Category: Coiling

Getting Ready for Round 2

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As I’m getting ready for the round 2 coiling procedure on my brain aneurysm remnant, I’m reminded after reading a brain aneurysm foundation post, about just how fortunate and blessed I am.

So, get ready, I’m going to count my blessings!

  • My initial rupture of this damn aneurysm didn’t kill me: Blessing #1
  • There was a local Dr. who came back from vacation to insert 16 coils into the aneurysm saving my life: Blessing #2
  • My then boyfriend (now husband) was by my side every day of the 20 days I was in the hospital, even driving back down to the hospital only a couple hours after he left…over an hours drive: Blessing #3
  • My rupture didn’t leave me with any deficits or loss of functions, so I was able to able to return to my job 3 months later: Blessing #4
  • I was able to enjoy four uninterrupted, annie-free years of working, living, gardening and loving life after my rupture: Blessing #5
  • I was married last year to my Maine Man, my angel, and my best friend who has continued to care for me on a daily basis and be so, so understanding and patient: Blessing #6
  • After losing our only Dr. who did coiling in the state, a new Dr. has arrived in the state who does both brain procedures, coiling and clipping: Blessing #7
  • Unfortunately, an issue has developed with my original ruptured aneurysm from 2006 and another smaller aneurysm was newly discovered, but, I KNOW about them and we can monitor and DO something about them before they rupture: Blessing #8
  • I’ll have coiling on Wednesday, by a Dr. who I have a tremendous amount of confidence in. My sister is flying in to be with my husband during the procedure: Blessing #9
  • My family, friends, co-workers and completed strangers who I have befriended on message boards are praying for me: Blessing #10
  • -If all goes well, I’ll be back home on Thursday and recovering nicely….hopefully Blessing #11!!

March Stents Bring April Coils

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The date for my additional coils to be inserted into the brain aneurysm remnant has finally been scheduled for April 27th. I’m not crazy about waiting 3 more weeks, but it is what it is. I know there are other people out there with other needs and the scheduling at the hospital has been an issue because my Dr. is leaving for Finland for the entire month of May. At least I know when it’ll be done.

I forget that I have a stent in that artery, not something to BLOCK the blood flow into the aneurysms per say. So, there is still blood flowing into that remnant on the side of the aneurysm that has already ruptured once before. That makes me a little uneasy, but I’ll try not to think about it too much and continue on.

I’m hoping to get more seeds planted this weekend and continue to grow things as I normally would. It IS spring you know…the season of rebirth and renewal.

Another month…more metal in my brain! Yeee hawww!

Post-Op Follow Up Appointment

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Here’s what I know 5 days later:

•I’ll be on Plavix and Aspirin for at least 3 months.
•The coiling will possibly be scheduled for the end of April. Probably the 20th or the 27th. Dr. Ecker leaves for Finland for three weeks in May to study with a top surgeon there and he wants to make sure he has a follow-up appointment with me before he leaves.
•He doesn’t feel the dizziness and acid reflux are a result of the stenting. I’m checking into one more medication issue with my reg. Dr. now that what I’m experiencing isn’t a common after-effect of stenting. He almost felt it might be from being taken OFF the prozac because of its complication with Plavix.
•The Dr. said if I’m still having dizzy issues at the end of the week to give him a call and he’d order up another CT Scan.
•He said, once I’m not dizzy (LOL), I can have a drink or two. Yippee!! I have some Guinness waiting in the fridge for me to have my delayed St Patrick’s Day drink when the time comes.
•He performed the usual balance and vision tests on me. Had to walk in a straight line forwards and backwards and follow the number of fingers he’s holding up, etc. I passed, even though I did lose my balance briefly and had to grab his leg for support. Ooops! Was that inappropriate? His leg was closer than Dave’s was. LOL
•I’ll still have to continue to take the 4 propholactic antibiotics before every dental visit. Probably the rest of
my life.

I love his confidence with what he does. It really rubs off. I asked him so many questions about things I could and shouldn’t be doing like gardening or soaking in the tub. He basically said, unless something occurs, continue with my life as I lived it prior to the stent insertion. I think he deals with a LOT of elderly people so having a younger person he can joke with and encourage to live my life and enjoy it, is probably
a nice change.

He showed us the images taken during my procedure and pointed out the stent. It sure is an odd shaped artery, but the
stent opens up the walls very, very well. Dr. Ecker seemed to think coiling wouldn’t be an issue at all now. He did start to try coiling during the procedure last week, but during that process the lower part of the artery “shut down”, meaning I had a vasospam and he had to inject me with some Nitroglycerin. In looking at the notes Dr. Kwan reported after my initial coiling in 2006, the same thing happened in that surgery too, so I guess it’s a really good thing it happens on the table, that’s for sure.

Dr. Ecker was also VERY pleased to see the vascular arterial structure on the right side of my brain and all around
the aneurysms looked very good. So, I was happy he was happy.

Dave and I discussed any symptoms to look for in the next few days, but Dr. Ecker was quick to point out that the first 6 hours after the procedure then the next 24 hours were the most critical and he felt I was doing very well. Tell my head, throat, bruises and dizziness that! I got no sleep last night because of this new acid reflux crap along with a dandy headache, so I ended up sitting up in the wing back chair all night. Which I’m sure just does wonders for my neck and my back. I just popped two pills to help with the headache I’ve had all day.

Things To Do This Week

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Yes, this week has finally come.

Wednesday (16th) I will have more coils added to my brain aneurysm after it was discovered in January that the 16 platinum coils that were inserted back in 2006
when it ruptured were either compacting or the aneurysm was growing and blood was flowing back into it. Since it’s an aneurysm that has already ruptured
once, everyone felt it was important to get this taken care of sooner rather than later.

The 2nd smaller aneurysm will be monitored. Right now there doesn’t appear to be a risk of rupture with that one, so it’s a wait-and-see-what-it-does kind of a mode. It may never grow or need any treatment…or it may grow or rupture. Who knows! Ah, the lovely, complicated, wonderful brain!

The hope is that they’ll do the coiling, I’ll be in ICU possibly just overnight, and I’ll be released to go home the following day (St. Patrick’s Day!). And if all goes well, that should be the case.

I have a small collection of things to take with me to the hospital on Wednesday. My “Get-Better-Bear” Care Bear my sister sent me in 2006, my comfy clothes for the ride back home, and I’m taking my iPad with me to keep me occupied. I have synced up an entire season of The Dick Van Dyke show on NetFlix as well as some podcasts. I know I won’t get any sleep in the hospital…they truly aren’t restful, but they treat you VERY well at Maine Medical Center. I had 20 days in the hospital in 2006 to witness that.

I’m told I may be very tired for some time (possibly weeks) after the procedure and may have a headache after the coiling. I know my groin will be sore. If you’re not familiar with endovascular coiling, here is good explanation. It’s ironic to have brain surgery and your groin to be the incision, but that’s one of the beauties of having coiling verses the far more invasive and dangerous
clipping, where they open the skull and perform open brain surgery.

It’s still a procedure on your brain, however and one that is not without complications. I’m confident with my Dr. that he’ll do what needs to be done and do it well. I only plan to take four days off work.

I know I’m lucky and I’m blessed with each day I wake up Dave and our kitties. May the luck of the Irish be with me this week!