My mother was diagnosed with 2 brain aneurysms on Dec. 12, 2000. She is 63 and in good health. She is the mother of 8, grandmother of 16 and great-grandmother of 3. She does not want to go through surgery. She is afraid of either not coming out of surgery or coming out and not making a full recovery.
As a family, we have mixed feelings about the surgery. Some of my siblings feel she should have the surgery, others feel she shouldn't. We met before we spoke to her and decided to tell her we felt she should have the surgery. When we met, we told her just that. She asked us what we thought (individually), we didn't answer. Personally, I am afraid either way. I didn't want to let her know that.
I am the second youngest of her children and she is staying with me now. She fell down and wasn't well. I took her to the ER and a CT was done. They found she had a subdural hematoma from the fall and by chance found the aneurysms. My mother was in much pain for 2 weeks. It was hard to see her that way. She's been staying with me since the fall. I've been with her through this small recovery, and it was hard to see. She feels good now, "almost as good as before the fall" she says. She hated the way she felt in intensive care (with the equipment and the pain and the medication). She feels good now and doesn't want to feel "sick" again. She said she doesn't want to have the surgery. We can't make her. Where do we go from here?
This is my first time on your site and I have not read many stories of people living with an unruptured aneurysm or what time was like in between learning about the aneurysm and surgery. Any info or stories would be greatly appreciated.
Update 8 Feb 2001
Her aneurysms are located on the right middle cerebral artery. Since they are on the same side the neurosurgeon says they can probably clip both during the same operation. He didn't recommend coiling, but is willing to arrange for an opinion. I thought that was nice. Her aneurysms are 11mm and 3 mm. One of them is large. I've been sharing some of your stories with her and they seem to be helping. I think she is beginning to consider surgery. I haven't told her to have surgery, but I keep bringing up the option.
Her neurosurgeon has performed approximately 100 surgeries on brain aneurysms. That made her feel good. Is that a good number for an experienced neurosurgeon or should it be higher? According to the statistics he gave me, he seems to have done good work, especially on unruptured aneurysms.
My Mom keeps going on day by day. She's back to almost all of her normal activities. She is still staying with me. I keep stressing for her not to lift heavy things. My son is a handful and I worry, but as Grandma, she can't be stopped. She really is the best.
That's all for now. Any responses or info would be appreciated.