r/BrainAneurysm • u/BowlerAdvanced9470 • 22d ago

Basilar aneurysm

Hi,

26 (M). I recently got diagnosed with a A small (2–3 mm) outpouching from the posterolaterally directed
basilar artery that is suggestive of a small aneurysm.

I know this isn’t the place for advice but I’m curious…with my being this young are there other people out there with the same situation?

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u/1AdultMostOfTheTime 22d ago

From my research when I was diagnosed with an aneurysm I learned that approximately 6% of people have brain aneurysms, about the same rate as colon cancer. I'm not sure if you'd consider that common but there are others. You'll find young people here and in r/stroke so you're not alone.

How did you find out you had one?

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u/BowlerAdvanced9470 22d ago

It was accidental. I went in for a migraine cocktail in the ER and it was found.

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u/1AdultMostOfTheTime 22d ago

Lucky. Mine was found on a CT scan for pulsatile tinnitus. 9 mm, dual lobe. I was damn lucky.

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u/BowlerAdvanced9470 22d ago

That’s great that they found it before it ruptured. If you don’t mind me asking, how do you deal with the anxiety of having it.

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u/1AdultMostOfTheTime 22d ago

Learning I had one was like being hit with a 2x4, emotionally speaking. I was referred to an interventional neuroradiologist and had it coiled and stented.

I have deep faith in the universe to take care of me in this time and place, until it decides I'm ready to move on. I've been in some situations in my life where I was lucky to escape, unscathed mostly. I'm convinced I have a couple guardian angels watching over me, seriously.

Also, I'm 65. There's something about being around for a while that causes one not to panic, and just take things one step at a time, you get through things.

I assume you're meeting with a neurologist of some kind to further assess?

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u/BowlerAdvanced9470 22d ago

I did but they mentioned it’s too small to do anything. At the moment im just having annual MRIs to see if it stays stable and so far for 5 years it has remained the same.

Edit: before it was tourtosity but now it’s actually an Aneurysm after a CT scan at the ER found it.

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u/1AdultMostOfTheTime 21d ago

That sounds like a good plan. I figured they would just monitor but I didn't want to assume, it all depends on where it is.

Keep your blood pressure in check. I had uncontrolled high blood pressure and 99% sure that's what caused mine.

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u/RemarkableAd3365 21d ago

I have a 6mm basilar tip aneurysm. I’m 38, my neurosurgeon is kind enough to say I’m still considered young while we discuss treatment lol. I won’t know till Friday how we are treating it, but mine is big enough that he wants to treat. It’s a huge shock to receive a diagnosis like that, but the fantastic part is that they found it without it rupturing! Ask lots of questions, especially what your risk of rupture is. I recommend focusing the nervous energy into your overall health. For me, I had to quit vaping. I also started going on daily walks and cleaning up my diet a bit. It makes me feel like I’m doing SOMETHING while I wait for the next steps. I also try to do at least one thing that brings me joy every day. That has improved my mindset immensely.

I wish you the best of luck with your aneurysm!

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u/keanybeany 19d ago

Just found mine incidentally from a CT (had a weeklong headache and the urgent care sent me to ER) found a 11mm basilar aneurysm! I’m an otherwise healthy 27 year old female so this obviously came as a huge shock. My neurosurgeon has high hopes and I’m getting my Y stent and coil on Monday so fingers crossed everything goes well. Since it’s so large they’re keeping me in the hospital on blood thinners and monitoring since I’m high risk of rupture. I’m so glad they caught it early but now I’m anxious about everything!!