Category: Clipping

Clipping a Brain Aneurysm

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Dave and I both admitted to each other on the drive to Portland that we were both scared last night. We were scared something would go wrong during surgery and I would not be the same afterwards. As a result I would regret making the decision. Well…as it turns out it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

We also both admitted our fears were completely resolved when Dr. Ecker walked into to the pre-op prep room and explained the procedure again. He just oozes confidence. Hower, he mentioned the size and location of the incision and THAT was news. He told us in September the size of the location he opened the skull, but not the size of the skin incision. THAT was much larger and something Dave and I should have though about but never did.

They quickly put me under when I got into operating room, so I didn’t get much of a chance to see either doctor or explore this operating theatre. Previously I had only been in radiology.

The actual procedure only took about and hour and a half instead of the 4-5 hours we were warned about.

I woke up to Dave standing over me and I was already correcting him and Dr. Ecker told me it was a huge success and they he able to place the clip in a perfect spot. He also informed me that the top of the aneurysm was very thin walled…we may have dodged a bullet with this one.

I was taken to the lovely 6o8 neuro ward. The staff is great…the atmosphere is not. I got no sleep and then became very nauseous over night as well. Twas a long night.

My head was hurting pretty bad and my jaw was quite painful. I learned the next morning they had to cut my jaw muscle. Goody!

I also got the first look at my incision. Wow! It’s big and ugly with 53 stitches in the outer skin.

Clipping Day has Arrived!

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So, here I am at 5 a.m. ready to head down to the hospital for my brain aneurysm clipping today. I have my Care Bear (part of my “Get-Better-Bear” collection) who is wearing the angel necklace made and given to me by Kim.

I know there are two (Kim & Dori), now three (Rhonda), very special angels watching over me today. Wish me luck! And hopefully I’ll be posting more blog entries soon.

The More You Know

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This is a public service announcement for those who are interested in the brain procedure I’m having done this week.

Many people still don’t quite understand the previous three procedures I had done were not open brain surgery, but were done endovascularly via the main artery, which means the surgeon entered the brain through my groin. I know….strange, huh?

When my larger brain aneurysm ruptured in 2006, they inserted 16 very tiny platinum coils into the aneurysm to fill it and then the blood clots around the coils and basically seals up the aneurysm. The size and shape of the aneurysm lent itself to the less invasive procedure because it’s actually sitting ON my optical nerve and clipping at that time did not seem like a life-saving option.

However, five years later, it was discovered those 16 coils had started to compact and blood was once again starting to enter the aneurysm. As a result, 4 more coils were inserted and a stent was placed at the base of the aneurysm to keep blood flowing past the bottom of the aneurysm and keep the coils in place. So far so good on that one, but all three procedures were done via the groin.

My second, smaller brain aneurysm has grown and it has an odd shape in that it’s more rectangular and coiling didn’t seem to be the more durable option this time. A small titanium clip will be placed across the neck of the aneurysm. Then the aneurysm will be popped and should simply disappear, but it requires opening up the skull, going into the brain, adding the clip and closing my skull back up. A little more involved than the coiling and will require a little longer recovery period.

I found this great website that describes the clipping procedure in a no-nonsense type of way. I think this will really explain the procedure for those who are still confused. ANEURYSM CLIPPING

Then I found this terrific blog post written by a neuro-nurse on what to expect after a craniotomy. This gave me a better sense of what to expect afterwards in the hosptial and she injected some humor, which always helps. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING A CRANIOTOMY

I will try to keep people updated on my progress and recovery on this blog.

Soul Searching

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As I have been psyching myself up the last three months for my surgery on the 16th, a sudden and tragic event almost put a stop to the whole process. On January 2nd, I lost my older sister Rhonda to cardiac arrest. I am now an only child and my niece has lost both of her parents in her young lifetime. Only 19 months ago, I lost my other sister Dori. Just too soon…..

My familyThankfully we all spent a joyful, family Christmas together in New York. I’m so glad I went home, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

After some soul searching, and with the prodding and support from my mother and niece, I am going to go ahead with the surgery. I suppose one can grieve just as easily during recovery. I already have the time slated off from work. I was most worried about putting my family through more stress, but they have assured me that wanted me to take care of ME and move on. Let’s hope that’s the case for all of us.

So, it will be with a heavy heart that I go into my surgery next week. Hoping that this procedure will prevent putting my family through more pain further down the road and Dave and I can continue to LIVE life and enjoy it. As we’re both so well aware…life can be very short. It can be very unfair and it can be a wonderful, beautiful thing as well.

Keep those prayers coming. We’re all going to need them.