We are AVM survivors, here for your support.

Sheila Hillhouse 31, Female Clarksville, TN United States: Share on Facebook

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Unruptured AVM

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Inoperable AVMs

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Sheila Hillhouse's Discussions

Teeth???
8 Replies

Has anyone had any long term side effects from taking the same medications for years? For example, I'm told from taking my tregatol for so long it's caused peradontal disease. Anyways It causes my…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by kevin matthews May 25, 2010.

Left sided weakness
10 Replies

Here for the past few days, I have been experiencing left sided weakness. This includes my head (which my migraine is only on the left side now), my arm, my leg and even some of my lower back. It…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Jamie Pantelis May 15, 2010.

Calcification of my avm?

Does know or has anyone heard of this. My doctor told me that my avm presents calcification. When I asked her what it is all she told me was the blood had less room to flow and I had a higher risk of…Continue

Started Apr 15, 2010

Does anyone know more about atonic seizures?
2 Replies

My doctor tells me these are the new type of seizures I'm experiencing, but everything I've read on the internet does not seem to match what happens to me? Could they be experienced differently? Does…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by jeff simpson Feb 11, 2011.

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Sheila Hillhouse's Page

Latest Activity

Whitney Driskill and Sheila Hillhouse are now friends Friday

Sheila Hillhouse replied to AnthonyGolpe's discussion 'cerebral avm and pregnant'

Hi, Anthony, I can't tell how much alike our situations are. But, my avm was found at a young age and I was advised not to have children. I ended up pregnant anyway, I have two children now. They are most likely to do a planned c-section, being…

Feb 8

Sheila Hillhouse and marcylynn are now friends Feb 8

Patrice left a comment for Sheila Hillhouse

That's crazy. But you know what you can get a second opinion like I did with dr. spetzleron stations.get a copy of your medical records and scans and send then to his office there for an opinion.his may differ from the neurologist opinion…

Oct 30, 2011

Patrice left a comment for Sheila Hillhouse

Actually I have my surgery november eleventh. I was denied first time but my lawyer is william benjamin. he is awesome. We just filed an appeal and since I have to have the surgery he says it increases my chances of getting my appeal reversed. But I…

Oct 20, 2011

Sheila Hillhouse updated their profile Oct 19, 2011

Sheila Hillhouse left a comment for Rich

Hi Rich, I am Sheila, I was reading the comment you left for Dan and it reminded me of myself. So, I felt the need to leave you a comment 8) Although, our circumstances are a little different: I was born with my avm, I have never been a candidate…

Oct 19, 2011

Patrice left a comment for Sheila Hillhouse

hey i am actually going to Vanderbilt to have a craniotomy to remove my avm. its in an extremely dangerous part of the brain and is very hard to treat. i dont qualify for the gamma knife because of the location of my avm to my optic chiasm(80%…

Sep 27, 2011

Sheila Hillhouse and Yumina are now friends Sep 26, 2011

jeff simpson replied to Sheila Hillhouse's discussion 'Does anyone know more about atonic seizures?'

yo ALICIA WANNA TALK TO YOU

Feb 11, 2011

Kellie Calvit commented on Sheila Hillhouse's blog post 'Finally getting answers on my mood disorder-yay!'

Hey there Sheila, My AVM is on the right side behind my right eye and is up against the frontal lobe. It causes a lack of inhabitions and I now wear my emotions on my sleeve. I did cry all the time after the first bleed and embolization. It got…

Jul 13, 2010

Finally getting answers on my mood disorder-yay!

Well, They taking me off my lexapro and amitriptyline this month and are adding a mood stabilizer. Which they believe will balance me out, lets hope! The month has been really hard I have one more week, the first four days I cried none stop. My new doc says he may still add an anti-depressant later, but for now just wants to try this. Still feel like human lab rat!!! My new therapist will be talking one on one with my neurologist so I guess that is good and promising. Trying to be hopeful for…See More

Blog post by Sheila Hillhouse Jul 12, 2010

1 Comment

Sheila Hillhouse commented on Christine's blog post 'Headaches'

Hi Christine, This probably won't be helpful, I still have my AVM. Anyway along with it I get constant migraines. They have never been able to make them go away, just lessen the pain. But, I've never had shots either so curious as to what…

Jul 12, 2010

I'm really missing my children today! ;(

Status posted by Sheila Hillhouse Jul 12, 2010

Sheila Hillhouse commented on Crystal Boyd's blog post 'Trip To The Emergency Room Last Night!!!!'

How did I know it was Military, we had the same problems when I was a child, they told my mother see imagined my having a seizure. LOL I'm glad you finally got through to them we had to finally see civilian docs! Good Luck and God Bless you and…

Jul 11, 2010

Sheila Hillhouse replied to sa's discussion 'Are AVM's hereditary???'

