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2nd Trimester
The Bad News... Maybe a small TMI
The bad news:
They believe that I have what is called an AVM. Which is shocking to me that I did not think of before because my father had one as well and they are known to be hereditary. The reason I did not think of that is because when they found my father's AVM he passed out and had seizure and started throwing up blood. I definitely have not had any of that.
An AVM is basically a knot of the veins and arteries that can happen anywhere in the body but tends to happen most of the time in the brain. This knot is there from birth but does not tend to show itself until the child is much older. They have not been able to determine why these knots happen but they sometimes are there.
If you want to think of it as a knot that as you get older and the brain starts to get bigger it starts to get tighter and tighter until it pops. Well my father's popped causing the dramatic reaction. We may have caught mine before it popped.
They want to be able to get it out before I go into labor so it does not pop due to the pressure of labor.
We still have some more tests to do but the doctors state they are 99% sure that is what it is. So that means brain surgery before June.
They believe that I have what is called an AVM. Which is shocking to me that I did not think of before because my father had one as well and they are known to be hereditary. The reason I did not think of that is because when they found my father's AVM he passed out and had seizure and started throwing up blood. I definitely have not had any of that.
An AVM is basically a knot of the veins and arteries that can happen anywhere in the body but tends to happen most of the time in the brain. This knot is there from birth but does not tend to show itself until the child is much older. They have not been able to determine why these knots happen but they sometimes are there.
If you want to think of it as a knot that as you get older and the brain starts to get bigger it starts to get tighter and tighter until it pops. Well my father's popped causing the dramatic reaction. We may have caught mine before it popped.
They want to be able to get it out before I go into labor so it does not pop due to the pressure of labor.
We still have some more tests to do but the doctors state they are 99% sure that is what it is. So that means brain surgery before June.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: The Bad News... Maybe a small TMI
I'm surprised they would do brain surgery instead of suggesting you just do the C-section for birth and then have the brain surgery after your baby's born. I would think that would be safer.
BUT if the doctors say it is okay and you are comfortable with that to avoid a C-section, go for it! I hope they can resolve the issue easily and quickly and not cause you anymore worry or stress or pain!
That is scary, I will keep you and the baby in my prayers. If you don't mind me asking, How will this affect your baby?
Oh wow! OK, so the good news is it's treatable. The bad news is it's brain surgery.
I know how scary any surgery can be, let along brain surgery. A friend of mine had to have emergency brain surgery because her brain was separating itself from her spinal column. I can tell you that she is 100% better now and made a full recovery. I know everyone's experiences are different. But she definitely had such a positive experience with her doctors and the surgery.
I hope your recovery time isn't too long. You're still in my prayers.
im so glad they caught this early!!!
BFP 12/19/08- DS born 8/25/09 9lbs2oz via Zavanelli Maneuver
BFP 8/26/11- Missed miscarriage discovered 10/19/11 at 11w2d, measured at 9 weeks gestation w/ no HB. D&C 10/21/11
BFP 3/17/12 at 12dpo CP 3/21/12
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Our little man is getting bigger every day!
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The reason they do not want to wait it because the AVM is believed to be larger than they want it to be. Plus my father had his pop at 20 years old and I am 19. They are just trying to avoid it from popping which could have the same effect as, like Natasha Richardson, a blow to the head. A slow but sudden death. (I know it is sad but I don't want to think about that)
Yes surgery is not great when pregnant but better than it popping.
To answer other questions:
No I do not know when the surgery will be because they still have some more tests to do before they jump into that.
Thank you ladies for your kind words
Well that makes more sense if they feel it is more imminent. Then definitely do whatever is safe and able to resolve it and let you continue on with a healthy pregnancy and become a healthy mama!
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I'll be praying for you, keep us posted
*hug*
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO
Holy Cow! That's so crazy! I'll be thinking about you and hoping that everything comes out okay. And I agree with some other people, at least it's fixable. But brain surgery! Whoa! And is there anything they can do for you in the mean time so that you won't have any more episodes? I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.