Small anuerysm....so scared!

[AngieBaby77]

Hello everyone...this is my first post. My name is Angela, I am a 29 year old mom and wife. I recently got an MRI because of some vague physical symptoms I'd been having (bodily tingling, nightmares, headache). Honestly, I was expecting to be told I had an anxiety disorder, which I think I do. But what the MRI showed is even more distressing to me.

It showed what the doctor calls a "questionable small anuerysm near the left MCA bifurcation which means one of the arteries at the base of the brain may be more dilated than normal."

I am directed to go to a neurosurgeon for a CTA scan here in a week or so. I am so scared. I am scared of the test because of the radiation...I heard they can cause cancer. I am scared of what the results may show, of the idea of brain surgery, of the whole thing. I already suffer from severe health anxiety and now I am a total wreck. I am so scared I am going to die or suffer brain damage.  I am afraid to sleep, I can't eat, I need some reassurance if there is any to be had...

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

I understand that this may sound distressing.

What was the indication for performing your MRI?
Have you developed headaches, weakness in one side of your body,vomiting or loss of consciousness?
Is there any history of connective tissue diseases, polycystic kidney disease in the family?
I suggest you stay calm since anxiety states may cause you to hyperventilate and these may lead to faintness, dizziness or tingling sensations. Are you taking any medications right now?

Approximately about 5-6% of the american population have undiagnosed intracranial aneurysms.Genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors such as smoking may explain development of intracranial aneurysms.

So avoid smoking and have your blood pressure checked and maintained.Stay calm and keep a positive attitude.Lets see what the CTA will show.Let us just hope for the best.

I hope I am able to help.Keep in touch!

[patandg1]

Angie, don't worry everything will be fine.  The CT scan is the most accurate test to see everything.  Let me tell you my story so you will have some hope. I hope I can type this without crying...I am a 39 yr old mother of 4.  I have in great health, I don't smoke, I don't drink and I'm not overweight.  Which should be a big factor but my Neurologist said my good health was a big factor.  I was having sex with my husband at 2am and I was just about to reach the big "O" and suddenly felt this rush to my brain.  I felt alot of pain in my head.  I started to vomit and I felt dizzy.  My husband was scared to death because I looked so bad.  Also the work of God comes in.  Typically my husband works Tuesday to Saturday and is never home on Saturday when this happened but of course he was home and we were being intimate.  My brother in law & sister in law were in town becasue my brother in law was completing his monthly Navy reserves in our city.  At 2am all this happened and my husband---what's wrong-you don't look right.  I was very dizzy.  At 1 point I fainted and my husband really paniced.  He dressed and rushed me to the hospital.  We didn't bother to tell our brother in law becuase we thought it was probably nothing but we wanted to go the ER just case.  If anything major happened then we would call my brother in law.  My husband took his radio (he is police officer in our area) and sped to the hospital.  On the way I fainted again and threw up again.  We arrived at the ER and they placed me in a wheelchair because the pain was so great I kept rubbing my head.  They asked a million questions about my medical history.  The nurse thought I had a migraine.  So they did an MRI first and saw activity in my brain.  They then did a CT scan and then did an angiogram.  After all these tests they said I had a rupurted aneurysm on my right side and a smaller one on my left side.  They immediately admitted me into the hospital.  My husband called our family and tried to explain the details but most of my family spoke Spanish so he struggled.  By that afternoon my immediate family was in town.  My girlfriends came in to see me and started crying when they saw me.  On October 16  the surgeon came and spoke to me about brain surgery was the only the solution.  I remember crying and thinking--brain surgery--how does one survive brain surgery.  The surgeon told me all the side effects---vision loss, memory loss, possible stroke in surgery.  My eyes just filled up with tears.  My mother & father were speechless.  My husband was beside himself.  He was so scared to loose.  On October 17 the surgeon performed his brain surgery.  My mom & my husband were allowed in aread to keep them updated on my surgery.  I so blessed to have so main friends praying over me...Well I'm hear to tell you I survived.  I was in surgery for a couple of hours.  After recovery the placed in ICU for about 1 week to keep a closer eye on me.  They wanted to make sure I did not have spazms (sp).  I remember someone coming in every morning at 4am to perform a sonagram on my head.  My face was not swollen at first after surgery but the next day it was very swollen.  I could not see out of my right eye because it was swollen shut.  No vision loss but a puffy face.  I cried so much but realized God had bigger plans for me.  I was later transferred into a floor where all the stroke victims, brain surgery, etc recover with therapy.  Harris Hospital in Fort Worth is the best hospital.  Dr. Ward was my surgeon.  My biggest issue after all the recovery was balance.  So the therapist focus was balance.  Also my surgeon was sweet enough to only shave the necessary hair for the surgery.  Very important to tell them or they will have the entire head.  I had 22 staples in my head and my scar is on the right side from the middle of my head to the side of ear.  The surgeon did an excellent surgery that you can't even tell where my scar is at.  People don't believe I had brain surgery and are shocked at my recovery.  I was released on 11-3-07 and continued outpatient therapy.  Harris Hospital calls is BIT, Brain Injury Transistion (sp).  Awesome therapists that were so caring.  I really felt like family when I saw them.  I just completed my last therapy at the hospital on 12-21-07.  I still 1 mroe test nest on 1-22.  I go back to work on January 7, 2008 part time.  My doctor wants me slowly go back to full time.  So here I am a living miracle and hope for everyone out there.  My aneurysm was 4mm (rupurted) and located in the circle of willis.  The location of my aneursym was also an important factor in my recovery.  The located was not in a dangerous one. I still have 1 remaining smaller aneurysm on the left side when I will have angiogram performed in 8-12 weeks.  The surgeon will then decide the best way to attack this one.  Also I almost forgot when I had surgery orignally there was only 1 aneursym on the right side but during surgery the found I had 2 (right next to each other) that rupurted.  If anyone wants to e-mail please do at ***@****....

