got nothing... again!!!!

This is gotta sound a little made up... but again I got nothing!
Really... I got Nothing!
I suppose I could rant about my wife going on about my mom moving up here... but honestly it boars me...
So I think I will talk about the AVM group... it is at http://www.avmsurvivors.org/

It is great! If you have had an AVM in your life... or think that you may want on... you should check 'em out.

I got a question... I have been thinking of buying a digital camera... my got stolen while I was in Fl. last year...
here is a link to one I have been thinking about...
click here if you want to price it out

The problem is I would have to hold it upside down... I am left handed since having my AVM.

Hey you know what??? I have been typing and I am gonna stop... but first lets do this...


a medley of Pink Floyd songs....

And now some books... that I like...


okay I am going to go...

AVM surgery and a little of me.

Cerebral AVM Surgery

From Nasseff Neuroscience Center at United Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota

ST. PAUL (March 17, 2009)—The video of a brain surgery that was expected to last only a few hours, but turned into a 25 hour marathon will debut April 14, 2009 at 1pm CDT on OR Live.

The edited video of the surgery, performed by Dr. Jerone Kennedy at Nasseff Neuroscience Center at United Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota, will take viewers on the medical odyssey that relieved a 27-year-old day care administrator of seizures that had taken over her life. The surgery features the use of a new intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (iMRI) operating room at United Hospital The iMRI allows surgeons to use real-time imaging as they operate...
read more here...
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And now a bit of me...

I have lost a good number of friends. Funny I have gained a few... so in the end it is a wash... other than the fact that I like these more... I just can't see them bolting if I have a do over of my AVM.
So to my new Friends I say Good Day!

I don't now why but it has been a rock and roll spring... for those who have a land line I apologize.

I really don't have any knowledge of whats going on out in the real word... I watch the news... it just don't stick.
damn memories.

Don't feel sorry... I don't.

One of the things that come with having an AVM is seizures. One of the things I found out is that I am allergic to seizure meds. Thank god I haven't had one.

oh well... I am out of things to say... so I'll say Good day.

Good Morning... & some AVM News!

I have a little news for you.. My wife is in surgery. It is neck surgery, they are putting some metal in, in place of the disks. Seems she was hurting since totaling the P/T Cruiser...
May by she was in need of pain medison. <--- can't spell

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What is "talk and die" syndrome?

After a seemingly minor fall on the slopes, actress Natasha Richardson is reportedly suffering from a potentially deadly head injury

By Brendan Borrell

Last night, British-born actress Natasha Richardson, 45, was rushed from Montreal to New York City in critical condition after a seemingly minor fall on a Quebec ski slope apparently led to bleeding in her brain.

Richardson, who won a Tony for her role in the Broadway play Cabaret and has also starred in a string of films including The Parent Trap and Maid in Manhattan, is the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and the wife of actor Liam Neeson, 56, with whom she has two sons, ages 12 and 13...
read more...
---------------------------




---------------------------
Different paths, different stars, but it's the same goal at UConn

By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY

PHILADELPHIA — The center came from a world away with limited basketball skills. The point guard, a highly touted recruit, nearly died from a brain hemorrhage and then almost threw his career away by finding trouble. Their journeys have been as different as miles traveled and lessons learned, but Connecticut's two best players, Hasheem Thabeet and A.J. Price, have arrived in the same place, hoping to add their first banner to the crowded rafters of Gampel Pavilion....

read more...

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I feel bad for them... The survivors and the guy who survived... in the second.
okay gonna go... see ya'
R

Got two AVM News... well one and a half...

February Fun

Hello to all of my friends, family, and fellow AVM'ers! I haven't updated in a while but have a few things to share!


First I will start off by saying that I completed trip #12 in Denver, and everything went well. I feel good. I feel more like myself than I have in a long while. I finally am starting to feel like a "normal" person again. No longer in constant pain, no longer so worried about bleeding. And boy, is it a relief! I am confident that these treatments are working, and I'm pleased with the progress I have made in the past year. I have no doubt that I am on the right course and just need to stay steady and strong.


You can read my entire trip report on my website here. It was a good trip and I got to meet up with Allison again and this time her mom Jody as well. Also, I had a surprise when Sharon, another woman I met through my website, was also in for treatment the same day. I posted "glamour shots" with both girls in our fashionable hospital gowns! I really need to get a move on making something a little more flattering to wear on the next trip!


