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jessica 20, Female Buffalo Grove, IL United States: Share on Facebook

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Teens with AVMs

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teenagers?
5 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Christina Apr 27, 2010.

freaking myself out
1 Reply

Started this discussion. Last reply by jessica Feb 15, 2010.

1 yr post gamma knife with swelling
8 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by jessica Feb 23, 2009.

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Birthday Balloons From Shalon

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Latest Activity

jessica commented on Becky's blog post 'Embo #2 booked - finally!'

good luck with everything!! starting college can be very stressful, so try not to worry about your avm toooo much. itd be a good idea to let your roommate know what is going on incase there is an emergency though

Aug 12, 2010

jessica replied to Ben Munoz's discussion 'How to Organize a Meetup in Your City'

jenny, where in indy are you? (what side of the city, i dont know the area very well). i go to school in terre haute and i know of one other avmer in terre haute

Aug 12, 2010

jessica replied to Ben Munoz's discussion 'How to Organize a Meetup in Your City'

I go to school in terre haute, indiana, but am willing to travel to indy or champaign to meet up with people!!

Aug 12, 2010

jessica replied to Kelly Nelsen's discussion 'Know of a good AVM neurosurgeon in Chicago?'

bovis also is also the main surgeon for the illinois gamma knife institute that is based out of alexian brothers in elk grove

May 29, 2010

jessica replied to Kelly Nelsen's discussion 'Know of a good AVM neurosurgeon in Chicago?'

yes!! dr ruge and dr bovis out of lutheran general (advocate) both see both children and adults (i was 17 when i saw then) ruge is more of the crainiotomy guy and bovis is all about the gamma. i can give you their office number if you'd like i…

May 29, 2010

jessica replied to Manny Patel's discussion 'Weight lifting restrictions'

i had gamma and until it went away i was told to keep my heart rate under 180 and not to lift more than 30 pounds. this put a damper on me because i swim and play water polo and lift for training i guess it depends on how cautious your doc is, mine…

May 3, 2010

Christina replied to jessica's discussion 'teenagers?'

I'm a teenager, but I was kind of in a weird situation as far as the discovery went. It was found on a fluke after I turned eighteen when I was on an eighty-day backpacking trip. A letter was sent to me, but my parents opened it, assuming it…

Apr 27, 2010

jessica commented on Alyssa Walker's blog post 'GREAT NEWS!!'

thats awesome!

Apr 27, 2010

Profile Information

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

When did the AVM bleed or, if there was no bleed, when was the AVM first discovered?: January 11, 2008

What is the status of the AVM?: Obliterated

How was the AVM treated?: Gamma-Knife

If treated, when was the AVM treated?: March 14, 2008

Describe the AVM (location, size) if you know it.: In left perietal lobe, 3.5 cm x 3 cm, looks like a sausage

Please share your AVM experience. (Discovery, symptoms, treatment, recovery): I have had migraines since i was 10, started with complex migraines when i was about 12. i dealt with them for a while but in january 08 i had this severe complex migraine where i lost my sight for about 30 seconds, had a loud ringing/buzzing in my ears for a couple minutes, i broke out in a could sweat and became extremely nausous for a couple hours. my mom decided to make an appointment with a neurologist. he was ready to just call it complex migraines but my mom thought it would be better to get all the tests done just to be sure and to get a baseline. well thank god my mom is an rn and shes overprotective. the mri showed the avm in my left perietal lobe. i went for my first angiogram on feb 14th, the avm was 3.5 cm x 2 cm in my left perietal lobe. i had gamma knife radiation on march 14th. the day could have gone better but the the staff at the illinois gamma knife center were awesome but the people who did my angiogram were horrible. it took me about 4 days to go back to school and practice
i went for my first checkup and mri since july 14th. luckily there is no swelling but the avm is still there same size, which is what we expected

I had my 1 year mri a bit early, after just 11 months and its gone!!!!! there was some swelling which i freaked out about but my surgeon said that was good. i will have an angio next march to confirm the mri

Would you like to recommend a surgeon, therapist, or a hospital?: Dr. Bovis-neurosurgeon
Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove Il-the home of Illinois Gamma Knife Center

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Jessica's Blog

urgent, need prayers and thoughts please

hi guys,

my school has recieved a part suicide note part bomb threat last week that is specifically targeting tomorrow, friday. they have been working nonstop and have not been able to find the student responsible. i will be spending as much time of campus and will be spending the night a safe 10 miles away in town but i ask for your prayers that nothing does happen but if it does that no one is seriosly injured. thank you

