About Kimberly Rueffer R.N. Expertise I have been a nurse for 21 years. I had two brain bleeds from an avm located in my brainstem. It was treated with embolization and gamma radiation.I can answer questions based on my own experience.
Experience
Education/Credentials registered nurse, graduate of Montgomery county ommunity college 1983
Awards and Honors Pennsylvania nurses association "nurse of the year' 1985
Question Sorry to write you so many times. This is the first time I have come accross someone who seems to have an understanding and some knowledge of what I am going through. It's not that I am trying to do nothing, I just have given up. I have been suffering for a long time. And when they told me they saw the malformation they said it was small and nothing to worry about unless I ever have the "worst pain of my life" at which time I have tried to explain many times I have the worst pain of my life. When I go to the ER they assume it's "just a migraine" since I have been under a doctor's care and already had an MRI and so they give me an IV and send me home, saying it's an atypical migraine. When I get real bad with neurological problems and call one of my doctors they tell me to go to the ER, where like I've said they try to give me morphine or something and send me home. I started to feel stupid. I know it's not in my head or anything like that, but I just get the MIGRAINE treatment. However, I have just recently been to a new family physician and because of the location of my pain and the symptoms I have and other "Migraine symptoms" I don't have, he said he doesn't think it's Migraines and I have an appointment with neurology in a couple of weeks.
THanks much for advice and info
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Followup To
Question -
Re: Thanks for your answer. I did have an MRI although that was about a year ago. They said it was ok except for a vascular malformation (and some markings or something that could have been very small bleeds in the past) I don't really know what any of that means maybe you do? My cousin died form a brain aneurysm (sadly), but other than that I don't know anyone that has had any in my family. Those migraines you mentioned I never heard of them. I will check that support group. thanks
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Followup To
Question -
Hi, I am a 22 year old who has been experiencing and I quote "severe migraines," as I have been diagnosed. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but these headaches often become unbearable. I often get other symptoms such as temporary visual loss in one eye, slurred speech, numb limps, etc...Sometimes I will have severe,severe pain and then afterwards I will still have one of the above problems and even when the headache is gone, the symptoms will last several hours. I also often get very dizzy. One of my friends mom said it sounds like I am having TIA's? What are your thoughts on what I can do. And if it is TIA's how are they treated? do you have to be hospitalized?
Thanks
Answer -
Hi,your symptomsa are classic of one of 2 things.1)Hemiplegic migraines, where the headaches cause the symptoms you have 2)BRAIN ANEURYSM!!!!!!!!!!You need to see a neurologist and have a CT scan and an MRI/MRA (both tests can be done on an outpatient basis and are painless. It's important to mention to the neurologist if you have a family history of aneurysms. In the meantime, do NOT take any aspirin, lift anymore than 20 pounds. If you type "Aneurysm and Avm Support" into any search engine you will find a support group I belong to, read some of the aneurysm stories..you will find all the symptoms you described to me in these stories.If you cannot get an appointment with a neurologist within a week, the next time you get a headache, go immediatly to the ER and complain of "The WORST headache of your life"they will get the tests done there. Good luck and please get back to me on what transpires.Kim
Answer -
A vascular malformation could be an AVM or Arterial Venous Malformation, that's what I had.My story's address is www.westga.edu/~wmaples/rueffer_kim. An avm looks like a clump of worms, left untreated it can hemmoraghe (mine did twice)Blood travels thru arteries at 100mph, thru viens at 10mph, there are capillaries between viens and arteries that "off set" the differences in pressure. In an avm there are NO capillaries, the pressure builds up until the malformation hemmoraghes. It sounds like you have already had small bleeds in the past. The worst thing you can do about an avm is NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!
Answer Dont worry about writing to me, I enjoy helping people with this.A small avm is more likely to hemmoraghe, a large avm is more likely to cause seizures. Im SO glad you have an appointment with a neurologist. Im sorry you have been mistreated by the medical community, just dismissing you as a typical migraine person. We hear a LOT of that at our support site, unfortunately too many people die from avm's or aneurysms because of physician stupidity! What state do you live in?I can find good neurologist and neurosurgeons anywhere in the U.S. Im from Philadelphia, PA
