Just wanted to introduce myself a little. I’m an owner SM Grade 4 Thalamic AVM, I’ve survived 3 minor bleeds (two IVH, one IPH) with minor sensory loss on my right side. This has given me cause to reconsider radiosurgery - something I was told mixed things about. I’m 24, and this decision has been keeping me up at night. I was hoping to hear from people that have had radiosurgery/volume-staged SRS of radiation sensitive areas like the thalamus, basal ganglia (or basal nucleus).
The funny irony in all this is that I want to be a neurosurgeon when I’m back in good health! I’ve seen craniotomies from about 5 feet away. I’m a major in molecular biology and minoring in creative writing.
Welcome! Hopefully we can pass on some experiences and our own paths that can help you out. My AVM was left temporal, bleed and had Gamma knife. That was back in 2016. It will be 10 years this May since my bleed and found out I had an AVM, and what an AVM was! I have a degree in Biology, although graduated in 1990, but a lot remains the same! If you have any questions, fire away, although our AVMs are in quite different places but hopefully some with similar to you join in. Take Care, John.
Hi. I had major bleed due avm in thalamus. It was 7 mm but because was in thalamus too. Risky to do any surgery. So had radiation. That was 2 yrs. ago. I did have sensory issues but that’s much better now.i have MRI every year and it has gotten smaller, almost not seen, however hope to get angiogram next year so can document if gone. Hope that helps. Good luck to you. Great that you want to be neurosurgeon.