The weekend before we left for Denver, Josh and I met up with Camellia and her family for a Tea Party! It was great to meet them after emailing so often with Margie. The girls are beautiful and both very delightful! They played dress up a little with the fun stuff at the tea place (so did Dad!) Camellia ordered Bubble Gum tea (seriously made with bubble gum!) and Serene had Tutti Fruity which she added just the right amount of milk to, in order to create the perfect PINK tea! It was nice to connect with them in person. I think we will definately keep in close contact with this family for years to come!

And finally, I wanted to just update about the upcoming AVM Awareness Walk in May. Details are coming together and I just need to register for the walk and get my donations page up and running. I hope that many of you will be able to join me in person and enjoy a beautiful day in the city, walking at Crissy Fields for something that is obviously very important to me!

As always, thanks to everyone for your continued support, encouragement, and love!

Shalon
from...
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----------------------------------------
And a half....
Transcranial doppler study of cerebral arteriovenous malformations after gamma knife radiosurgery
Park S-H et al. - These results suggest that AVM vessels with high Vm and low PI values return to normal as the nidus of the AVM is obliterated after GKS. Although there was a trend toward a reduction of the Vm values after obliteration, this trend was not significant, except when the <>
go read... from here
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I now I put music where I normally put AVM books...

but I had a day that needs this...
It was rough... no bad but rough non-the-less.
Have some youtube ...


the beatles - HELTER SKELTER
Wow I had forgotten how bad that was....


The Beatles - I Am The Walrus
There that is better...


Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

yep, it is a beadle's kida' day...



okay that's enough. Gotta go... gotta try posting on my other blog... C-Ya!

Well Guess What...

I did not sell anything! Why? There was Nobody!! Not a soul! One of you guest has to live close... don't you?
OK... maby you don't...
and there is no news on AVMs either.

This is good news....

I also got some news on unemployment... seems that they have a extension available.

It's tempting. It's real tempting.
Okay, I am going to nap now.... maby I will be back... maby I won't.... ya' just can't tell....


Tell me you don't wanna get one.... for a child in your life!

Treating Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) of the Brain

Treating Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) of the Brain.

Characterized by headaches and seizures, an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the brain is a derivative of arteriovenous malformation, a disorder of the body’s circulatory system. An AVM of the brain, also known as a cerebral AVM, is a malformed group of blood vessels composed of an intricate tangle of arteries and veins. Though localized, cerebral AVMs can lead to severe neurological problems. Research in the field of arteriovenous malformation is growing particularly with noninvasive treatment options.

What are cerebral AVMs?

Cerebral AVMs may form during prenatal stages of a child’s development, either during embryonic or fetal growth. Studies have found a certain number of cases form shortly after birth; however, the condition frequently presents in adults in their 20s or 30s. Cerebral AVMs are commonly misdiagnosed, with most cases found only incidentally through the performance of CT (computed tomography) scans on the brain. Patients complain of regular headaches and seizures before diagnosis.

Other neurological complications can develop including speech and visual difficulty, dizziness, memory deficits, confusion, hallucinations, dementia and difficulty with event planning. Physical side effects range from loss of coordination, numbness, tingling and spontaneous pain to permanent paralysis. Patients’ symptoms are directly associated with the location of the cerebral AVM with certain sites causing hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is caused by a cerebral AVM preventing the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid thereby causing fluid build-up in the skull.

What are the potential health consequences of cerebral AVMs?

Hemorrhaging is the most common side effect of patients experiencing cerebral AVM. The size and location of the cerebral AVM determines the patient’s likelihood of experiencing hemorrhaging. Research has found between 2 and 4 percent of all AVMs to hemorrhage each year with most episodes going undetected. Minor hemorrhaging does not cause neurological damage, hence the reason patients and doctors remain unaware it takes place. On the other hand, massive hemorrhaging has been documented with some cases being fatal. Once a cerebral AVM bleeds, the risk of hemmorahaging again within the next year is nine times as likely. Though research has grown extensively, doctors are still unable to predict whether a patient with cerebral AVM will or will not experience hemorrhaging.

