So…it turns out my new infundibulum is actually an old infundibulum and has been around since at least 2022, possibly before then. It IS visible in my 2022 angiogram images and it’s mentioned in the report, which I didn’t check out until we got home. It wasn’t really discussed then that I can remember. At that time, we were mainly concerned about the flow diverter and if it had stopped the blood from gathering at the neck of my original brain aneurysm — which it has.
Dr. Ecker explains this particular infundibulum is not threatening, it’s stable, and we will continue to watch it over the years. It is filled with blood, but we’re not sure why it showed up as a NEW artifact on the MRA. That’s the whole reason I then had the angiogram: to pinpoint what that artifact was.
My 2026 angiogram image. Unable to see the stent and the flow diverter in this image.
I was able to grab a screen capture of the latest angiogram images in the doctor’s office. Really fascinating to see the large 11mm original aneurysm filled with coils showing as a large gray mass. Then to see how close the clip actually is to the first aneurysm. As Dr. Ecker said, neurologically speaking “it’s in another room.” due to the microscopic aspect of their work. He also pointed out where the infundibulum is. It looks big to me, but it’s only around 3.7mm.
Pointing out Thing One, Thing Two, and now Thing Three. At least Thing Three isn’t an aneurysm.
So, the good news is that’s it’s nothing new, but it’s there. Am I happy something is there? No. Not really. Just one more thing to monitor. The plan now is to do a follow-up MRA in two years.
Now that I have learned how to pronounce infundibulum, I hope that’s all I have to be concerned with.
I had my 13th cerebral angiogram two days ago. Lucky 13? Well, it almost was! The clean bill of health would have been the doc saying “it was a glitch on the MRA, we don’t see anything there”. There IS something there, but more on that later.
Snow was forecast for not only our area, but for Portland as well, so Dave and I drove down Tuesday night to stay over and avoid driving the next morning in the snow for an hour. Thankfully, the snow only amounted to a few inches and it was out of the area before morning. I’m still glad we stayed over. It was nice not to have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to drive the hour to get to Portland. Instead our hotel was a short 10-minute drive away from the hospital.
The angiogram was scheduled in Maine Med’s new Surgery 2 suite, which was new for us. All of my previous procedures have been done in Radiology. This new suite included a new waiting room and pre- and post-op areas.
Once we were checked in to admissions, and were taken to the new surgery in the Bean Tower area of the hospital, I was promptly prepped for the procedure by a lovely RN named Sasha. She was originally from the UK and had a wonderful British accent. Being called “my lovely” for an hour was highly relaxing. Her skills with the needle were also excellent. I hardly felt the IV and there is no bump or any bruising on the site 2 days later.
Sasha’s handy work. Two thumbs up!
Dave, as usual, took advantage of having some captive audiences at his disposal to chat about our brain aneurysm group and our (his and my) collective experience with aneurysms and the relationship with Maine Medical Center.
Although I don’t necessarily enjoy speaking about the subject at length just before going in to have a brain scan that could change my life, they are important discussions and Dave is good (or annoying depending on the nurse/doc) at striking up those conversations and engaging with anyone who is willing (and has the time) to listen on the hospital staff.
Sasha and Dave also shared a love of British murder mystery televisions shows! Once aneurysm chat ended, it quickly switched to their favorite shows and characters. It was a nice, and unexpected change of subject matter. I don’t watch them, so it was highly enjoyable for Dave to chat with someone who watches the same series.
After answering everyone’s medical questions, I was soon given some happy juice and wheeled back to the surgical suite. It appeared to me to be a smaller, but more organized room and certainly shiny and new. I slid to the table and was “prepared”. They shave your groin, place your arms in plastic guards, and give you a bit more happy juice. Since this was just a diagnostic procedure, they don’t completely knock you out and you do need to be alert enough to follow a command to hold your breath during the scan.
After the 3-D images were taken, Dr. Ecker briefly and very medically, described what his initial findings were while I was still on the table, but I wasn’t quite “with it” to remember or understand everything he said. He also went and spoke to Dave in the waiting room. Dave and I compared notes in recovery and neither of us were completely sure what the results were, but it sounded promising.
There were no issues during the angiogram and I was taken to the recovery room where nurse Dani (not sure how he spelled it…it was French) made sure both Dave and I were taken care of and he checked my incision/puncture site every 20 minutes or so.
Laying flat for 2 hours isn’t that bad and I only asked for a cup of hot tea. I wasn’t as hungry as I thought I’d be, but knew we could eat on the way home. After successfully walking a wee bit and having no issues, I was discharged to Dave’s care.
