Celia Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Hi Folks, hope you've all had a good day today. To clip or to coil? That is the question. :confused: I'm having my unruptured ani clipped in a month or so, (oh joy!) and I need your input. Clipping is the surgeons' preferred option as the clips are supposed to last...well...forever really. Coiling is less invasive, but apparently the coils may have a shelf life. I'd be grateful for any info you'd like to share, in particular, I'd like to hear about any negatives associated with clipping. Forearmed is forewarned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Hi Celia From what I can remember the risks are the same for both procedures. Coiling is less invasive but the after effects/recovery is about the same for both. I was clipped and after nearly 3 years still have numbness and tingling around the operation site. I also found I couldn't sleep on that side of my head for a very long time and even now at times it can be painful to lie on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 (edited) Hi there myself personally would go with clipping every time, right with my unruptured aneurysm i went in on a Thursday. Had op on the Friday might of needed painkillers on the Saturday don't remember but come Sunday I was up and about as if I hadn't had anything done, and I was back at home the next Thursday. Obviously the choice is yours however my surgeon didn't like coiling much either. Oh yeah and I was pregnant within two weeks too. Hope it all goes well. Jess.xxx PS. And I too still get numb sometimes but I feel thats a small price to pay to know that the clips are there for life. Edited October 24, 2009 by jess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 (edited) Hi Celia I am also clipped....22 months later......still have same symptoms as Janet.....numbness and painful to lie on that side. But has improved. Wasl a result of my surgery, where they cut through muscle and nerves to clip anni at stem of brain. Caused 5 nerve palsy paralysis to the right side of my face...which recovered 80 % after 4 months, still not completely back on eye brow and forehead, but a small price to pay for my life. Mine could not be coiled as was too small and had ruptured. I have been signed off now, unless any problems. With coiling i believe you have more check ups, but also get signed off when they are happy. As Janet says....clipping or coiling...the recovery/ after affects are very similar. If given the choice, i would go for clipping as Jess has said it is for life. Hope all goes well for you. Take care Love Tina xx Edited March 1, 2014 by Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michelle C Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Hi Celia:-D I have coils 11 of them now as i had to have 3 more added sept 08 due to the coils uncurling and causing anni to fill up again..i will say this though i know i have bare coils and covered coils sorry dont know much about what they are covered in or not as the case may be but i do know the radiographer said he would use different coils but never said which he used first. As everyone has said the recovery is about the same...i just have added problems due to having stroke during 1st coiling. Hope everything goes well take care. Love luck and laughter Michelle c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted October 24, 2009 Author Share Posted October 24, 2009 Morning all, Thank you so much for your input. I had wanted to know about the "things the surgeons don't tell you" so you've really given me food for thought. I'm not looking forward to the post op side effects, but I agree with you, a small(ish) price to pay for my life. Clipping it is then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perrycornish Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Glad that you asked this Celia, I feel that I have learnt more too and certainly more understanding of the recovery process Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Celia I am glad we helped you out hope it all goes well. Jess.xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 A good topic Celia and wishing you all of the very best with your op .... I was coiled, but from what I've read, I believe that my aneurysm would not have been suitable for clipping, due to it's position (post right communicating artery) and that coils were less risky out of the two options .... however, if I had an aneurysm that was suitable for clipping, then I would chose that option, as I have a neck left on my aneurysm and they're keeping an eye on me. Endovascular occlusion (coiling) is still pretty much a new procedure and there's not much data as to long term effectiveness, so we will have to wait and see .... but, I'm glad and often wonder, if coiling hadn't been around, whether I would still be here..... Love K xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myratas Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Hi Celia, I was coiled too and waiting for the ok to have the the second coiling too after my cardiologist gives the ok. It's a hard decision to make, I chose coiling for second aneurysm because it's less evasive than clipping. Are you going to be operated at the Royal Free? I hope everything goes well for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 clipped and sealed with platiumn, I had not choice in the matter tho..it was take me to surgey and do it.......that was very nearly 10yrs ago...