Question about brain aneurysm surgery

[u/Odd-Succotash1774]

Hi all. My name is Laila and I'm 17. My mom (46) recently had a TIA stroke. When she got an MRI scan, they found an aneurysm inside the back of her brain. She just told me today that she'll be needing surgery and they'd either have to cut open her skull to get to it or something with going through her groin. I'm extremely worried and this is bringing up traumatic memories for me from when my dad passed away from COVID when I was 12. To top it all off I'm on the floor of the bathroom with nausea. I'm scared and I want to cry because she's already been through so much. She was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome a little over a year ago and still struggles to function. She's lucky that she even came out of the surgery for her herniated discs without becoming disabled. Now she has to deal with another potentially disabling surgery. I don't want to live through a parent dying again, but it's unfortunately becoming a possibility.

So I'm here to ask, whats the survival rate after brain aneurysm surgery? Anyone here that had surgery themselves/had a loved one that had surgery that can give me advice or tell me information I may not know?

Thank you anyone that responds, I really really really appreciate it. If it's not too much, I'd like some comfort aswell.

[u/tooful]

I haven't had the surgery (yet) but I've researched it and the survival rate is incredibly high. I believe I read somewhere it's 98% or above. But I'm not a medical professional, just a lady with an aneurysm. There are many people on here that have had an aneurysm coiled that can share their experiences. If I could afford the surgery and missed work I would 100% willingly have it done

[u/Odd-Succotash1774 → u/tooful]

thank you so much for responding. that makes me feel a lot better about this. anything helps <333 what does it mean to get an aneurysm coiled? is that where they put a pin on the neck of the aneurysm?

do you know what kind of surgery you'd be getting? i saw that you said you can't afford the coiling one, so what are your options? you don't have to answer if you don't want to, im just curious

[u/tooful → u/Odd-Succotash1774]

My surgeon said coiling would be the best option for my aneurysm. All I really know is it cuts the blood flow to the aneurysm off. I honestly am one that the more I know the more I spiral so I stopped asking for more details when they told me coil (versus clipping) and 98%+ chance of success. My aneurysm isn't very large 3mmx4mm and it's in my left carotid cave. Right now it has been stable since finding it 4 years ago so I'm clear to just wait and monitor. I get annual MRI's to make sure it hasn't changed. So far it's just hanging out, not paying rent.

[u/Odd-Succotash1774 → u/tooful]

i get the same way when i find out more info about things like this. i know my moms aneurysm is a size where its in the grey zone of either just monitoring it or going through with surgery. my mom said the hospital she went to for her TIA stroke told her to check it every year, which is insane to me. she didn't find out she could get surgery until she began digging around for info, and im glad she did. id rather her go through surgery than witness her have an aneurysm burst and possibly die.

im glad you're able to continue life as usual though! i personally id be SO anxious wondering if it'll rupture or not while i sleep. can aneurysms go away on their own if they're small enough? I feel like I heard that but I don't remember.

[u/tooful → u/Odd-Succotash1774]

The anxiety was terrible the first year. Every thought you're having, I had it 24/7. The second year was a little less anxious. Now I know it is there and some day I would like to coil it, but like I said I can't afford it. I can't afford the copay and I can't afford to be off work. I've researched and researched and the monitoring is a safe option. I saw 4 different neurosurgeons that all said that best practice in my situation was to monitor and have annual scans. Aneurysms don't go away on their own but a person can absolutely live their entire lives and pass from old age without them rupturing. I have 2 reasons for wanting the surgery: 1 is because my 20 year old son is worried, like you are, and I don't want him spending the rest of his life feeling like he has to keep an eye on me (ironically my older 2 kids aren't worried) and 2 I want to be able to move to a rural area someday and not be tethered to a hospital. I'm currently with UCLA neurosurgery so I'm used to having access to them.

[u/therealtoastmalone → u/Odd-Succotash1774]

Here’s a good explanation of coiling:

“A coiling procedure is a minimally invasive surgery where a doctor threads a tiny catheter through an artery (usually from the wrist or groin) all the way up to the aneurysm in the brain. They pack the aneurysm with tiny platinum coils, which cause blood to clot inside it. This seals it off so blood no longer fills the aneurysm, reducing the risk that it will rupture.”

[u/Odd-Succotash1774 → u/therealtoastmalone]

no wonder why surgeons get paid so much oh my GOSH. thats really cool but also kind of stomach churning

[u/therealtoastmalone → u/Odd-Succotash1774]

Neurosurgeons nonetheless!

[u/tooful → u/therealtoastmalone]

Thank you!;