[jej]

my cousin had an anurism burst in her brain and she survived...she is fine...my sister had 4 brain surgeries amd she went home the next day...i was with her..please try to relax.as hard as it seems...i am trying to comfort you ....i have been around alot of brain surgeries and they ...my mother had brain surgery 37 years ago...believe me they have improved and are not as invasive as they used to be ...i hope this makes you feel better and more confident...they found it early and after surgery you can go back to your normal life.....keep the faith

[kitlyn]

Hi angie: So sorry to hear of your health trouble. I was facinga  possible brain tumor int he summer which turned out to be  not a tumor, but maybe something else.I was so scared too. I also have anxiety issues. I hope it all will be okay for you. The scan shouldn't be a problem.A friend of ours his wife had a huge aneurysm and she is fine.. but it was operated on. She goes for tests every so often. Peac eto you Kit

[patsy10]

I would not worry at all about the scan.  The radiation is the least of your problems. I understand your fears and concerns.  Many people have aneurysms that are small and doctors scan them around once a year to watch the size of them and see if they are getting bigger.  I know it's easier said than done, but try not to panic until you see the neurosurgeon and see what he or she says about it.

[Manhattan]

i'm sure if they thought there was an immediate danger they would have gotten you in sooner. try to think positively. i know that's easier said than done, but think of all those poor people who had ruptured aneurysms with no warning symptoms. you are so lucky! this is something that can be fixed... it is not malignant... count your blessings :)

[ajr44]

Angie,
Please remind yourself that there is always someone else out there who is in worse shape. I know it is difficult to think this way but it does help. GOD will give you the strength you need if you trust and believe in him. He is with you always through good times and bad. Show strength and courage and believe in your family's love for you. You are not alone and you will never be alone. GOD bless ....

[AngieBaby77]

I found out my aneurysm is 2 mm in the left middle cerebral artery.  I am going on March 16 for an evaluation with a neurosurgeon.  It is going to be very hard for me to wait, I am quite scared.

[Manhattan]

i wouldn't worry about the brain scan and radiation. if you were being frequently exposed to radiation then it might be of concern but one or a few tests are not going to hurt you. try to think of how lucky you are that you had some symptoms and were able to identify the problem before anything serious occured. if it is an aneurysm that could cause problems, then they most likely can go in and correct the problem. even if it is through brain surgery, you will be OKAY. my brother had brain surgery to remove a tumor. he completely recovered and is totally fine. i actually know a few people who have had brain surgery and all made it through just fine. good luck to you and whatever you need to do you will do and be fine :)