Help needed please x

[me2you]

My appointment with neurosurgeon is next Tuesday starting to feel a mixture of fear and relief after waiting 11months for my appointment!!

I want to go armed with a list of questions I need to ask and I don’t want to miss anything after waiting so long and this could be my one and only chance to ask?! So please if anyone can think of anything I would be very grateful

Thanks Jennie xx

[Bonnieblyth]

Hi jennie i was the same as you i think it natural but i ended up going off track as the more indepth the discussion got lol

If i remember correctly this appt is a review of your angio and discuss options for op? Unless there is a reason they cannot perform the op oneway you will be offered a choice of which way they do it and i think thats the difficult part making the choice for most people. So your list of questions will expand. To pros and cons of each firstly.

[me2you in reply to Bonnieblyth]

Thank for this bonnieblyth x

[Bonnieblyth in reply to me2you]

Hi how did your appt go?

[me2you in reply to Bonnieblyth]

The vascular and neurosurgeon haven’t discussed my case so told I needed surgery and about surgery but not which would be best for my Annie as they’ve still to have MDT

Asked when and he said should be in the next 2 week ? Won’t hold my breath here we go again xxx

[Andersl in reply to me2you]

How big is your Annie?

[me2you in reply to Andersl]

8.5mm and growing they said x

[malalatete]

Hi

It is definitely worth being prepared and having an idea what questions you want to ask.

First will b whether they are planning to clip or coil - and why. If they want to go in and clip you will be facing more invasive surgery and increased risks during the op and post -op so you need to be clear about why they suggest this route.

For either procedure you need to know about lead in times, pre-op requirements and instructions (some people are told not to lift anything heavy, for example). You need to know what to expect during the op, what your recovery will entail, how long you are likely to be in hospital and how long it will be before you can resume normal daily activities.

As far as long term side effects go there can be a list as long as your arm and a quick scoot through this site will alert you to most of them. It would be worth asking the doc whether there are any that would be potentially more likely in your particular case.

Don't go in expecting all the answers though...the docs are only human and their knowledge of the brain whilst remarkable is still in its infancy. They can't tell you everything you need to know, they may even not be willing to suggest one approach over another and put that ball firmly in your court - somewhere along the line you just have to set your mind to roll with it regardless - whatever 'it' turns out to be in your case.

Praying that you find your appointment answers some of your questions and gives you a sense of peace and calm as you agree your treatment plan and approach your procedure.

[me2you in reply to malalatete]

Thank you malalatete x

[Andersl in reply to malalatete]

I was a little puzzled by the suggestion that coiling was more risky than clipping. From my research I thought it was the othe way round

[malalatete in reply to Andersl]

That wan't what i meant! Apologies if this came out that way round...

[Lh2112]

Hi how did you get on at the appointment xx

[me2you in reply to Lh2112]

Wow long day so after my long wait to meet neurosurgeon he’s told me to go away and think about coiling or clipping

Feeling a bit disappointed not sure why think I was expecting more from the appointment but not sure what if that makes sense. Feel I have learn t from this site and people on site more than hospital

I go back before Christmas with my decision of what I want to do!!!

So now I really need to think? How do I make probably the hardest decision I will ever need to make?

All I know is my Annie is growing it has grown nearly 2mm in 10 months

So good people how do I decide xx

[Lh2112 in reply to me2you]

Did the surgeon advise which we best option ? Or can you go with either ? Xxxx

[me2you in reply to Lh2112]

No he didn’t as they have to discuss with each other what would be best for me surgeons and vascular doctor haven’t had meeting together yet?!!!

Think they just gave me appointment to shut me up?!

[Andersl in reply to me2you]

See what the experts advise and in the meantime get your questions ready. .

Ie how dud you come to that decision /what factors did you take into account? What are the risks to the option you propose? What particular problems do people experience if the op isn't a complete success? Are the complications temporary or permanent?

Do your own research too but stick to robust research sites and remember your surgeon /interventionalist's experience comes into play too. How many procedures like yours has he performed? What were the success rates. You're not making a choice of which cake to eat. This as you know is serious stuff. Your neuro surgeon should give you as much info and time as you need to make your decision. I get your pointment about people on here being helpful but we don't know how represenatatuve this group is of survivors /non survivors of surgery or complications thereof.

Don't forget, at the end of your considerations, to take into account your gut feeling of what's right for you

[Lh2112]

That's what I'm waiting for the surgeon to talk to the neuroradiologist and then an appt with them ???