16th February 2008
A variety of eggs off the farm...the two white eggs are duck eggs the blue one is actually off a hen.
12th February 2008
Just to let you know what is wrong with me I have a spinal AVM (I think there is some bleeding)
What is an AVM?
1) A congenital disorder (one present at birth) of blood vessels in the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord that is characterized by a complex, tangled web of abnormal arteries and veins connected by one or more fistulas (abnormal communications). 2) An abnormal communication between an artery and vein that may be present at birth or may result from injury or infection. Blood may flow directly from the artery to the vein, bypassing the small vessels where oxygen and tissue nutrients are exchanged. These unusual malformations are often found in the brain and spinal cord, but may occur anywhere in the body.
Normally, arteries carry blood containing oxygen from the heart to the brain, and veins carry blood with less oxygen away from the brain and back to the heart. When an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) occurs, a tangle of blood vessels directly diverts blood from the arteries to the veins.
What is a Spinal AVM?
A Spinal AVM is an Arteriovenous Malformation that is located within, on or around the spinal cord.
What are the symptoms of a Spinal AVM?
Symptoms of a Spinal AVM can be almost anything. The most common symptoms that occur are: numbness, weakness, sensation irregularity, problems with balance, burning or hot sensations, paralysis, headaches and random pains throughout the body. Symptoms can range greatly and can affect your body in ways that you wouldn't think possible. For example, a Spinal AVM can also affect your bowel movements, urination habits & abilities, concentration and many other systems within your body.
The fact is... Spinal AVM's can cause so many different symptoms that it would be impossible and illogical to list them all.
Why do AVM's occur?
It is unknown why AVM's occur. They're usually congenital, meaning someone is born with one. However, they usually are not hereditary. People probably do not inherit an AVM from their parents, and they probably will not pass an AVM on to their children.
AVM's have also been known to be a result of an injury that did not heal properly. This is not very common from what I've gathered.
How common are AVM's?
The popularity of an AVM is far more common then most might realize. It is estimated that one in 200-500 people may have an AVM. Brain and Spinal AVM's, on the other hand, are much less common. A brain AVM is found in less then 1% of the general population. A spinal AVM is even more rare. They're so rare in fact, that there is not a known census to determine how common they really are.
Do AVM's grow or change?
Most AVM's do not grow or significantly change although the vessels involved may dilate. There are some reported cases of AVM's shrinking or enlarging, but this may be due to clots in parts of an AVM causing it to shrink, or to redirect to adjacent blood vessels toward an AVM.
In my personal experience, an AVM can generate an aneurysm which can continually grow over a period of time. The longer blood flows through weakened veins, the bigger they may expand. This is not always true, but in my case, it is.
What causes an AVM to bleed?
An AVM contains abnormal and, therefore, "weakened" blood vessels that direct blood away from the normal tissues. These abnormal and weak blood vessels dilate over time and may eventually burst from high pressure of blood flow from the arteries causing bleeding.
What are the risks of having an AVM?
The biggest risk of an AVM is the possibility of a stroke. In order to have a stroke, the AVM must hemorrhage. The chance of an AVM bleed averages between 1 and 3 percent each year. Over a 15 year period, there is a 25% chance that an AVM will bleed causing damage and stroke. The more bleeds that occur, the higher the risks are that another bleed will follow at any time.
The average risk of a bleed over 10 years from diagnosis is approximately 30%. If the AVM shows signs of "wear & tear" such as aneurysms, it is more likely to bleed (like 50% or more). Over 30 years from diagnosis the risk of a bleed averages 66% but may be as high as 90%.
In the case of a Spinal AVM, the biggest risk is a stroke of the spinal cord. Depending on the location of the AVM it is almost most certainly going to cause some kind of neurological damage or even paralysis. If the AVM is high enough, and large enough, it may also go into the lower portion of the brain and cause an additional brain stroke. Each time a bleed occurs, normal tissue is damaged. This results in a loss of normal function, which may be temporary or permanent.
