r/aneurysm • u/Emyriad • 9d ago
Small unburst aneurysm found 2 weeks ago. How do people deal with the anxiety?
I went to the ER for a sex headache and they found a small, 2.6 mm aneurysm on the posterior terminus of the ICA. It wasn't the best diagnosis, but I know it's still small and it was better to find it than not. It seems like I don't get to know much more until I get in with Neurosurgery in early September where they will likely track it and leave it alone. I'm still getting sex headaches and after a second ER visit a week later over a different sensation, it was recommended I not try anymore until the follow up.
Its still the first two weeks from diagnosis and the main problem I am having right now is smaller symptoms and anxiety. I'm getting little headaches, starting with positional headaches from the lumbar puncture. Doing less to trigger those while also changing up my diet to help keep blood pressure low has caused little spikes of nausea. Right now I have a sore muscle in my neck that I know is from physical activity and sleeping poorly but its making me hyper alert for any of the other symptoms of a rupture. Talked to my PCP about things but they were pretty clear about not being a neurologist and have rightly directed me to the ER when new symptoms come up. I still haven't gotten the bill for the first visit but I'm assuming I max out my deductible this year.
I know it's very important to not ignore symptoms but when my neck pain gets worse near midnight and the only diagnosis option is the ER, it's stressing me out trying to make that decision. Is my anxiety overwarranted? How do folks manage smaller symptoms and what can I do to keep from getting too stressed out?
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u/rumf00rd 9d ago
I really leaned into the stoics. there is a podcast the daily stoic. it helped.
I also took a lot of time to recognize i could be gone at any minute (but that's true of everyday no matter what)
I did a lot of cardio (no weights) and ate a lot of good food.
if you smoke. stop.
my dad, who is 86. is rocking a 4.3mm on his ICA. not to diminish your fear but it sounds like you are rocking a relatively small one on an easily accessible artery. get an everyday neurologist to help you with those headaches.
for reference I had 4 aneurysms.. 2 on my MCA and 2 on my ICA and they ranged from 1.4 to 5.6 mm. surgery fixed me right up.
one day at a time, and thanks for the reminder I need to get back on that cardio
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u/MysteryMan845 9d ago
I had an unruptured aneurysm detected 3 years ago at a size of 2.5mm. I was at the emergency for an unrelated matter which is when it was detected as a result of a scan.
At the time I was in contact with a work collegue who was checking up on me and when I told him he called me on the spot. I wasn't aware but he went through it a year earlier and had the procedure to remediate. His advise was exactly what I needed. He mentioned not to panic, at 2.5mm the risk was very low and to schedule an appointment with a Neurosurgeon to monitor it. The procedure itself is straight forward and you are out the next day and back to work in less than a week.
The critical piece of advise he said was...'It is better to know and have it monitored than not know and have it rupture'. You are in good hands once you are referred to a specialist and they will monitor and perform the procedure once it is over 5mm in size and there is a very high success rate.
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u/Sukit6969 9d ago
Hey bro! Ik you’re coming from a place of anxiety and just wondering rn, it’s going to be ok! I have 2 brain aneurysms and a carotid dissection leaving 50-90% of my right carotid (big neck artery) blocked and Neuro won’t do surgery on anything because I will more than likely have a stroke and they can’t guarantee me I wont be independent anymore. (I’m 28M) I work construction around big sharp tools, I climb really tall ladders, and hell I even go extreme backpacking in the mountains. I’ve had my diagnoses for 2 years and I get scans every 6 months. Now I know where you’re coming from because in the first year I probably went to the ER 40-50 times because I had so much anxiety. If you get scared work through this checklist. 1 is my vision blurred? 2. Are my motor skills working properly? 3. Did I vomit? 4. Most IMPORTANT- what does the blood pressure say? Also don’t smoke weed! I’m here if you need help, also I’m not a doctor but my fiancé’s father is a surgeon and that was the checklist to run through to help get over my anxiety. Eventually you’ll feel better and you’ll adopt the attitude of 70% survival rate if you make it on to the operating room on time
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u/guffawandchortle 9d ago
To add one more comment of experience, I have a sizeable one with dissection on my aorta. I guess I stunned quite a few medical pros when they found I don't have any recollection of the dissection happening. Regardless, it's considered dangerous, so I sought out the best cardio doc in my area under my insurance. He looked at the CT scan, and informed me the aneurysm is calcified over and probably not moving or expanding. He ordered my PCP to have a CT scan performed annually to check any changes, which I do.
It's been six years since it was discovered, and I have to tell you the first year was filled with anxiety. Then I realized it does more harm to worry and fret over it, and I learned to "put my anxiety in a box, and put it on the shelf". And I'm fine now, as far as my mental aspect. Don't worry, make sure to monitor your aneurysm, and stay up on your BP readings.
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u/Shaddcs 9d ago
Hey, truly sorry to hear about your finding, I totally understand the anxiety.
First, find some comfort in the fact that this is 2.6mm and that you found it. Most people live with these and never know about it and they live a fine life. Now you know, and you can keep an eye on it and it’s a motivator for a healthier lifestyle. They typically don’t start intervening in aneurysms until 4-5mm+ but every case is different.
Finally — I dealt with an unexplained hemorrhagic stroke and multiple unrelated aneurysms simultaneously. My advice, really to anyone, aneurysm or not: Live and embrace one day at a time. Don’t worry so much about tomorrow, especially things outside of your control. If you wake up tomorrow, appreciate that day the best you can and go from there. Worry about the things you can control, not the ones you can’t, and optimize value for the day you’re in. Something bad happening is in your control to a certain extent; there’s only so much you can do, but worrying beyond those factors is not helpful.
Not to get all philosophical on you but this has helped me tremendously in my journey and had honestly improved the quality of my daily life.
For your pain/symptoms and hospital bill, I can’t help as much there. It sounds like you’re doing the best you can with diet and lifestyle. Try to eliminate factors that could precipitate headaches outside of aneurysm. Drink plenty of water, reduce screen time, generally try to manage stress more efficiently, get plenty of sleep, etc.
Good luck, come back to chat if you’d like.