I just found out today they scheduled my first Angio + Embio for Tursday March 15th at 8am. I am glad to be on the path to getting this thing fixed however, I am pretty scared about this procedure. I was hoping some of you guys might share your experiences as far as the procedure and recovery time and time before going back to work. Anything you guys are willing to share would be much appreciated. Thank you all and hope you are all doing well!
So funny i just posted the same thing...my first embo is on march 13th...
Good luck!
I just had my angiogram on Feb 27, 2012. I was scared but it was not bad. The worst part were all of the questions. Among other questions, they asked me to count from 100 backwords in increments of 7. I was given some drug cocktail but told I would be awake and could hear the voices of doctors talking. I thought I would black out from fear, but as luck would have it they would call out instructions to me. They would say, “you should feel a sensation on the back of your head, hold your breath for the picture”. If they had not told me that I would have been afraid because the dye they inject causes a weird sensation. It felt like I was there for 10 min but I know it was 1.5 hours. I felt the dr at my groin site but I felt no pain. They were able to plug my artery with some device that dissolves in 30 - 60 days, so I only had to lay flat for 2 hours. The good news is that I am AVM free and I don’t have to see the surgeon again- ever. I’m glad I had it done. I can’t take a shower for 24 hrs and I can’t take a bath for 72 hours. I can’t lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. I was to go home and rest the day of but I could resume normal activities the next day, within reason- no jogging.
You are having an embolisation at the same time so you will have additional instructions/restrictions.
When I had my brain bleed in May 2011, the bleed,caused me to have a stroke. My brain was injured so that I only remember being wheeled into surgery room for the angiogram and I remember nothing after that. The next day they did an embolisation and again I only remember being wheeled into room. I was a mess because my brain had been through so much trauma.
I don’t know what they will do with you but you can always ask them. You are better off than me because your AVM has not bled. I wish i had known about my AVM. I will remember to pray for you on march 15
Wow two days before me! I hope it all goes well for you!!!!! Don't know about you but I am scared out of my mind! Gonna be a long few weeks! Take care and all the best to you!
I’ll pray got Nay too on March 13. God bless.
Thank you Wendy! Congrats on being AVM free that is fantastic News!!!!!!!! it doesn't sound like the Angio is all that bad I hope that is how it goes for me! Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers!!
The angiogram is a diagnotic test but the embolisation carries additional risks. I just want you to be aware of that. However, if I were in your shoes I would have it done at the same time. Each time your you go up the artery you run the risk of damage. It is better to be proactive and fix the AVM. You don’t want to end up like me and have a bleed and a stroke. I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone.
No I am so very thankful that they found it "simply" by bad headaches and pulsing in my ear. I thought alot about just doing the Angiogram but I didn't want to have to go right back in and have the embio done. They are not exactly sure what the fistula looks like and what they will even be able to do but I figure better to go in and prepare to do everything we can in one pass. I am just concerned about the time away from work. I am just trying to schedule as best I can. Thank you so much for the info and for all of your support Wendy I really do appreciate it!
I had headaches all my life and multiple MRI’s to rule out tumors. The MRI’s didn’t show my AVM (only the angiogram showed that). The Doctors said the AVM probably caused my headaches. I don’t have bad headaches any more, but I did have headaches up until 6 months ago(not as severe). Most likely due to all the trauma my brain went through. I will pray for you and your surgeon. Let me know how the procedure was for you.
Congrats on your date. At least you have a plan. I think it depends on how long they are in your head and for me I had the stroke trauma so I did not feel good for weeks or really until my pain neuro 6 weeks later did the nerve block. I will be praying for you
Angela
I will be sure to keep you updated! It is so good to know that your headaches have backed off! I truly appreciate your prayers they mean so much to me and knowing that you have "been there done that" helps me know I will be ok too! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!
Thanks Ange!! It is good to have a plan even if that plan might be a bit scary! Thanks for everything!