Brain Aneurysm
We shall see but a little way if we require to understand what we see - Henry David Thoreau
image by: The Lisa Foundation for Brain Aneurysms
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Five Years After A Brain Aneurysm, Fear Of Dying Can't Make Me Quit Living
As I sat down to write today, it dawned on me that this might come off as a touch self-indulgent. But then I realized that a blog, by definition, is inherently self-indulgent, is it not? So here goes…
Five years ago today was the single worst day of my life. Two weeks earlier, a three-month battle with debilitating migraines ended in a terrifying diagnosis: a brain aneurysm. And on the morning of May 9th, 2008, I kissed my wife goodbye before being wheeled into an operating room, where Dr. Robert Rosenwasser of Thomas Jefferson Hospital proceeded to cut through my skull, recess my brain, and clip off the offending artery.
While many of the events of that day have…
Resources
Brain Aneurysms Need Watching, not Worrying
Once an aneurysm is found, it requires a careful evaluation by a specialist who understands the risk an aneurysm could pose to the patient. Medical studies show the risk of a brain aneurysm rupturing is quite low. In some cases, this risk can be less than half a percent per year and most brain aneurysms fall into this low-risk category. In these cases, neurosurgeons do not recommend treatment given the low risk to the patient. However, all aneurysms are followed with brain imaging studies over several years to ensure they are not growing.
The Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Aneurysm
Every year, aneurysms burst in the brains of about 10 in 10,000 people. If you grabbed 100 Americans off the street and gave them a brain scan, two would likely have what’s called a cerebral aneurysm—a weak or bulging blood vessel in the brain. Most of these ballooning arteries have no symptoms and may never cause problems.
Understanding cerebral aneurysms following the death of journalist Lisa Colagrossi
One of the challenges in evaluating patients with cerebral aneurysms is knowing when to pursue treatment of an aneurysm in the brain, and when to monitor the aneurysm.
Bret Michaels - Talk Slurry to Me
It is estimated that 1 in 15 people will develop a cerebral aneurysm during their lifetime - but the majority will never rupture! The Brain Aneurysm Foundation says, “50% of people who experience an SAH die within minutes of a massive hemorrhage."
Cerebral aneurysms: Formation, progression and developmental chronology
The prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UAIs) in the general population is up to 3%. Existing epidemiological data suggests that only a small fraction of UIAs progress towards rupture over the lifetime of an individual, but the surrogates for subsequent rupture and the natural history of UIAs are discussed very controversially at present.
Endovascular coiling versus neurosurgical clipping in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm: a systematic review
Coiling was a better procedure for treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysm in terms of disability, complications, especially in the short term. Because of the limitations of the reviewed studies, further studies are required to support the present results.
Endovascular Treatment Of Aneurysms Effective, But May Lead To Recurrence Years Later
Based on a new study, while endovascular treatment (EVT) of intracranial aneurysms is effective in preventing long-term rupture and bleeding, there is an increased risk of recurrence, leading some experts to question the value of this approach.
How I Survived a Brain Aneurysm
One weekend many autumns ago, we were getting ready to have dinner when our doctor called us, and said “I just saw your CT scan reports. You have a brain aneurysm, and you need to go to emergency right now, and get admitted in hospital”. So we skipped dinner, and quickly walked down to the hospital.
Medical Thriller, With a Life in the Balance
I was in a neurologist’s office to discuss the results of my brain scan. For the past month and a half, I’d had headaches that felt as if my skull was underwater, punctuated by frequent electric jolts through the right side of my brain. Two CT scans and an M.R.I. had revealed nothing. All the drug treatments tried by my doctor had failed to change me back into myself. But the new test, magnetic resonance angiography, had uncovered something. “You have a cerebral aneurysm,” the neurologist announced. “It’s small. You’ll have to see a neurosurgeon, but it probably won’t require surgery.”
What is a brain aneurysm?
Some people will say, "This is the worst headache of my life." And when people hear that phrase—they're taught this in medial school—they should be very worried that [the patient] just had an aneurysmal hemorrhage. What we've come to recognize over time is that's only one presentation. The presentation that should alert the physician to the possibility of an aneurysmal hemorrhage is sudden and severe [headaches]. You can imagine that there are a lot of people out there who have headaches, have migraine disorders. The tip-off is when the headache is different than their typical headache.
Brain aneurysm: Things you need to know
Even though treatment options are available when an aneurysm is detected early, misdiagnosis or delays in diagnosis occur in up to one-quarter of patients who visit the doctor with symptoms.
What are my treatment options?
