Category: Hospital

Angiogram and Results

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I had my four-year aneurysm check-up angiogram yesterday. Had to be at Maine Medical Center at 9:15, so we left the house around 7:45. I couldn’t eat or drink anything so, of course, today I woke up with a horribly dry and sore throat. Figures. Despite an earlier weather report of snow showers, it was just cold and sunny, so we had good traveling weather.

Dave and I arrived at Maine Med right on time and were quickly whisked into the radiology patient recovery area where I was promptly told to strip out of everything and put on the lovely johnny gown. Oh, they’re so attractive. The wonderfully funny nurse, John, arranged to get me a water swab so I could at least wet my dry throat.

I was hooked up to an IV and blood pressure and oxygen monitor then taken into the operating room. As I was wheeled in, I heard some amazing music being played. They had on the Rat Pack station from Pandora Radio. LOVED it! It was around 10:00 when I started to be prepped for the procedure to sounds of Tony Bennet and Frank Sinatra belting out standards.

I was moved onto the narrow table surrounded on one side by large monitors. Arm guards were positioned to keep my arms on the table and out of the way and I was hooked up to multiple sensors as well as a strap place over my forehead to keep me from moving my head. My groin was shaved and I was introduced to at least four or five different radiologist, including Bernie, who was my “bartender” with the meds. I didn’t go with any med prior to being wheeled in and I REALLY regretted that when the Dr. began inserting the catheter. The worst pain I’ve had at the beginning of an angio. Next time, I ask for meds, and more meds….and some meds too. OUCH!

I’m not sure how long the actual procedure took. I DID get some meds when I was experiencing the pain, so I was a tad groggy. Had to take deep breaths and hold them on many occasions for pictures to be taken. So I was awake for the whole thing. One injection of dye was almost painful in my head and part of my tongue felt a little numb, but it didn’t last long.

Once the procedure was done, I was unhooked from all of the sensors and one of the radiologist had to hold strong pressure on my incision area on my groin. We chatted about Buffalo weather and the Bills. It helped pass the time of having a stranger hold your groin! LOL

At around 11:00, I was wheeled back into the recovery area. Dave wasn’t there, but one of the nurses said that Dr. Ecker  had spoken to Dave “at length”. Uh, oh…that didn’t sound promising! And I thought when Dave came around the corner, he looked pale.

Dr. Ecker came in shortly after Dave and informed me there did appear to be problems with the coiling in the aneurysm so something would have to be done, but that he’d discuss that with us at the follow-up appointment on Monday. Then he divulged a 2nd, smaller aneurysm was discovered above the initial aneurysm. This one was about 3 mm (1/8″). My original one was 11 mm (1/2″). This was shocking. If I had one in 2006 for my last angiogram, wouldn’t they have said something about it? If it wasn’t there, then it’s not a good sign that one has developed in such a relatively short span of 2 years. The Dr. had told Dave that this smaller annie had a wide neck too and it might not be a good candidate for coiling.

So, not only do I not know what’s going to happen to the original annie (Or Big Annie), but I don’t know what’s going to happen, if anything, with this new little discovery (I’ll call her Little Annie)

I know Dr. Ecker had mentioned possibly adding more coils to Big Annie, which isn’t that highly unusual, and it’s far less dangerous because it’s not a rupture, but he had also mentioned clipping, which means a craniotomy and that’s a far more invasion process that involves removing part of the skull and having open brain surgery. But that’s with the original annie. Now this 2nd one comes into play. Goody.

I have been introduced and read storiesabout many people who have multiple aneurysms and my own cousin is living with two un-ruptured aneurysms that they’re simply monitoring, which might be the case for me with Little Annie. So, it’s not that highly unusual for people to have multiple aneurysms and the positive take on this is that I KNOW it’s there and we can do something (hopefully) before it ruptures unlike last time.

My fear is not the surgery at this point…it’s the outcome and having complications during the procedure that would require a longer recovery period or prevent me from doing my job or driving. I was VERY lucky with my previous rupture that I was not dealt with life-altering deficits – which could have easily happened and could still happen. I have a lot of faith and trust in Dr. Ecker and excellent staff at Maine Med. They were fantastic to me in 2006 and I know they’ll take good care of me
this time…for whatever I’m going to be dealt with. I’m still very, VERY thankful that Dr. Ecker is here in Maine and we don’t have to travel to Boston.

I wish Dave didn’t have to go through more crap with aneurysms. He has been such an angel and powerhouse during all of this. I’m sorry he has to “suffer” as well.

MRA Results and New Doctor

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Today I met the new aneurysm doctor here in Maine, Dr. Ecker, and got the results back on the MRA of my annie.

Dr. Ecker is a real straight shooter and got straight to the point: The MRA showed a slight recanalization of the coiling in the aneurysm. That was a term Dave and I had
never heard, so Dr. Ecker took us to his office, showed us the MRA results and drew us a diagram on what was showing up on the MRA and what his concern was.

