I have an AVM in my cerebellum, it was diagnosed in 1989. It was picked up when I started getting a hydrocephellus (fluid on the brain, my ventricle had swelled up enormously, it was caught just in time). I was 13 when it happened, I'm 25 now, yes, it's been fine for 12 years. Due to its enormous size, it's never hemorrhaged.
I live in Melbourne, Australia and I also live on my own as dealing with my family became intolerable, relationships with my mother had broken down.
I spoke to my Neurologist the other day, it would seem that the wobbliness that I get in my hands is due to brain stem compression. That's the major reason for my scared feeling. It seems that my AVM is too large to be helped by radiosurgery, none of my specialists quite know what to do to help me and it seems to be growing. If they don't know what to do, I can't be bothered trying to help myself either. Honestly, I do think I would be better off dead. It will eventually kill me so I'm just waiting until I die.
If there is something you would like to know, just ask.
Update 26 Apr 2001
I thought, perhaps, I should update with what was happening. My scared feeling overwhelmed me for quite some time but I got myself a case manager and now through that I can get counselling, which would have been too expensive for me. I'm also going to an Osteopath, which has definitely helped with the muscle tightness in my neck and back. I have a few friends who have similar levels of pain, it is quite embarassing to have to ask, 'Well what do I do?' but I'm actually trying to move forward.
That's the only things that have been happening but I thought maybe I should let the family know what steps that I've been taking.