I have been told they are not, but ironicly in my situation, I have a great grandmother who died from a brain aneurysm. My younger brother and sister also have suffered from seizures, but not caused from an avm. It does make you wonder if…

Jun 18, 2010

Profile Information

Are you an AVM survivor, a relative, a friend, or a medical professional? (Required): AVM Survivor, Other

When were you (or the patient) diagnosed?: May 15, 1988

When did the AVM bleed or, if there was no bleed, when was the AVM first discovered?: May 15, 1988

What is the status of the AVM?: Active

How was the AVM treated?: Not Treatable

Describe the AVM (location, size) if you know it.: Right and left Frontal Lobe, as well as the right parietal of the Brain and connected to right carotid artery.

Please share your AVM experience. (Discovery, symptoms, treatment, recovery): I had my first seizure at age eight, which my mother witnessed. After, tons of we don't are you sure you saw that. They actually did testing found my avm, starting having my migraines very early on. I failed a year in elementary from missing too much class with all of my appointments, even though I am very bright. They don't understand why you would need to see a doctor so often. My seizures at first only came during my sleep but would drain me for at least twelve hours. Meds. did okay for me for some years up until a year and a half ago. Social security doesn't understand this. And so I'm sick and I have to fight, but I will. UPDATE: After three and a half years and a court battle, finally have my social security, although it has made some things in life easy, I am still battling emotionally. Found out a month ago, that my avm is actually larger than originally suggested and much more complex. So much that, my neuro decided, a new evaluation, would actually be a waste of time:( But, on the bright side my seizures are very close to being controlled again, which would be the first time in six years 8) My migraines have become a greater issue, but I guess one thing, at a time. I like my new neurologist, Dr. Singh, at Vanderbilt. It's hard to plan for tomorrow, but am still doing it, don't want to be left without a plan. My chances of a bleed has definitely increased now, which scares me.

Would you like to recommend a surgeon, therapist, or a hospital?: Vanderbilt UniversityDr. Constance Johnson is my Neurologist, but she has helped me realize I still have a life, she makes this a little easier!(If there is such a thing!) Dr. Singh, Neurologist, at Vanderbilt.

Why did you decide to join (multiple answers okay)?: Friendship: I wanted to connect with others, Support: I need emotional support, Support: I want to help support others dealing with this, Information: I want to learn more about symptoms/treatment, Information: I want to share what I've learned about symptoms/treatment

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Sheila Hillhouse's Blog

Finally getting answers on my mood disorder-yay!

Posted on July 12, 2010 at 1:26pm — 1 Comment

Comment Wall (25 comments)

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At 10:05am on October 30, 2011, Patrice said…: That's crazy. But you know what you can get a second opinion like I did with dr. spetzleron stations.get a copy of your medical records and scans and send then to his office there for an opinion.his may differ from the neurologist opinion greatly. Like my neurologist said no surgery but the neurosurgeon both here and arizona said surgery despite the deep location on my brain as bring necessary. Just don't givevbup and get a many opinions as you can so as to know who to trust.

At 11:22pm on October 19, 2011, Patrice said…: Actually I have my surgery november eleventh. I was denied first time but my lawyer is william benjamin. he is awesome. We just filed an appeal and since I have to have the surgery he says it increases my chances of getting my appeal reversed. But I hear figure singh is a great neurologist
. I will have my mom update everyone though. Glad you were approved. Refresh my memory had your avm been treated yet if so how.

At 5:01pm on September 27, 2011, Patrice said…: hey i am actually going to Vanderbilt to have a craniotomy to remove my avm. its in an extremely dangerous part of the brain and is very hard to treat. i dont qualify for the gamma knife because of the location of my avm to my optic chiasm(80% chance of going blind with the radiation treatment vs 5% with surgery) so i will schedule my surgery Thursday. but I live in Nashville, TN. My surgeon will be Robert Singer. Who treats you? oh and the best neurologist is Dr. Alfred Callahan III he practices with Meharry General(nashville general) twice a week and has a private practice in Green Hills the rest of the time. he has been wonderful throughout this process.

At 12:54pm on December 16, 2010, Cindy Phillips said…: Thank you for the add. How are you doing lately?

At 5:13pm on May 31, 2010, Aaron Mills said…: Hey there! Just wanted to see how things were goin. Hope you are as well as you should be. :D Later!

At 7:05am on May 27, 2010, Teresa Whobrey said…: HEY,SHEILA ! I LOVE YA !!!!

At 8:31am on May 10, 2010, Teresa Whobrey gave Sheila Hillhouse a gift…: Red Ribbon
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From the Gift Store

At 6:08pm on May 1, 2010, Katrina Rigdon said…: No, no news yet.

At 2:51pm on April 30, 2010, Aaron Mills said…: Heya, I haven't really had any complications. Just some weird visual stuff. But thats par for the course with DAME BRAMAGE!! *drool*