While there is no definitive research, doctors have found certain cases to have a higher likelihood of causing bleeding. Though it may seem contradictory, smaller AVMs have a greater chance of hemorrhaging than larger ones. Increased blood pressure and blood volume from being pregnant also increases a patient’s potential for bleeding. Lastly, deeply situated AVMs with extremely narrow veins impair proper drainage leading to an increased risk for hemorrhaging.

Once again, the location of the hemorrhaging AVM is directly proportionate to the side effects of hemorrhaging. Bleeding AVMs situated deep within the brain, called intracerebral or parenchymal cerebral hemorrhage, cause the most damage.

In addition to brain hemorrhaging, AVMs on their own can inflict harsh brain and spinal dysfunctions. Patients who experience severe side effects are typically victims of one of three problems. Aside from hemorrhaging, AVMs reduce oxygen reaching neurological tissues and compress and displace parts of the brain. The larger the lesion, the greater chance of the latter problem occurring with certain AVMs reaching up to 2.5 inches in diameter. Certain lesions have been documented to distort an entire hemisphere of the brain.

How is an AVM of the brain diagnosed?

Brain AVMs can be diagnosed using a few methods, with the most non-invasive techniques being CT and MRI scans. Both scans reveal lesions while CT scans are particularly helpful in showing hemorrhaging. Three dimensional representations of cerebral AVMs can be detected by CT and MRI imaging.

A more intricate process in identifying an AVM of the brain involves angiography. A contrast agent, or water-soluble dye, is injected into the brain allowing an x-ray to deliver more precise images that highlight blood vessel structure. This procedure carries the risk of causing a stroke, but more research has led to vast improvements with angiography thereby reducing stroke potential.

What treatment options are available?

Endovascular embolization is growing in popularity as a non-invasive treatment option for patients with cerebral AVMs. Dr. Alejandro Berenstein, the director of Beth Israel's Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, is a pioneer in the field of endovascular embolization. Using research-driven methods, Dr. Berenstein performs embolization prior to surgery reducing the risk of complications.

Endovascular embolization involves guiding a catheter through the arterial pathway into the site of the AVM. A substance is injected into the site reducing the blood flow through the lesion. Blood flow reduction is a proven method in making surgery a safer process for patients.

Conventional surgery follows endovascular embolization whereby the central portion of the AVM is completely removed causing minimal to no invasion of surrounding neurological structures. Deeply situated lesions typically are not considered for conventional surgery. However, experts in endovascular embolization such as Dr. Berenstein are finding significant success in reaching deeper AVMs, which can be followed by conventional surgery. In this case, the risk of mortality and complications are further reduced.

Radiosurgery is another option for patients with localized lesions. Radiosurgery involves targeting the center of the lesion with a radiation beam damaging the blood vessel walls. Over several months following radiation treatment, the vessels begin to degenerate and ultimately close.

The method of surgery performed is thoroughly evaluated with each surgeon identifying the best option on a case-by-case basis. Left untreated, cerebral AVMs can cause severe hemorrhaging, which may lead to serious complications or death.

What is the outlook/prognosis for patients after treatment?

Embolization and radiation therapy often lead to temporary results. When a cerebral AVM is large, radiosurgery takes months to heal leaving the patient still at risk for hemorrhaging.

Research in the field has found endovascular embolization coupled with either conventional surgery or radiation therapy to have the best results. The risk of complication or death is minimized with duel therapy treatments.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any question you may have regarding a medical condition.

About the Center for Endovascular Surgery

The Center for Endovascular Surgery is a division of Beth Israel's Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN). The Center for Endovascular Surgery is a world leader in using minimally invasive techniques to treat vascular disorders throughout the body, including brain AVMs, hemangiomas and cerebral hemorrhages. To learn more please visit: www.vascularcarenyc.com.

R.L. Fielding Bio

R.L. Fielding is a freelance writer who has written on a wide variety of topics, with special expertise in the education, pharmaceutical and healthcare, financial service and manufacturing industries.

Pitt-led Research Provides Insight Into Development of Common Congenital Circulatory Defects

Pitt-led Research Provides Insight Into Development of Common Congenital Circulatory Defects

Researchers create first outline of aortic arch development and of subsequent deformity; they also find that arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) result from combined physiological and genetic factors

PITTSBURGH—University of Pittsburgh-led researchers could provide new insight into how two common congenital circulatory problems—aortic arch deformity and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)—develop in humans, as reported in the June 15 edition of Developmental Biology.