I’ll try to explain it without drawing it! Basically, either the aneurysm has slightly grown, or the coils have contracted and it has allowed some blood to flow into the aneurysm through the neck of the aneurysm. His words were that I had a “recanalization of the neck”. Of course, I was initially shaken. My fear has always been they’d discover another annie, not having an issue with my existing one, so this was a
surprise to say the least.

He wants me to have an angiogram now.mDr. Ecker said it wasn’t an emergency situation, so we’re waiting until January, after the holidays for that. He does the angiograms, he also does coiling and clipping operations. I’m thrilled he’s here in the state of Maine. He also appears to have experience with the by-pass surgery I’ve just recently read about.

Right now, there is no course of action until after he see the arteries and coiling on the angiogram. Right now, all of the things he mentioned were “if this….”, or “if that….”, so we need to see the results of the angriogram. Dave has done a lot of research online since we got home and is discovering it’s not that highly UNcommon for this to happen. Usually the recanalization occurs within the first two years after the coiling, so this is kind of unusual, but I feel confident Dr. Ecker will give us the best course of action. He’d either have to go in and insert more coils, which I’ve read several people have had to do on the message board, there’s a possibility I could have to have it clipped, which is a more serious operation, or he’d insert a stent inserted to block off the flow off blood there. Again…he can’t tell for certain what needs to be done until we do the angiogram.

He studied in Buffalo, was in the service as a medical surgeon in Japan, and after listening to an emergency call he took in his office while we were there, someone I would want fighting for me on the operating table. The risk factor for recoiling isn’t as extensive as my first coiling because it wouldn’t be because of a ruptured aneurysm and I’d be home from the hospital on the same day. The same risk factor would hold true
for the clipping, although it’s far more invasive and would probably require a long hospital stay.

I’m doing okay. Still processing this information. But I’ve always known I could be at risk, so we’ll just deal with what God deals me, when he deals it. I’m feeling good now, the Dr. didn’t feel it needed immediate attention, so we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, right?

4-Year Annie Checkup

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I had my 4 year MRA checkup on Monday. This time, due to insurance selection, it was at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. I can say they were very efficient, but not so concerned about patient comfort.

I DID get to listen to some 70’s tunes during the xray, so that was nice, but other than, I can’t say they were overly concerned with if I was cold, comfortable, or having any issues. I was cold, uncomfortable and surprised they didn’t have me remove my bra, seeing how it was an underwire and Maine Med always makes me remove it.

Anyway…I won’t get the results back until possibly Dec. 2nd or 3rd when I meet with Dr. Eckert for the first time. Hopefully, everything checks out.

Devastating Couple of Weeks

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A few days after Christmas, we received news that Dave’s niece, Kim, had died of a massive ruptured brain aneurysm. It was bad enough we lost her at the all-too young age of 32, but once we found out the cause of death, it threw a level of other issues at me because I too, had suffered a ruptured aneurysm.

Why did mine rupture the way it did and why didn’t I die? Why? Why? Why? All questions one can’t answer. I have my own “whys”, her mother has her own “whys” as do many other people. Like most undetected annies, Kim didn’t know she had it and as far as everyone knew, she was very healthy and living an active, if not stressful, life at the time of her death.

There are so many people who survive ruptures, so many who do not and even the consistent threads that DO link some of these people together such as smokers, hereditary, age, women….aren’t consistent enough for people to instantly know they have an annie. Some smokers who have a history of annies in their families, never get aneurysms, while other families have multiple deaths and ruptures in their families.

It was just the irony of Kim having one when she was not a blood relative of mine and didn’t display any of the so-called “symptoms” that may, or may not, occur from an annie. She did suffer from migraines, but so do millions of other people and they do not have aneurysms, so one can’t say that was a “sign” for sure. My mother had migraines, both my sisters do, my aunt and myself. I’ve had two first cousins with annies and myself.  I wish my sisters and niece would get CTA’s. At least if you KNOW you have one, you have a fighting chance of surviving. If you don’t know you have one, and it ruptures, chances of survival decrease the older you get and obviously, the severity of the rupture, location and size of the aneurysm. So many factors
come in to play and it’s different for every person.

I started to look at it like suffering with an annie was something special and because the brain is effected, it’s just that much more serious than anyone else’s maladies, but truthfully, it’s no different than suffering a catastrophic heart attack or stroke, or being hit by a car. You may, or may not survive. Many are lucky, many are not and trying to figure out the “whys” can eat you alive.

As Dave says…”It is what it is.” and often times we just have to accept what “is” and move on no matter how terribly difficult it can be without those we love beside us.

Also today, I get news that my cousin Jennifer, who had been fighting a brain tumor since 1999 is close to death’s door. How painful it has been to read her brother’s posts on The Caring Bridge website about her battle and how terrible is must be for them to watch her deteriorate and not be able to help her in anyway. I know how helpless one can feel after watching my own father fade away from us for months. Jennifer has been so strong with her battle and always gave others strength. I pray God gives her entire family strength and comfort now as we wait for news.