's very lucky. I am sorry about your wife but I understand how it is comforting to know she did not suffer. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes and for sharing.

Bandit58 - My mom has three aneurysms now, all on the right side of the brain, the one that requires surgery is right next to the one that rupture. It's interesting how they can be prominent on one side but not on the other. My mom had a sever headache, too. My mom has had little seizures, too...both sides of her, actually. She also will tremble sometimes or her eyes will move a little bit. She is on an antiseizure medicine, too. We asked her neurosurgeon why she got the seizures...he said it was the result of a very unhappy brain. I am sorry about your father. Thank you very much for sharing.

==============================

I hope I haven't left anyone out. You guys are so nice and it helps to have people outside of my family to talk to. Thanks again from the bottom of my heart.

sky

 

[Sadfrog]

Unfortunately genetics do play a pretty decent role. The best advice I can give is to control what you can: Weight, blood pressure, diet, and exercise. Risk for an aneurysm goes up with age and alcoholism can play a big role too.

Control what you can, and make your family medical history known to all involved in your healthcare.

Both my parents have had bleeding on the brain.

My mother had two small aneurysms bleed on the right side of her brain - she went to lie down one afternoon with a severe headache and my father couldn't wake her. She survived and is as good as she ever was - she was extremely lucky. She has been left with a "pulling" sensation on the side of her head where the staples were, which gets annoying sometimes but that's it.

Ten years later my father, who was on warfarin at the time, had a bleed into his brain. It must have been slowly leaking over several days, because he had symptoms of something wrong which the doctor couldn't pinpoint - until he collapsed at home one afternoon. He was rushed to emergency and flown to Auckland Hospital where he had emergency surgery. He recovered but was left with some slight weakness on his right side, and he walked with a cane until his death two years later. He also had seizures and was on epilepsy medication until it was reduced - which may have caused his death we don't know. He had another seizure or maybe a stroke which left him bedridden and incontinent.....he died just over three months later.

So far I am fine, I'm hoping this isn't hereditary