After 18 months living with a fronto-insular plexiform AVM (Spetzler Grade 3) and undergoing Gamma Knife treatment, I want to share how l’m feeling. Honestly, it’s been incredibly challenging. The journey has been tough, and at times it hurts like hell. Yet, I find myself pushing forward with hope.
I’m currently pursuing a master’s degree, which keeps my mind engaged and focused. I’m also working hard to tind the right medication to support my recovery. Light exercise is now part of my routine—l aim to walk an hour a day, which helps both my body and mind.
I’m making a conscious effort to avoid stressful environments and maintain a healthy diet. My faith plays a crucial role in keeping my spirits up. It’s not easy, but l’m staying positive and truly believe I’ll be fine.
Welcome to AVM survivors! It is great that you found us and I think it is really helpful that you’d like to share how you are getting on. These things are very worrying and I think it is by sharing that we can help ourselves. We can also help others whom we will never meet.
Gamma knife takes a long time to do its work but honestly, recovery from any kind of brain surgery takes a lot longer than you’d think, so even though I had an embolization in 2017, it took me 1½ to 2 years to feel “normal” again, so don’t be put off by gamma’s slow walk.
Tell us how you are, if you have any worries. I do think that keeping busy with the Masters degree is as good a way as any of getting through the next year, provided that you feel well enough and are able to concentrate on your studies appropriately.