My family on my wedding day. 3 weeks later I was diagnosed with the AVM.
Michelle:
Thanks for your reply. The doctors you have mentioned, I have never met, or even knew of them. I am a disabled veteran, and since the Veterans Hospital in Seattle doesn’t have the equipment or neuro surgeons to treat AVM’s, they refer me to Harborview and a professor in the neurosurgery Department of the University Of Washington. I had the gamma knife procedure done in July after my doctor (Dr. Kim) said he wouldn’t do any more embolizations on me. I guess I am not a good candidate for more anesthesia due to my age. (78) I am still having headaches just about on a daily basis, so I am anxious for the gamma knife procedure to start showing results. I realize it will be a year or more before the effects of the radiation will be noticeable.
I don’t like to take the narcotic based pain medication, so I tried to persuade my Primary Care Doctor to write a prescription for marijuana. It is legal here in Washington for medical purposes as long as you have a prescription for it. My problem is, since it is still banned, and against the law by the Federal Government, and the VA Hospital is run by the Federal Government, I will never get a prescription for it from them.
I am willing to try marijuana for the headaches, and noise inside my head, but don’t have any idea how to go about getting any to try. I have heard there is a marijuan drugstore in the Tacoma area, but you need a prescription for it before you can buy it. The U.S. drug manufacturers would never allow Congress or the Senate to ever legalize it on the Federal level. The large drug companies have a strangle hold on our politicians, and they would give any amount of money to our sitting Senators and Congressional People to make sure any attempt to legalize it would fail.
Michelle, I hope and pray your gamma knife procedure goes well. The only uncomfortable thing about the procedure is the deadening shots they place in your scalp so they can attach the halo to your head. Be prepared to spend the entire day there if you do go ahead with the procedure. I will say a prayer for you Michelle.
Dewey