In the case of a brain stroke, there is a 10-15% chance of death and a 20-30% chance of permanent brain damage.
What should victims of an AVM avoid?
If you have an active AVM in your body, no matter where it may be... you should avoid straining... try not to lift, push or pull anything more then what feels comfortable to you. Do not push yourself. Try to keep your blood pressure from reaching high levels. Avoid smoking .(Smoking will raise your blood pressure, and weaken your veins over time and could increase the risk of a bleed.)
Avoid any medications or medicines that will thin your blood or increase your heart rate/blood pressure. Anything of this sort could increase your risk of a bleed and also make a bleed much worse should you have one.
If at all possible, keep your stress levels as low as possible. I know that it's very stressful if you have an AVM because it's like having a time bomb in your body that could go off at any moment.
How are AVM's diagnosed?
Most AVM's go undiagnosed until a bleed occurs. Some AVM's are found by accident, meaning they're found during a test for some other medical condition. Most people find their AVM's between the ages of 20 and 50.. and if they're not found by 50, they will usually go unnoticed for the remainder of the persons life.
The best ways to determine the existence of an AVM is by either a CT scan or an MRI scan. These tests are very good at detecting AVM's. They also provide information about the location and size of the AVM and whether it may have bled.
What treatments are available for an AVM?
Well first of all, it must be determined if the AVM can be treated at all. Some AVM's are untreatable. In general, an AVM may be considered for treatment if it has bled, if it is an area that can be easily treated and if it is not too large.
The best treatment depends upon what type it is, the symptoms it may be causing and its location and size.
There are currently only 3 real treatments available for AVM's that may lead to a resolution. All of which are invasive and dangerous.
1. Surgery - If an AVM has bled and/or is in an area that can be easily operated upon, then surgical removal may be recommended.
2. Stereotactic radiosurgery - An AVM that is not too large, but is in an area that is difficult to reach by regular surgery, may be treated by performing stereotactic radiosurgery. Focused-beam high energy sources are concentrated on the AVM to produce direct damage to the vessels that will cause a scar and allow the AVM to "clot off."
3. Interventional neuroradiology/endovascular neurosurgery - It may be possible to treat all or part of the AVM by placing a small tube (catheter) inside the blood vessels that supply the AVM and blocking off the abnormal blood vessels with a variety of different materials. These include liquid tissue adhesives (glues), micro-coils, particles and other materials used to stop blood flowing to the AVM.
When an AVM is completely taken out, the possibility of any further bleeding should be eliminated.
8th February
Well I had the spinal angiogram last Friday am and pm they tried to solve the problem with by going through my veins but too dangerous. Surgery was arranged for Thursday 7th February. On Wednesday major prob was found. I have been taking Clopidogmal to thin my blood as well as asprin. Neither of these had been stopped so they sent me home and said they would ring me with another appointment. I could give a long list of other pro
bs. but just can't be botherered at the momemt.Some snowdrops to add some hope
I have decided to let my son John have my dog as it isn't fair on him. I can't give him the attention he needs and it is not fair on my wife Anne.
27th January 2008
Tried to help on the farm yesterday but fell over. couldn't get up so Johnny lifted me up.
27th January 2008
Mark's future mother-in-law Sue died last week. It has been devastating for all her family and my prayers are with Jim, Jo, Abby and Mark.
Susan's Funeral is on Friday 1st February and sadly I can't go as I will be in hospital.
As I have said I am going into hospital. I have seen the surgeon and he said he can do three things. Firstly a spinal angiogram which will be done on Friday morning 1st Feb and the if poss. a procedure will be done on Friday pm with a general anesthetic then home. If that can't be done then they will have to open me up as last time and full surgical job will be done. If neither of those can be done then nothing can be done and I will gradually get worse.
PREACHING
Still doing a bit and have got my 'bite' back. Churches are not really designed for the disabled but stewards very helpful.
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