Led by Beth Roman, an assistant professor of biological sciences in Pitt’s School of Arts and Sciences, the team created the first complete published description of how aortic arch vessels form and, in a separate finding also described in the paper, determined that AVMs—wherein an artery fuses with a vein and diverts blood flow—can form as a result of combined genetic and physiological factors and not solely because of genetics.

The team created the aortic arch vessel development model from zebrafish embryos, which develop similarly to humans but more rapidly. In humans, the aortic arch vessels contribute to several of the body’s major arteries and often develop improperly, resulting in a wide range of vascular defects. The model could allow for a better understanding of the genetic program that governs aortic arch development, and therefore help in predicting abnormalities and determining when and how to intervene.

From the model, the team discovered that the gene unc45a plays a critical and previously unknown role in the formation of the aortic arch vessels—and that mutations in that gene can result in AVMs. In zebrafish harboring the mutation, two aortic arch vessels failed to connect properly to the body’s major artery, the dorsal aorta. Instead, dead-end vessels formed then swelled with blood until they touched and fused with a nearby vein.

AVMs typically form embryonically, but the particular AVMs Roman’s team observed did not form in the absence of blood flow, indicating that they were not genetically hardwired, she said. Additionally, AVM formation was inconsistent in terms of location on the aortic arch vessel, Roman said. The mutants randomly developed AVMs on the side of the dead-end vessel—left, right, or both—that happened to receive blood flow first.

While AVMs in humans are generally thought to form in utero, they typically are discovered only when they cause a serious health problem later in life. AVMs can form in various organs, including the brain, lungs, spinal cord, and liver. By diverting blood, the misconnections rob parts of the body of nutrients and oxygen. The fragile fusions are prone to rupturing and hemorrhaging; a ruptured AVM in the brain can cause a stroke.

“We discover AVMs in humans when something goes wrong and we can never go back and trace the shunt’s development,” Roman said. “Only when we fully understand the mechanisms leading to these malformations will we be able to develop better diagnostic tests and preventative treatments to pinpoint the best time to intervene.”

Roman worked with Matthew Anderson, a Georgetown University Medical Center graduate student and lead author on the paper, and Van Pham, Andreas Vogel, and Brant Weinstein from the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health.

The full article is available on Science Direct at www.sciencedirect.com.


from...

Brain Surgery

The expression "it's not brain surgery" is synonymous with something not being super difficult. Therefore, "brain surgery" (like, perhaps, "rocket science") is a neat expression for something that is about as challenging as humans can imagine. That is, until you are about to HAVE brain surgery, and then you start to find importance in subtle distinctions -- like "as far as brain surgery goes, it's relatively simple," which i found comforting until the anesthsiologist today suggested that maybe i was being a bit TOO casual about upcoming events, and that I had to cut myself some slack -- that this was "brain surgery, afterall..."

Hell, even the Incas did brain surgery.

Many times when people have big dangerous operations, it's all part of a larger emergency - a stroke or heart attack or accident or whatever; where something happens and you're rushed to the hospital and the next thing you know you've got an IV in your arm and you're in the O.R. You might not even be conscious. By the time you wake up you're just glad the doctors got to you in time. Then there are those other medical moments, when it's an emergency of sorts, but its scheduled. Maybe a tumor or, in my case, an AVM. In these moments you've got LOTS of time to ponder the implications. I imagine it sort of like being on death row. It's not optional. It looms out there in the near future, hard to think about, hard to envision. Best ignored. But it hits you in waves... of panic or fear or loss... sadness often. Then you buck up and it goes away for awhile. It's inevitable. There's a general sense of fear of discomfort or pain. On death row, like in my case, you know there will be pain/discomfort, but regardless, it will be short lived and then, as soon as you're there, you're through it. I felt that way as the nurse outlined the various I.Vs and catheters and stuff that were going into me and when. Some when I was awake, more when i was asleep. I urged her to move as many to the unconscious part of my morning and she agreed.


Anyway, this evening feels full of ritual: the paying of bills, the finding of family documents, the returning of some emails, the packing and the body prep... the shaving of my head, for instance. Less for medical practicality and more for mental preparation and transition. (I thought at first it would keep me from looking lopsided as they shaved whatever they needed to for cutting me - but i have to admit it was ultimately just part of my process - like the face paint of a warrior or the laying out of a uniform.) My uniform and tools (baggy shorts, sweat shirt, some WIRED magazines, a stack of Netflix movies, and a fully charged laptop) is ready to go, although i won't need much until Thursday some time. I'm told Wednesday is going to be an utter haze and as with crossing the International Date Line west to China, you just accept that you're going to lose a day and probably never really get it back.

