I have had all the tests and they are sure i don’t have gca, although I’m kept on steroids 2.5mg till I have the results of a synacthen test and sort out my tiredness. Mean time they have picked up a aneurysm 4 mm in the brain between the arteries, the neurosurgeon has left it up to me as to having a op, live with it or have the op and away it goes ?
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Bauldy
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Just been watching the insertion of a stent for a tiny cerebral aneurysm - I love interventional radiology!!!! Is that what the neurosurgeon is offering?
But we can't really can we? Even if it were for me, not without knowing more about the potential risk of leaving it. The case I was watching was told it wasn't even 50/50 it would be OK for another month. That's a big factor.
The clipping is more permanent apparently (according to my wife who is google medical trained), I’ll always have it with a risk and if it burst we all know how bad that can be or I have it done with a calculated risk and it’s done and dusted.
I love your comment that your Wife is Google Medical Trained! Brilliant! My colleague Sue & l always told the Trainee Doctors that we did Our Training at Holby City & they always looked puzzled, Bless ‘Em! For non TV Watchers or International Members ‘Holby City’ was a TV Medical Drama but of course l’ve now moved on to Greys Anatomy 😉 via Dr Greg House! Joking aside wishing you all the luck with your decision 🍀
Oh, we're not cheap! Your bill will be in the post 😀. Seriously, once your decision is made - and I feel you have decided now- you will feel better about things. I wish you all the best. If you promise to let us know how you get on, you won't be charged 😉.
Good luck Bauldy. There are some good explanatory articles when you Google your exact dilemma. I tried to attach them ( Mayo Clinic etc) in spite of patient help from Mrs Nails I can’t seem to do it on my new iPad.
I have a 3mm brain aneurism which was found by chance about 6 years ago. I had annual MRI's until the radiologist told me that he loved taking my money but I was wasting it as it was doubtful that the aneurism would grow anymore after all that time. This was also confirmed by the surgeon. However, I wasn't given the option of having an operation. To be honest I'm not sure what my decision would have been if I had been given the option. All I can say is that I haven't had any problems to date, I keep my BP as low as possible but I'm not on medication, I'm on 7.5mg of prednisolone (don't know if this helps or not), I've cut outugary foods, have low carbs and full fats, i.e. I eat healthily, exercise regularly etc etc. I'm 78 and feel fine. All the best to you.....
If I hadn’t been given the option I would have dealt with it, but I was so I made the right decision. I have high blood pressure, af, heart issues, arthritis, have family history of aneurysms.
What a productive few days, today I have received 2 phone calls , the first from the neurologist telling me my synacthen test was good and I can now come off my steroids the second was from the neurologist nurse putting me on the list for the aneurysm to be clipped, she said although invasive the clipping is a quicker recovery and if all goes well I could be discharged within 6 months.
Thursday I spoke to my gp and she seemed to think my lethargic/ tiredness seemed to be more down to my mental health, I being more unqualified believed it was something to do with steroids, I now believe that’s 1 - 0 to my gp.
Overall I fell happy with the last few days and plus the sun is shining .
Your synacthen test tells you only that your adrenal glands are capable of producing cortisol when prodded - it doesn't mean that the whole of the rest of the feedback set-up is working perfectly and it is probably a tad rusty! So you could all be right - but it will be a while until the system is functioning perfectly
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