Factors other than aneurysm anatomy are also important, including age, clinical grade, comorbid medical conditions, and aneurysm location. While largely unstudied, the less invasive nature of endovascular coiling is likely to be favored with older age, poor clinical grade, serious comorbid medical conditions, and certain aneurysm location (e.g., basilar tip).
Five Years After A Brain Aneurysm, Fear Of Dying Can't Make Me Quit Living
Because of these terrifying statistics, there simply aren’t that many aneurysm survivors among us, and many of those who do survive are not as fortunate as I was, and suffer either enough of a bleed or complications from surgery that leave them unable to return to an active lifestyle.
Aneurysm Aphorisms
On 3 July 2013 I was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm, which later turned out to be two. This blog is a journey into my brain as I deal to the aneurysms lurking there. Along the way I'm calling on the collective proverbial wisdom and sage advice of some recognised (and maybe a few not-so-recognised) writers for aphorisms which complement my journey.
Heidi's Brain Blog
I am a two-time brain aneurysm survivor. I had a rupture in 2006 and that was coiled and then in 2011 a 2nd one was discovered and that was clipped (un-ruptured) in January, 2014. During that time period I also lost my sister to a ruptured brain aneurysm and my husband’s niece died of a rupture. Unfortunately, my family has been doubly touched by this silent killer. Writing this blog has not only been therapeutic for me over the years, but I have been told it has helped a few people since I started it in 2006.
Brain Aneurysm Foundation
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation provides support and educational materials to the medical community, the newly diagnosed, survivors, family members, friends and the general public regarding the facts, treatment options, and recovery process for brain aneurysms. With the help of the medical community, remain steadfast and earnest in the pursuit of brain aneurysm research that can directly benefit those affected.
Brain Aneurysms
The American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN) is a non-profit educational society of physicians and scientists interested in interventional and therapeutic neuroradiology. ASITN's mission is to promote excellence in patient care, provide education, support research, influence health care policy, and foster the growth of its specialty.
Joe Niekro Foundation
The Joe Niekro Foundation™ is committed to supporting patients and families, research, treatment and awareness of Brain Aneurysms, AVMs and Hemorrhagic Strokes. We provide education on the risk factors, causes and treatments of these conditions, while funding the advancement of neurological research.™ is committed to supporting patients and families, research, treatment and awareness of Brain Aneurysms, AVMs and Hemorrhagic Strokes. We provide education on the risk factors, causes and treatments of these conditions, while funding the advancement of neurological research.
Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness
Our goal is to provide support to the brain aneurysm community, help fund research, and raise public awareness regarding early detection and treatment of brain aneurysms.
Personal Stories
Brain aneurysm survivors are a small population of people, but they are growing larger as medical technology continues to grow and early detection and treatment of brain aneurysms becomes more prevalent. At support group meetings, survivors often share their stories. Telling the story is important for a survivor/family member. Reading the story also benefits the reader who learns how each person has coped with his/her symptoms after the aneurysm. Here are stories of those affected by brain aneurysms.
The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation
The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation (TAAF) is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to bettering the lives, support networks, and medical care of those affected by aneurysm and other vascular malformations of the brain. We are an all-volunteer organization run by survivors, caregivers, and medical professionals.
The Bee Foundation
The mission of The Bee Foundation is to raise awareness of brain aneurysms and increase funding for innovative research that changes lives. We are building a robust and dynamic brain aneurysm research community with our Scientific Advisory Board, donors and network of researchers interested in grant funding to support meaningful research. Our community, anchored by our grant recipients, is committed to advancing brain aneurysm research.
The Toronto Brain Vascular Malformation Study Group
A cerebral aneurysm is a bulge or balloon like dilatation/swelling of the wall of a blood vessel in the brain. It is a weakening in the wall with a propencity to rupture.
Life After Your Brain Explodes
When I was 25, I had a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. I later joined a brain injury support group -- reluctantly.
MayoClinic
Most brain aneurysms, however, don't rupture, create health problems or cause symptoms. Such aneurysms are often detected during tests for other conditions.
MedicineNet
Cerebral aneurysms are common, but most are asymptomatic and are found incidentally at autopsy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Some cerebral aneurysms, particularly those that are very small, do not bleed or cause other problems. These types of aneurysms are usually detected during imaging tests for other medical conditions. Cerebral aneurysms can occur anywhere in the brain, but most form in the major arteries along the base of the skull. Brain aneurysms can occur in anyone and at any age. They are most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60 and are more common in women than in men. People with certain inherited disorders are also at higher risk.
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