Brain aneurysm: What are my restrictions till I see my surgeon?

@haileypeytmom Hello. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. How small is your brain aneurysm? Brain aneurysms can often grow slowly and if its small you dont need to worry about surgery, just monitoring. Many can also be addressed endoscopically via coiling. I had brain clipping last year which is a craniotomy for a large aneurysm on the middle cerebral artery. In that location, coiling was not an option. From finding out that I had this brain aneurysm to the craniotomy was only two weeks. Your long wait is likely because as you mention, its small and as such highly unlikely to burst. Even with a larger brain aneurysm I was lifting weights and working out frequently. I know its easy to say but don't worry. they would have told you or rushed you to surgery if it was a short term risk. Now I am dealing with aortic aneurysm just over a year later...ugh. Best of luck to you.

@stevgood Hello. I joined this group searching for someone like you. Last year I had brain clipping for an aneurysm on the middle cerebral artery. Like you, I made it through the craniotomy and now I find that I have an aortic aneurysm. I'm wondering if you know the caue of your aneurysms. I feel like this could be some vascular issue but I dont know. I have low blood pressure, am fit, 58F, no genetic history other than cardiovascular disease at a young age on my fathers side. He was 42 for his first heart attack. Anything you can share with me would be valuable. Thank you.

Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear about your aortic aneurysm.

Like you, I've been through a lot medically. 4 Years ago I had a full craniotomy, and thankfully I made a complete recovery—I was back at work within a month. Later, I discovered my aortic aneurysm through a private whole-body MRI screening with Prenuvo. I ultimately underwent surgery 1 yr ago and now have a mechanical (ceramic) valve and a Dacron graft replacing part of my aorta.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it—the surgery is brutal. But I was fortunate to recover quickly and was also back at work in about a month. I was 61 at the time (I'm 62 now) and was in very good health and physical condition going into surgery, which I think helped a great deal.

I also underwent genetic testing, but I didn't test positive for any of the currently known genetic markers associated with aortic aneurysms. That said, my understanding is that researchers have only identified a portion of the genetic factors involved—perhaps 35–40%—so there's still a lot we don't know.

My uncle had an aneurysm, so my children and siblings have all been tested. Fortunately, none of them have any of the known genetic markers, and all of their imaging has been normal. So, for whatever reason, I seem to be the lucky one who's had both a brain aneurysm and an aortic aneurysm.

Who knows why? I've lived a very active, physically demanding life with lots of mant triathons and hard cycling with weightlift may have contributeded though, whether that contributed in some way is impossible to say.

I'm truly sorry you're facing this. It's a difficult journey, and the recovery isn't easy, but there is life on the other side of it. You can absolutely recover, get back to living, and have a full and meaningful life afterward.

I'll be wishing you all the best for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery. Here is immediatly after surgery and 10 months later.

@tainan, I have that same pulsing on the right side of my brain. Have had it going on for quite awhile. In May, I was diagnosed with a 2mm BA ...inferlaterally projecting off proximal left A2 anterior cerebral artery just after the bifurcation of anterior communicating artery.
My Dr's do not have an explanation for the pulsing. I have to say, I notice it the day after I read a lot and have over extended my eyes, (screens, reading, etc.) My research has told me it's eye strain but seems odd that it just started happening within the last year or so. It's very bothersome and concerning.
You are the first person that I have come across that has that same pulsing.
What are you thoughts? Do you read or use a computer a lot? What is the size of your BA?
Can you tell me about the Inderal and any symptoms?
I'm so sorry to hear of your lung cancer diagnosis and having to deal with a BA. That's just so much for someone to deal with.
Regards,
Daniece

@daniece
Good morning, I received your email last night but couldn't answer your email. I'll explain the BA a little bit.
BA symptoms are headache, that's why 8 doctors I saw in 2022 did not diagnosed I have BA because I have pulsaling of the Brain. MRA diagnosed my BA is 4 mm behind my left eyeballs.
The most important thing is keeping your BP under 120/80, the lower the BP it will not have pulsaling.
Inderal is the medication to lower the BP. I currently taking 10mg in the morning and 20mg in the evening.
I go to pool 6 or 7 days a week to walk at the pool with weight, it helps a lot.
There are a lot of things I do to keep BA stay 4 mm and prevent pulsaling. I am a nurse have enough knowledge to help myself conquer the situation but it is too long to write all the information.
I would encourage you to private message me on Connect if you want to get in touch with me I will guide you to live a fearless normal life.
Good luck.

@tainan - just for your own security and privacy, I've removed your personal email and replaced it with "private message me on Connect."