Posted on April 22, 2010 at 6:35pm — 4 Comments

flip flop

so i have changed my mind again.

i posted earlier that i would be leaving the site after my dr gave me the all clear. well this week he did and it was the biggest weight off of my shoulders, even though i knew it was coming (bc of the clear mri last feb and the radiologist told me it was clear right after the angio) i was thoroughly relieved and have decided that i should stay and offer my support to those of you that have not beaten your avm yet, after all, didnt i join a…

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Posted on April 11, 2010 at 2:56pm — 5 Comments

moving forward

Hey everyone. first off i want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heard for the love and support i have gotten here. there are a great group of people here but i feel it is time to move on and i plan on deleting my account in about a month. avm discovered jan 08, gk mar 08, mri showing swelling and no avm feb 09, angio showing no sign of avm feb 10. the past two years have been a roller coaster and i feel i need to move on. i will be seeing my surgeon in about a month (couldnt get in…

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Posted on March 2, 2010 at 4:27pm — 2 Comments

how much difference a few months can make

so last time i was on here i was just very recently told that my avm was gone and i was wondering what my life would be like then. well in the past 3 months or so life has taken a turn for the better. i played water polo and the first week back in goal i was nervous and hesitant but once i got comfortable i became my own dominating aggressive self again and was able to earn honorable mention honors in sectionals. i stopped worrying about every stab of pain in my head and i noticed they became… Continue

Posted on June 7, 2009 at 11:29pm — 6 Comments

OHHH YEAAAAA

wooooot!

i just had my 1 year check up and i am shocked beyond belief! my surgeon believes that my avm is gone after just one year!!!!! (actually more like 11 months bc my mri was last month...) but he says he sees no sign of the avm and no sign of any live blood flow which would indicate a bleed, just swelling which is good becuase it means the radiation hit its target and is doing its job...

he doesnt want to do an angio now, he still wants to wait til next year because even if… Continue

Posted on March 5, 2009 at 7:26pm — 11 Comments

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At 9:55am on April 03, 2010, Shalon gave jessica a gift…: Birthday Balloons
Hope you have a great day!
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At 9:23pm on June 9, 2009, Jim said…: Thanks Jessica for your comments

I had an angio in March 09. I didn't like it, not the operation part but being placed on a cold table naked and having nurses checking you out. It was a mentally uncomfortable experience. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to have another angio if I had to.

Here in Australia, I don't have the option of gamma knife. I'll have to go overseas to get it done or wait until mid 2010 when Sydney gets one installed. Sometimes it's nice to have one option to spare you from a dilemma. Stay well.

Jim

At 4:08am on June 8, 2009, Jim said…: I am so happy for you.
I also have an avm, same size and location. Did you consider surgery? What was your reason for choosing radiotherapy? I'm trying to decide but it is so difficult. I'm afraid I'll lose my mobility or speech.
I'm sure your input will help my decision.

Thanks!

At 8:49am on March 6, 2009, Christine Wellborn said…: I am so happy for you!!!!! XOXO

At 10:37pm on March 5, 2009, Connie T said…: HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At 7:39pm on March 5, 2009, pauline horsley said…: OH YEAh ...I'm so happy for you !!!

At 2:48am on March 5, 2009, pauline horsley said…: Jessica please lrt me know how your appointment goes today !! ..I'm thinking about you .

At 11:39pm on February 21, 2009, marianne elizondo said…: Hello Jessica.
I forgot to share something with you, the fact is that one day YOu WILL FOOLISHLY get to choose when s--- happens ! YOU WILL FOOLISHLY be the one who CREATES it....Honestly at some point there is a balance.....
Be good to you. Take care of you.
You are in my prayers young woman.

At 10:15am on February 21, 2009, pauline horsley said…: HI JESSICA Did you see your doctor yet ? If so what did he say ? I hope things work out for you. It is obvious you love water polo and it's hard to just give things up . I loved to work out but i am afraid to . Now all I do is sit arround (I hate it) . Best wishes to you .

At 5:49pm on February 14, 2009, Troy Garcia said…: Hello Jessica,

Well I am here this evening. Nice to see you in an unclear picture. You have to get another one. I thought mind was bad. But oh know.