We stopped for some fast food on the drive north. We arrived at home, fed the cats, and promptly took it easy and put on all the comfy clothes while I waited for the official results to be posted on the MyChart online portal from the hospital.
Those results came out yesterday and I believe I interpreted them correctly. The great news is that the item in question is NOT a brain aneurysm. It’s actually a deformed blood vessel, or an ophthalmic infundibulum. An infundibulum usually has a funnel shape and typically isn’t associated with the same risks as aneurysms. They’re often benign and don’t require immediate treatment. I’m assuming it will probably be monitored along with my usual regular checkups for my brain aneurysms. It’s about 3mm in size.
At least that’s what I am initially reading online…which is ALWAYS correct information, right? 😉 I have a follow up appointment with the doc to discuss it on March 10th where I can ask more questions, see the images, and discuss a course of action, if one is even needed.
I also saw the great news on my report that the artery has healed over the flow diverter that was placed in 2022. Mission accomplished on that end!
I feel better after reading the results report and pray this is just another lovely part of my funky vascular system that I have to live with and learn how to pronounce correctly.
As usual, my care at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center was top-notch. Everyone from the surgeons, the PA’s, the nurses, the staff who assist with getting people from one floor to the next, do it with professionalism and care. I cannot recommend them enough.
I forgot to send out an update from my follow-up appointment with my neurosurgeon regarding the December MRA results.
Last week, I met with him in his office in Scarborough. We reviewed the images, and he pointed out a spot that he’s unsure about whether it’s real or not. After a short discussion, I decided to have a cerebral angiogram to get a closer look and determine definitively if it’s something real.
So, I’m currently in the delightful “wait mode” while a referral is being sent to the insurance company. Once they approve the request for service, I can schedule the actual procedure. I’m starting to lose track of how many angiograms I’ve had, but it’s definitely in the teens.
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.” —Walt Whitman
Watch this terrific 10-minute video showing a live cerebral angiogram performed in the UK.
Happy National Puzzle Day! I can’t recall doing many jigsaw puzzles growing up. My first recollection of puzzles filling a need, was during the time my dad was fighting cancer.
The hospital in Buffalo, NY where he was treated for five months, had a large waiting room where my mother and two sisters would gather until the next time we could see him. There was always a puzzle set out on the table. I found it a wonderful way to pass time, settle my mind on something other than the trauma our family was going through, and a small reward each time you found the right piece for the right spot.
I picked up puzzles again, a few years ago after having a difficult couple of months where we had to say goodbye to our two beloved senior kitties within months of each other. I reconnected to the calming and challenging influence finishing a puzzle had.
As a brain aneurysm survivor, I also take comfort in knowing my brain is being exercised while working on puzzles.
According to many reputable online sources, working on jigsaw puzzles can help keep your brain healthy by improving memory, problem-solving skills, and cognitive function. Engaging in puzzles activates different parts of the brain, which can enhance overall mental sharpness.
Cognitive Improvement
Memory Enhancement: Jigsaw puzzles help improve short-term memory by reinforcing connections between brain cells.
Visual and Spatial Reasoning: They enhance the ability to visualize and manipulate objects in your mind, which is useful for tasks like reading maps or driving.
Problem-Solving Skills: Regularly solving puzzles encourages creative and effective problem-solving through trial and error.
Mental Health Benefits
Stress Relief: Engaging in puzzles can reduce stress levels, similar to meditation, by allowing the brain to focus on a single task.
Mood Enhancement: Completing puzzles increases dopamine production, which improves mood and concentration.
Overall Brain Health
Cognitive Delay: Regular participation in puzzles may delay the onset of dementia symptoms by up to two and a half years, although they cannot prevent dementia on their own.
Not all puzzles are alike, however. Some have thinner pieces, some have pieces that are the exact same size and shape, and others are frameless. I prefer ones with a straight edge frame, slightly larger pieces that aren’t too thin and that are cut in different shapes. I was gifted a hand-made puzzle and could not finish it. Not only was it printed on a glossy surface, which made seeing the pieces difficult, but they were all the exact same size and shape and very thin, which made it easy to misplace or slip out of my fingers. I ended up abandoning it because, although it was a huge challenge, it wasn’t fun or relaxing in ANY way.
My favorite puzzles are from White Mountain Puzzles in Vermont. I like to do 1,000-piece puzzles that are beautiful scenes or subjects that interest me like the ocean, cats, birds, or tea. The large, portable puzzle table I purchased also provides a safe place to house the puzzle and its pieces from our new kitties we adopted.
There is a true sense of accomplishment when I finally place that final piece.
Heidi's Brain Blog 
