#ihadbrainsurgerywhatsyourexcuse

[beckysblog2]

In 1986 I had my first gran mal seizure. It lead to many tests to figure out why. In my right frontal lobe, an AVM was found. It had bled causing the seizure. I had brain surgery in January of 1987. The AVM was resected. I have a walnut sized piece of brain missing. After many years of not seeing a neurologist, I started having major migraines, again. This led to my primary sending me to a new neurologist. He found 4 more AVMs in my right frontal lobe. It was decided to leave them alone. I have to keep my blood pressure in check, I cannot lift heavy objects, as any kind of strain can cause 1 or all to rupture and cause me to stroke out.

[getthickerandthicker]

From the brink of death to a new life in lifting.

-----------

melissaweidert We will all die. We will all be in a lot of pain. It's inevitable. Its part of life. But in the meantime you might as well be a fucking savage and live your life the way you want to live. You might as well put your best effort and your best foot forward and train like a motherfucker. #brainsurgerysurvivor #ihadbrainsurgerywhatsyourexcuse #savage #trainhard #powerlifting #girlswhopowerlift #girlswithmuscle #girlswholift #deadlifts #brainsurgery #pumpchasers #fitfixed #weightloss #transformation #inspiration #dedication #motivation #findacure #chiarimalformation #hydrocephalus #gym #gymlife #fitspo #fitwomen #fitchick #chronicillness #livelikeyouweredying #live #love #hope

[beckysblog2]

Brain AVM

1986 was a busy year for me. I was 16, newly married, and had a new baby. In October of 86 I had my first gran mal seizure. I died that night. No, I did not see any white light. I had to be resuscitated twice that night. I woke up in the recovery area of the ER. The nurse went through the normal questions asked after losing consciousness. I was cleared to go home but was told to follow up with my primary the next day. Through my short life, I had suffered migraines. Horrible painful migraines. The kind that suck the life out of you. My parents chalked them up to hereditary as each of them also suffered migraines. After visiting with my primary, he referred me to a Neurologist. My primary and neurologist had me do many tests. CTscan, EEG, angiogram, which picked up the AVM in my brain. The seizure was due to the AVM bleed. I was told I was born with it. As I got older, it got bigger. Stress from being in school still, being married, having a baby, and working a part time job caused the bleed. My options were have brain surgery and live or don't have brain surgery and have another seizure like the first and it will kill you next time. Option one it was. I still had a 50/50 chance on the operating table. In January of 1987 I went to the hospital for the brain surgery. I was under the knife for 17 hours. Before going to the hospital I had blood drawn from me just in case I needed blood. 4 pints is what I gave them. 4 pints is what I needed during the surgery. Waking up, I was groggy and sore. I don't really remember the two weeks of staying in the hospital. I remember the scar and staples from ear to ear though. I was pretty dazed and confused for those two weeks. The Neurosurgeon did do a second angiogram and a spinal tap. Both of those I can say really hurt. You would think living with an AVM in my brain this long I'd be an old hat at. Still learning new things daily. Especially since I now have 4 more AVMs in my brain right behind the first one that was resected. Nothing can be done to those though. I still have seizures, occasionally, headaches daily, migraines at least twice a month that put me out for 2-3 days at a time. I'm nauseous, tired, and can't get out of bed. Always feel like the worst mom and wife in the world when I get them. I have been told my neurologist I cannot lift anything above 20 lbs, no hard exercising, keep my blood pressure down, as any of those would make an AVM rupture. I tell people today, I had brain surgery, what is your excuse?