Unruptured Brain Aneurysm

Posted by badnaples @badnaples, Nov 22, 2021

Hello! I recently found out I have a 4mm ACOM during a CT scan, waiting CT angio appointment, question is....live life normally? OK, to travel (fly), exercise etc. Can't get answers from doc, they say all this will be covered during pre-op which is weeks away and in the meantime causing me anxiety not knowing what I should or should not do. Not sure if I have symptoms, various headaches, mild, dull, various areas of the head, but have those often and for long time, and stuffy nose so assume its sinus. Any help is appreciated, suppose to travel in 48 hours. I read all this about rupturing and frightens me. Is it something that would happen suddenly or gradually from a leak. Help! THank you.

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 9 hours ago

In reply to @sarahjo900 "Additional CT scans tomorrow and appointment is on Monday, Mar 31." + (show)

Hi, @sarahjo900 - how did your CT scans and your March 31 appointment go?

nancy6822 | @nancy6822 | 4 days ago

In reply to @badnaples "Thanks! Going to be tough for an avid runner/marathoner to transition to walking 😩" + (show)

You can do it.i had two aneusyms in my brain in 2013. I didn't know I had them. I had a seizure and went to doctor the next day. One aneusym was 15 centimeters with a smaller one behind it.my doctor said he had never seen one that big. I had surgery they cut me in my hairline. I have 2 large clips on first anuesym and one clip on the other. I'm okay now but still have trouble calling people's names and I had to learn how to cook and it messed with my sleep I only sleep for 3 to 4 hours at a time. But I have learned how to deal with that. I keep my medical papers with me at all times. Don't know if aneusym caused seizure or not so I chose to take medicine for it. But I do anything I want now. U go deer hunting fishing walking fields looking for arrowheads and take care of my family. I feel that someone was watching over me. They could have busted and I would have died. So don't give up you will get back to doing wh.at you love in n I time

thirdbird | @thirdbird | Apr 10 1:41pm

In reply to @mkoch "I was diagnosed a year ago with a "posterior communicating artery" aneurysm. Unfortunately, it was found..." + (show)

Thank you! I will watch the video tonight.

thirdbird | @thirdbird | Apr 10 1:40pm

In reply to @raisanicole "Recalling Neurosurgeon conversation, below 5mm is considered small. Between 5 & 7 mm is medium and..." + (show)

Thank you !

mkoch | @mkoch | Apr 10 12:39pm

In reply to @thirdbird "Diagnosed with an aneurism in my “posterior communicating artery” but don’t know the size yet. Can..." + (show)

I was diagnosed a year ago with a "posterior communicating artery" aneurysm. Unfortunately, it was found during an MRI check up for a meningioma I had removed via brain surgery. I wasn't in a space to deal with my new diagnosis, the aneurysm, so I did nothing for 6 months. I happened upon the most informative site regarding aneurysms that answered all my questions. Dr. Omar Chouddhri is a neurosurgeon at the University of Pennsylvania. I found a 35 minute presentation given by him on You Tube.com by typing in "Omar Chouddhri aneurysm video" in the search bar. He explained everything in a way a non-medical person could understand. I had already researched many websites with information on aneurysms through Mayo Clinic , Cleveland Clinic, Stanford, etc. but after watching that video I made my decision that I needed to follow up and have it coiled. So I took a quick mini-vacation to Hawaii and then came home and got serious about conferring with a neurosurgeon who specializes in aneurysm repairs. I had the procedure a week before Christmas. Not a big deal. And to answer your question, my understanding is that generally, any aneurysm over 5 mm needs to have an intervention of some kind. Once again, as with meningiomas of the brain, one's age, the location of the aneurysm, and it's size all play into the decision of how to deal with it. Hope that helps.

raisanicole | @raisanicole | Apr 9 7:40pm

In reply to @thirdbird "Diagnosed with an aneurism in my “posterior communicating artery” but don’t know the size yet. Can..." + (show)

Recalling Neurosurgeon conversation, below 5mm is considered small. Between 5 & 7 mm is medium and over 7 is large

thirdbird | @thirdbird | Apr 9 2:37pm

Diagnosed with an aneurism in my “posterior communicating artery” but don’t know the size yet. Can any of you tell me what is considered small, medium and large, or does it depend on the artery?

thirdbird | @thirdbird | Apr 9 2:10pm

Hi. I know this is an old thread but I am in the same boat. Any new advice or updates?

mkoch | @mkoch | Apr 3 2:30pm

In reply to @sarahjo900 "Additional CT scans tomorrow and appointment is on Monday, Mar 31." + (show)

sarahjo900: Hello, I hope your appointment 3 days ago went well in that you were able to consult with a neuro doc with a nice demeanor, got a clear explanation of your situation, and had all your questions answered.

tainan | @tainan | Apr 2 12:06pm

In reply to @sarahjo900 "I found out about my 4mm aneurysm because I was getting headaches at the beginning of..." + (show)

Headache is symptoms of BA.
Any BA size under 10mm is very dangerous for surgery. Risks outweigh the benefits provided by Neurosurgeons. I saw two doctors who gave me the advice.