aneurism and angiogram

[Jendog]

Is it really necessary for me to have an angiogram after finding out I have small aneurism in my head?  The aneurism is 3 mm, I am a healthy 37 year old female.  Should I get a second opinion?  It really seems unnecessary for me to have a cath and camera into my brain for an aneurism they say is small and not to worry about it???

[nrh]

Jendog, farmerdoug124 do you smoke or do drugs? Is blood pressure, cholesterol, weight high?

[farmerdoug124]

wow , lots of good advise and storys on this subject , im a 49 yr old male , back on 8-4-10 i had coiling surgery done on one of three anies i have , i have suffered from headaces aver since , on 12-22-10 i had another angiogram done and it showed the anie had grown to twice the size it was back in august and the coiles were falling out , with out that second angiogram  we would never know what was happening , by all means get the test , this one saved my life , by the way 2-2-11 i will have clipping surgery on this anie to fix it

[maryjane126]

could i ask something??how did you find out you had an aneurysm at the first place??with an mri or another test..and also what were the warning symptoms that had you take the exams?i am having some symptoms lately and i would like to know if i could as well be having an aneurysm..i would be gratefull if you helped me.thank you

[nh358]

I would def have an angio. I was told that my annie was only 6 mm and in a spot that they would not operate on because if it ruptured it would not cause much problems.
The dr did an angio and found that it was 8mm and in an area that def needed surgery. I had it coiled and am good to go.
They can't tell for sure what yours is until they do the angio. The angio is no big deal, I was also very scared and due to my allegries I was not given meds to relax me. But I can assure you it wasn't bad at all.
I do recomend that you tell them up front you DO NOT want any type of arterial closure device such as a starclosure or angioseal. They rarely tell you before you get one and many people have had issues because of these {myself included} .  If you don't have one of these they will just have to compress you for a longer period of time , that's it. My neuro says their completely safe But my vasular surgoen said never to get another one.

[Eddie1994]

There is one more option that you may consider.  It is actually a glue type product called Onyx® HD-500.  On the East Coast, PennState Hershey Medical Center is one location that offers this type of surgical choice.  You can google Hershey Medical, or the product supplier to learn more.

[Eddie1994]

Hi,

My wife had a clip placed in 1994.  Technology has improved clipping surgery since then, but coiling is much less invasive and recovery is fairly quick vs a cranitomy.  A newer technique allows entry just below the eyebrow for frontal clipping and this improves surgical outcomes although I'm sure fewer surgeons are skilled in this manner.

Interestingly, you are two years older then my wife when she had her surgery.  She didn't have a choice.  Her aneruysm had ruptured and had 72 hours on average to have the surgery before it would rupture again and that on average is deadly.

Please, don't hesitate to listen to your surgeon.  It is better to be preemptive then to be reactive in this situation.  Also, I would advise you to have a laundry list of documents prepared well in advance of any surgery.  If you want to consider the list, let me know and I will give you a list of things you need to think about.  In any case, being nervous is natural, but having a plan will ease your stress, which by the way, you should avoid because of your diagnosis.

Eddie

[Jendog]

Thank you for your answer.  Did your wife have hers coiled or clipped?  I'm pretty nervous, so any info you can provide would be great.
thanks!
Jen

[Eddie1994]

It will help your "team" better evaluate the location and type of aneruysm and formulate a plan of cure.  You may be able to have it coiled or may need a clip.  The angiogram will help decide which will be better.  My wife went through it and if it was necessary she would do it again.