Hi fellow survivors!
I have three AVMs in my arm - the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The one in the wrist pulsates and I have had fistulas and aneurysmas removed, among other messes. The last surgery left me with 58 stitches going from the palm of my hand to an inch from my elbow. The surgery took place on September 20, and I am still dealing with severe pain, numbness, tingling, and nerve damage. The surgeon insists that nothing more can be done. All I can do is take medicaion to make myself comfortable and use my arm as little as possible until the next surgery. As you all know, this AVM will only keep growing. It cannot be fully removed in one shot.
How does one cope with this? I cannot work, I cannot keep up with my housework most days, and I cannot do some of the things I used to do, especially with my children. I guess it'll only get worse from here. It's getting harder and harder to keep my head up. I've even began failing some of my classes in college.
Any suggestions, help, and words of encouragement would be wonderful : )
It seems like nobody understands what I'm going through and can't relate. It would be so wonderful to be able to speak to someone who is going through what I am going through. Up here in Northern Maine, I feel like the only one on the planet going through this.
Yes we will! Fight to the end is my goal!! You are absolutely right. It doesn't matter if they can or can't relate. As long as they understand and see the severity of my situation for what it is, I will have the love and support that I need. From the beginning, one of my fears has been that not only would friends and family take me seriously, but I feared that doctors would not take me seriously and would take the situation too lightly. I work with a hand/plastics surgeon as well as a family PA and they both take this VERY seriously. They may not always have answers, or the answers they do have may not be what I want to hear, but at least they are on the front lines, fighting right alongside me!!
If you don't mind me asking, what is your specific AVM? I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Be positive and thankful you are HERE today...thats what keeps me going...it can always be alot worse even when you think it cant.....God bless and all the best
I am still trucking along ~ determined to not let anything stop me. I keep telling myself that it's only an arm, it's only an arm. You, my friend, are lucky to be here with us today. Good for you! I am still taking classes, just cut down to part time. All these meds can really drag me down at times. Thanks for the positive words. I think I'm learning the hard way that I can't do it all. Time to put the sling back on the arm and stop pretending that this was all a bad dream.