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 Hi folks, Thanks for your input. As far as I can make out, coiling's good but they have no idea about its longevity. Clipping's less pleasant (not that coiling's a bundle of laughs either) but they figure the clips will last 40/50 years or more. Hi Myra. Yes, I'm off back to the Royal Free and Mr Sheiff, the Consultant. He seemed very competent when I met him in hospital, so I'm encouraged by the fact that I'll be under his care, and I think he'll actually do the procedure himself. Michelle, seems like you've had a nightmare time with your anis. Here's wishing you all the best for the future. C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Hey there I was coiled three years ago - nine platinum coils of varying thickness - was told over a year ago that I was fine and the coils were still perfectly in place, no compacting etc and that the artery wall had grown back sufficiently across the nexk of the anni - cutting it off completely regardless. I was informed that my coils would last me the rest of my life and that there would never be a cause for recoiling these annis (I have two next to each other - clover leaf I think he referred to it as). As far as recovery - I had the usual headaches while the blood drained from the fluid around my head, but now 3 years on I really don't have any pain at all. Personally I would go for the less invasive every time - I don't have numbness or pain at all. Good luck and don't worry, every thing will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laanka Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Hi Celia Did he ask if you wanted the surgery or were you just told that is what they were doing.I am the situation of having to choose whether to wait or go ahead and have the aneurysm coiled . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted November 1, 2009 Author Share Posted November 1, 2009 Hi Sami and Laanka, Hmmmm.....more food for thought. Sami - I'm going to try to speak with the coiling guys (radiologists?) because coiling does seem preferable if the ani's accesible. I think the neurosurgeon guy said it might be a bit tricky to get to for them, but worth a second opinion. Laanka - I was given the choice, though I have only spoken to the neurosurgeon, and of course he's inclined towards his own specialism. All the best, Confused of North London! :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laanka Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Hi Celia I wasn`t given a choice about method only about whether to have it coiled or not.I am awash with statistics that mean nothing as it is not yet a science re probability. I hope all goes well . Doreen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted December 8, 2009 Author Share Posted December 8, 2009 Morning Folks, I'm back in the land of the living, having had my 2nd ani clipped on 23rd November. The surgeons were pleased with the procedure, and let me go home after 6 days. The recovery's been a little....shall we say "challenging" so far... Mainly it's been the nausea and the ever familiar fatigue. For days and days I was unable to lift my head up without the urge to violently vomit, let alone actually eat anything. All that changed a couple of days ago when the ever present searing headache dropped a couple of notches and I re-discovered food! My stitches are pinchingly tight, parts of my scalp feel numb, and I'm asleep for probably 16-18 hours each day, but I finally feel like I'm on the recovery track. I'm ecstatic...and grateful....and off to bed now! Love to all, C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebbieMcKenzie Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Welcome back Celia Big hugs to you. Good to hear that you are slowly on the mend. Sounds like you have had a bit of a rough time of it. Rest up sweetie. I had my 2nd ani coiled last week. Fortunately it was only small and I was only in hospital for 2 nights and I am recovering well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laanka Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hi Glad you are starting to feel a bit better. LaankaXX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Welcome back Ceila, rest up take care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myratas Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hi Celia Glad everything went well for you, remember to take it easy and rest up whenever you can. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rod123 Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hi Celia, problem solved then, glad everything went ok hope you are soon feeling better. Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Welcome back Celia glad you are slowly starting to feel better. The pinching and tightness in your scalp will ease with time the numbness takes a little longer. Make sure you get plenty of fluids and rest though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelB Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 To clip or to coil. That is a big question. I had a SAH in 02 and experienced the clipping procedure. As I have only had to have one procedure done I am not able to say what was the best in terms of recovery times. Although, one thought struck me, and that was with clipping you have to go under a general anaesthetic but with the coiling you don't. (Coilees correct me if I'm wrong?). I am aware that there is a v. small risk of stroke with either proceedure. I understood back then that the clipping post operative recovery takes longer after SAH compared to coil. However, this was in 02 and things maybe different now. I'm sure if your having a planned op where it be clipping or coil without having had a SAH, it might be a quicker recovery anyway. The trauma to your body having open surgery may mean healing will take longer. Gosh I have just read the above and I realise I have developed the art of waffle. What ever you and your doctor decide, all the very best to you. Let us know what you decide? Take Care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vivien Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Welcome back Celia Hope your recovery goes well. I was under general anaesthetic for my coiling Mel Vivien x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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