I'm going to go be somber, find some warm socks, and i'll see ya'll on the other side.

nope it is all i can do...

to wright that little bit...

although yesterday day it did grow a bit....

here is a pictue of it...
adults only!

oh well...

let me say that my wife has been giving me a hard time ... today in the first time she has an aponitment to do her hair... othrt than that she has been looking over my shouled.

so on that note...
i bid you adue!


by the by... hears some books i like.

i almost forgot...

buy this book!

thats like me getting my wish.

don't you want me to get my wish???

here it is...

DC vs Marvel

worth the click...

lets see what is ratings worthy,,, shall we?


of course... dommino pc

and

of coure Avlre who can be your girl fnd.
cool...

hello! i'm back...

i have been on a sort of vactoon hooowooo
man do i have shit to cean uo at home
oh well...
have a move


Probability=0.00000001% - A funny movie is a click away
good day.

Harlan Ellison

he's my faviriot

hello yall!

time to put down todays thouges...
misspellings and all
i miss my work...
i miss my frids
i dont think i will ever get them back...
and that about sum it up...
shit!

what is a ninja...

now thas a ninja..

Calling poets and poetry lovers everywhere!

Calling poets everywhere! E.E. Cummings was (in my opinion) the greatest poet of modern time.

This is poetry to make love to.. if you have never experience E.E. Cummings works, or if you have, I offer to you the complete poetical works.. I like the fact that Amazon has it discounted now too. It is not cheap, but what in life that is truly worth buying is?

got any new hobbies...

no
any questions,,

i didnt thik so.

funny emial...

don't woory i aitn typin...

Brain Cramps

Question: If you could live forever, would you and why? Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever," --Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." --Mariah Carey

"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life," --Brooke Shields, during an interview to become Spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign.

"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body," --Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward.

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country," --Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC. ````````````````````````````` "I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president." --Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents.

"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it," --A congressional candidate in Texas.

"Half this game is ninety percent mental." --Philadelphia Phillies manager, Danny Ozark

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." --Al Gore, Vice President (DUH !)

"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix." --Dan Quayle

"We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"--Lee Iacocca

"The word 'genius" isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." --Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.

"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people." --Colonel Gerald Wellman, ROTC Instructor.


"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." --Bill Clinton, President


"We are ready for an unforeseen event that may or may not occur." --Al Gore, VP (damn he's ! smart)

"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come from overseas." --Keppel Enderbery



"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." --Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina

"If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack in at night as they go to bed and it will monitor their heart throughout the night. And the next morning, when they wake up dead, there'll be a record." --Mark S. Fowler, FCC Chairman ```````````````````````` ....Feeling smarter yet? Send it on to your other brilliant friends, like I am doing!!

fuuuuukkkkkkeeettttyyyy

i have lost my angel...
ffffuuuuccccckkkkeeeyyyyyy
oh well... life gose on...and on and on!
it is times like this that make me want to piss on someone
but then i think it will get better...

oh well'''it coud be worse

Simon Is Toxic - Celebrity bloopers here

another one... yum yum!

Top Secret Sauce (Peanut Butter for Chicken)Here is another favorite recipe, this one came about in an act of desperation. I was young and married and BROKE! And had a craving for Thai food… the result was amazing and has become a family favorite.
Take 1 C water put in small sauce panCrush & Chop 2 clove pieces of fresh Garlic put in sauce pan.Bring to boil.Stir in smooth peanut butter until nice and thick Usually takes about ¼ C. but I just stir in heaping TBS until it is the thickness of runny pudding.Slowly add soy sauce tasting along to way until mildly salty.(I used to also add cayenne pepper to taste.. I don’t any more because my G.I. tract is getting old, but feel free to add it if you like.. into the water before the peanut butter)Spoon over chicken (from the previous recipe is best) that you have cut into manageable strips.Recommended vegetable is asparagus, also with sauce spooned over. And Rice as your starch.There are now bagged instant rice dishes, and the Thai garlic is about the best for complimenting the chicken.