Hellobee

The Mayo clinic has a great reputation, and for good reason. Every time I have gone there the experience is impressive. It’s super efficient and top quality. The doctor who wasn’t involved with my case this time, but who did my last procedure there, stopped in to say hi when I was getting prepped for my angiogram. It felt comforting amid the cold air and beeps of all the machines

For those of you who haven’t followed my story and medical history, here’s a documentary short (which when I’m not taking care of my kids and navigating a move, is what I do for work).

I was conscious for the entire procedure, which involved sending a tiny camera up through a major artery in my hip and then snaking up into my brain to take a look around. 

This meant I could watch the screen they were using to see inside my brain as it was happening. Eventually the doctor doing the procedure turned to me and said, see? That’s where the AVM used to be – and you can see here that there is no longer any malformation.”

Before

After

My eyes welled up with tears of gratitude and I slowed my breath to keep myself calm and still. The images are at different angles but it’s still beautiful, the absence of that snarl. I needed to lie flat for another hour after the procedure, so I just laid there and let it all sink in after they wheeled me back into the room I got changed in. When Mr. Gumdrop came back with our kids and I was still resting and I didn’t say anything about the results. I wanted to be able to stand up and celebrate with him, not lay still. He didn’t suspect anything different – neither of us had expected them to tell me the results in real time. 

The weight off is incredible. It still occurs to me that I should be careful, not do seemingly random things like yoga (we didn’t want any downward dogs causing more blood rushing to my head) or athletic exertion – but then I’m reminded that those aren’t risks anymore. 

I’m still in physical therapy for my balance and strengthening. Three years later. Sometimes I get tired of trying to get better. But then I am thankful for how far I’ve come and how I am still improving and I feel motivated again.

The morning of the angiogram, I had blood work at 6am and the angiogram at 10 and it was highly efficient. I have familial high cholesterol so I have experienced the side of the medical system that simply wants to put everyone on the drug of the day, and I get frustrated when I am not being heard. But I also know doctors deal with this kind of google-era medical knowledge and can’t imagine being on the other side of this. It felt really good to be cared for in a medical system I totally believed in, and to know I needed it.

I recently got a carotid doppler test on the recommendation of my mom (because she’s paved the way with high cholesterol). Basically, they see if there is cholesterol build-up in your neck arteries and if there’s not, it’s very unlikely that it’s built up in other areas of the body. There was no buildup! So that felt good and I can rest knowing that there really isn’t a medical reason to lower that cholesterol number since it’s just genetically high. I will go back for yearly ultrasounds just to make sure it’s still clear. So I feel like I’ve been able to experience both sides of the medical system and am so grateful for doctors and all their training.