UGH

[Guest guest]

Ok, I think I have reach my limit with the LACK of communication on the Doctors

part!!!! I was in Pitts seeing a supposedly good Doc for my back problems awhile

back. Well he explained the 6+ herniated disks ok. No problem understanding

that! One of the other things they found was, a Arterial Venous Malformation.

Hmmmm, what the heck is THAT???? ( I looked it up before I saw him.) I

researched it and this is what I find.

What is ATM: An Arterio-Venous Malformation, or AVM is an abnormal collection

of blood vessels. Normally, red oxygenated blood is pumped by the heart through

branching tubes called arteries to the brain where it enters a fine network of

tiny vessels called capillaries. It is in these capillary beds where the blood

nourishes the tissues. Blue, deoxygenated blood then passes back to the heart

back through branching thin walled tubes called veins.

Arterial-Venous-Malformations are areas that lack the tiny Capillaries. The

location of the connection between the artery and the vein is called the shunt.

The area of tissue is called a nidus of the AVM. An AVM can be thought of as a

" Short Circuit " where the blood does not go to the tissues but is pumped through

the shunt and back to the heart without ever giving nutrients to the tissues.

What causes ATM?:We don't know what causes most AVMs. People are born with AVMs,

although they do not appear to inherit them from their parents nor do they give

them to their children. It appears that AVMs may be caused by a rupture or

clotting of a blood vessel that happens during development before one is born.

It is usually not associated with either other maldevelopments or with other

AVMs.

So my question to the Doc when I finally saw him was: " So I was born with this? "

His reply was a straight, NO. I've had if for a long time but was NOT born with

it. End of discussion. He said to get another MRI in 3 months since I can't

have the one test done he wanted. So next month I get this MRI. Well today I had

a regular Doc appointment with my family Doc. (She is AWESOME) I comment that

they need to make this appointment for the MRI. As she mentions this ATM, I ask

her. " Doc ? I am confused about something. I did some research on the

ATM and they said it was something you are born with. The Doc in Pitts said I

wasn't born with it. So what's up? " She looked at me and said that the wall

lining of my arteries are thin??? and had cause an aneurism. SO now my mouth

drops to the floor cause the only thing I can think of now is my Dad. He died

from an aneurism. As did his mom and brother. WOW!!! So Next month I have this

MRI and also an MRA to see it there are any changes and to test my nerves on my

right leg. I guess we shall see if they are going to try and remove/fix this

aneurism. They said something about it being to close to the spinal cord and it

was actually pinching it and that's why I have so much pain in my lower back.

Jeepers, I'm just falling apart here.....LOL Sorry this was so long. I'm just

glad I can vent! Thanks all!!!

HUGGLES

EDS, It's a Life Thing

http://www.ehlersdanlos.ca/whateds.htm