This is my story about my avm and what has happened to me. My doctor, whom I think with only one meeting is a wonderful, and knowledgeable man, is Dr. Solomon at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. My first doctor was Dr.D at a Medical Center. This man said that he would start my surgery in the beginning of November and made a tape which my fiance' and I listened to and he said at least 15 times during this tape that I could either be paralyzed or death. He did not say it would happen, he said it could possibly happen, one of the risks.
I was yelled at twice by this man, once right before my angiogram which was only because I asked about disability. He literally yelled at me for 5 minutes straight which did nothing but make me be quiet and cry my eyes out. I could have died during this procedure and that was our pre-operative discussion. I was literally shocked. Then he called me and continued to yell at me another time for having tests he wrote a prescription for. Which to me said do so. He said he didn't say to do it he said to go ask my regular doctor if I should do it. Those weren't his words at all. In any case I decided that if I went to this man whom I was terribly afraid of I thought to myself "if I go to him I am literally putting my life in my hands and I honestly think he will kill me. So my fiance' whom is a wonderful man, went on the Internet and found Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
It had a number 1 800 NYP-Well. So I called it, told them what was wrong and before you know it they told me I was going to see a Dr. Solomon. I said "is he good?" They said "He is the Chairman of Neurosurgery at the Neurological Institute at Columbia Presbyterian. I told them about Dr. D. yelling at me and they said he was very calm and very kind. I said ok. They gave me an appointment within one week.
The reason he was seeing me was because of the size of it regardless if I was on Medicaid or not. I was shocked and happy about that at the same time. My fiance' and I went 3 days ago, the 27th of October. He put up all the Cat Scan, MRI,MRA, and Angiogram. He took us over and showed us what was what, I was in shock to see this. It was so large and this was his reason for seeing me as I said before, the size of it. When he was done talking I put my head on my fiance's chest and Dr. Solomon said "why don't we sit down"
He proceeded to tell us because of where it was and that the Basil Ganglia was right in the middle of it, that he could not touch it. That I would definitely be paralyzed for life and would have great trouble talking if not talking at all. Of course, we were both shocked, and still are today. But, I have to Thank Dr. Solomon so much for this, because if it wasn't for him saying that, I would have done this surgery and my life as it is, even though he says I definitely need to be on disability, my life as it is would have been changed forever. And it would not have been for the better.
There is a 2% chance a year that I can bleed, have a stroke, a hemorrhagic stroke, or both. But it still is only 2% and to this doctor whom I believe with all my heart, basically saved my life. I can do nothing but thank this man, and somehow, God I have to say, steered me away from the other doctor. I knew something was not right.
I still have to call Dr. Solomon tomorrow and see about radiosurgery, which is radiation, high doses. But he says there is only a 50/50 chance that will even work. My story is not the happiest of all stories, but I have to say I was saved in a way. I cannot remember things and I do need help, but I am alive!!! Thank You Dr. Solomon!! And thank God most of all because he is the one that sent me to a wonderful doctor that would take care of me the right way.
We will see about radiosurgery, but I would bet that when he gets together with his associates it will be voted down. Because radiation shrinks it and if it works then what happens to the Basil Ganglia in the middle? I have a feeling they will be thinking the same as me. Don't you?
I have to live this way now, a lot of changes have to be made. But like I said "I am Alive" Thanks to God for sending me in the right direction, to Dr. Solomon. Columbia Presbyterian I believe is a fine hospital, and it only took me one time going there to believe this is true. Thank you for listening.