Just told I have an intercranial aneurysm

[Suda]

Dear Neurology Forum,

I had an MRI of my brain yesterday with and without contrast.  I was called today and was told that I had an intercranial aneurysm.

I am to show up tomorrow to have another MRI, but this one is called an MRA?  Does anyone out there know what this actually means.  I mean besides the fact that I could most likely have a stroke at any point in time.

What I'm curious about, besides all of this is; are there medicines I can take, or do they always have to operate on the brain to alleviate this problem.

I would appreciate so much any help anyone out there can give me.

Thank you so very much!

Suda

[katrinawyne]

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[Suda]

Dear Caregiver222,

Thank you for responding to my query.  I'd not realized anyone had replied and therefore I apologize for my late response to yours.

It was my Internal Medicine Physcian who ordered the first MRI because I finally mentioned that I felt something wasn't quite right with my brain.

I am trying not to freak out, but, as I'm quite sure you know, this is so much easier said than done.

At least I do live in Houston, TX where there are some great physicians, as well as a lot of lousy ones also.

When I get the results that MRA, which hopefully will be tomorrow, (Monday) I will, of course know much more.  I'll just wait (be freaking out no matter how much I try not to) and see what that test result ends up being.

This weekend I have done nothing, and I plan to keep on doing nothing until I hear the results.

Thank you again for your response.  I do so appreciate that you did respond.  What with you and Dr. Srivastava both responding I feel much better.  Someone out there was listening and reading, I just didn't realize this until today.

Best Wishes,

Suda

[Suda]

Dear Dr. Srivastava,

Thank you so very much for responding, and please forgive my late response back to you.  I had the incorrect part marked to be notified and thought that nobody had responded at all.

Yes, I am very lucky to have had them catch this when they did.  I'd just asked my IM physician if sometime in the future I could get an MRI of my head because I was having memory loss, more than usual, as well as sometimes feeling very dizzy, and my ears have been ringing like crazy for quite some time.  

I'd not mentioned any of this to her before because I have quite a few other medical conditions and that's why I go to her.  After so much whining about what I feel are the main problems, I stop so as not to overload the poor woman.

My doctor is quite amazing because just with my query, she said "Let's get one today."  And so we did and that's when they found the intercranial aneurysm, and sent me to get an MRA which I will hopefully receive the results from tomorrow (Monday).

I'm quite blessed to be living in Houston, TX with the medical people they have here.  Oh, I know from past experience some are great, and others are horrible, but at least I have an Internal Medicine Physcian whom I do trust and can help guide me to some one who is a really good Neurosurgeon and not just a friend of hers that she went to Med School with.

Again, thank you for all your informed comments and I will certainly heed your advice.

Best Wishes,

Suda

[caregiver222]

Don't panic, but avoid stress and exercise until you are fully evaluated.

I am sure you are frightened, but this isn't necessarily the end of the line. Be thankful they caught this before more damage was done.

There are many treatment options. One of the problems is that there may be more than one weak spot. Keeping blood pressure under control is essential.

Pay close attention to the recommendations of your neurologist.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. Although without being able to examine you I can not offer you the specific advice on diagnosis and treatment that you need, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about your health concern.

Intracranial aneurysm is an abnormal widening a brain blood vessel at its weakened area. This may occur as a congenital (present since birth, familial) or may occur later in life due to injury, birth defects, or neurological disorder and it is life-threatening. Most serious consequence is stroke that may occur if this bursts in the brain. Factors that may cause this or contribute to its rupture are smoking, hypertension, head injury, family history of brain aneurysms (so sisters may have). Common symptoms could be loss of vision, headache, eye and neck pain, seizures, paralysis, gait disturbances etc. Investigations like CT angiography, MRI, CSF examination (presence of blood) are essential to reach at diagnosis here. Neurosurgery is the mainstay of treatment that may be suggested by a neurologist after examination. Hope this information proves helpful to you.