Antigone wrote: 
You are still getting your first opinion.

I would not be freaked out by being referred to a neurosurgeon instead of a neurologist.  You just got kicked all the way to the top of the food chain. A neurosurgeon is not inclined to do any surgery unless there is no other choice.  They weigh all the information and would proceed with the least invasive treatment as opposed to the most aggressive, but can do the most aggressive should it be required.  IIRC, you mentioned somewhere that a cranial aneurism of some sort was detected.  That would for sure indicate a neurosurgeon being the proper choice, at least as far as my limited knowledge is concerned.

It is time for you to get an advocate to accompany you on this journey.  You stated that you misread things, a reason all by itself.  You are being overwhelmed with unexpected problems requiring decisions being made, sometimes much sooner than you are prepared to make.  This is quite normal.  No one can be expected to properly digest earthshaking news and developments on their own.  

The ideal advocate is someone you already know who you trust and can have conversations with that would include the most personal of your concerns.  All of them.  This is a person who can accompany you on your visits to doctors and sit in, take notes and ask questions that you may forget to ask yourself.  They would be the one to accompany you to any treatments that you would not be able to drive yourself home afterwards.  Usually it would be your spouse, but since you don't have one, it is time to assess your personal network of friends and find if anyone is suitable for this most important function.  Someone you trust who is able to calm you down if need be.  You would also want to give them a medical power of attorney so that they can ask questions or even act on your behalf without having to go through the usually complicated process of verifications to prove that they are allowed to be spoken to in the same way that the doctors would speak to directly to you.

This person would need to be Internet savvy to look things up, but also not be an alarmist who sees things and jumps to the worst conclusions.  My sister would be an example of that kind of person to avoid.  She has self diagnosed herself with nearly every kind of cancer she could find and has been wrong about just about everything.

If you do not have someone that would be suitable for this kind of responsibility you can reach out to support groups.  Not aware of any ophthalmology or neurological support groups per se, but a cancer support group might be a suitable first stop for guidance.  We have a good one here, The Gathering Place.  Your needs while not cancer related, have much in common and this type of organization would be a good first stop.

Hope this helps at some level.  No one should have to travel this road alone.  That is how mistakes are made.

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Also, this person should NOT be someone you work or have worked with.  This person needs to be totally independent of your employer for many, many reasons.

 Antigone wrote: 

 buddy wrote: 

 Antigone wrote:
Let’s hope that was a mistake on her part.
     
🙏

I think it's time for me to get a second opinion. I misread my nurse practitioner's message regarding the MRI/MRA. She wants me to see a neurosurgeon, NOT a neurologist. Can you say FREAKED OUT? And I still have not SEEN her, nor even talked to her on the phone, or via telehealth. She's sending messages through the online "my chart" thingy, as well as having nurses answer my questions.

Almost all the blood test results are back, and normal. I also got a cardiac monitor yesterday, and will wear that for seven days.

 buddy wrote: 
Excellent news to end a week of not so good news. 

 buddy wrote: 

 buddy wrote:

excellent 

keep kicking 

 buddy wrote:

Well done buddy! Hope it's clear skies for you here on out...

 buddy wrote: 
Primo !  Enjoy the new you.

 buddy wrote:
For those of you keeping score…   

I had my final appointment on the kidney journey today. Stent removed, clean bill of health.  Feeling myself again, which it’s been about 3-4 months since I could say that.  Thanks again for all the good wishes!

 Steely_D wrote:


Thanks. I've never smoked, am taking HBP meds (for years), and have moderated my alcohol consumption in the past few years. Onward!

 Antigone wrote:

I didn't see anything too scary when I looked things up, although you can't help but be scared a bit. From my supposedly up to date reference:

Factors Associated With Decreased Risk

STUDY SUMMARY: vigorous exercise ≥ 3 times/week associated with decreased unruptured intracranial aneurysm

Modifiable Risk Factors

• modifiable risk factors associated with increased risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in adults include³
  • smoking
  • uncontrolled hypertension
  • alcohol use disorder

 Antigone wrote:
Your in my thoughts! Keep on keepin' on!  

 Antigone wrote:

 Bill_J wrote:

 Antigone wrote:

Keep jumping those hurdles.

 miamizsun wrote:


Still more tests to do, and a cardiac monitor to get, but I am not (now) freaking out about the word: "aneurysm." 

 Antigone wrote:
happy to hear this

Just a quick update on the MRI/MRA tests I had this morning. The tests show that my carotid arteries are clear (excellent news), but there is evidence of a small cerebral aneurysm which could be old or new. I will be following up on Monday with my nurse practitioner and probably seeing a neurologist. I spoke to a friend's husband who is a retired doctor (though not a neurologist) this afternoon and he had lots of good, reassuring advice.

So, onward!