I survived a brain aneurysm - thanks to a scan

28/02/2008

I have just read Readers Letters would like to reply to Peter Carroll's letter dated 1 2 08 entitled Life After an Aneurysm. Thank you, Peter, for sharing your remarkable and inspirational experience with readers and for highlighting the need for screening for AAA's.
 
It is welcoming news to see that screening could be offered to men aged 65 provided that they were given clear information about the risks of surgery. I feel people need to have the opportunity to protect their health, by screening and good clear information on risks so they have a choice.
 
I am a female in my early fifties, like Peter, tests for something else eventually led to an MRI Scan which in my case identified multiple brain aneurysms, the shock of diagnosis is something I will never forget!  I was told that there was a risk that these could rupture. I was given clear information on the risks of surgery, other options I had, the risk of rupture (and the consequences of a rupture). 

 

I elected to have surgery and had three medium sized aneurysms surgically treated in 2005 during two separate procedures four months apart, meanwhile additional tiny brain aneurysms where in my case the risk of surgery outweighs the risk of rupture are currently being monitored.

 

I am pleased to say that like Peter I made a complete recovery from surgery and lead a full and active life.  I am immensely grateful to everyone involved in my treatment but even more grateful that I had the opportunity to find  out about the aneurysms so that I could make choices I was happy about to protect my life.
 
Five months after my successful treatment I lost my father very suddenly, he died of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, my father was unaware he had this aneurysm, my Father hadn't had the opportunity of screening.  It is good news that a screening programme appears to going to be offered; let's hope it actually happens and we also get an increase in the number of Specialist Vascular Centres.
 
Pam Walker