Thursday, January 31, 2008

Progression!





HELLO! It's been a little while now. I am thrilled to report that I feel back to normal. These two pics show the progression of my left eyebrow and forehead being able to move again. The left side is not as strong yet as the right side but it's getting there.

It's now been 3 months since my surgery and I think I feel as normal as ever. Physically my body is back to where I was. Emotionally I am feeling ready to deal with all of this as the shock has now worn off or is wearing off.
The best news is that I had a follow up angiogram last week and the report is that my brain is now clear. I do think that means I am done with this but I will confirm that with my surgeon when he can talk to me. They are busy people but I was told that I can completely trust the opinion of the doctor who did the angiogram. The report is all clear!

I am still on anti brain seizure medication, Keppra, but thankfully I don't feel it anymore. I take an EEG in April and hopefully show no brain seizures going on. Then I can slowly try to come off Keppra and hopefully stay off it forever. The possibility is that the AVM pushed against my brain and caused permanent damage which will have the brain seizures (hallucinations for me) continue. Those would not be fun to feel again.

Right now Keppra is the only issue I still have on this whole thing. I feel completely lucky and blessed and what a miracle this entire situation has been for me. If remembering to take a drug twice a day for the rest of my life is the worst of it, I'll take that any day.

I do know that I have a lot to say about all this. The words are not clear to me yet but I can tell I want to do something with what I've been through. Perhaps it's about talking to others who have to go through this. I am feeling out all the options right now on where to do service with this. I feel like I have a lot to do.

I will update again. Thank you so much for caring. That caring I feel from everyone is the strength I carry inside myself.
BLESS!
Andrea