February 19 2023

 

Home Care

Most seizures stop by themselves. But during a seizure, the person can be hurt.

When a seizure occurs, the main goal is to protect the person from injury:

• Try to prevent a fall. Lay the person on the ground in a safe area. Clear the area of furniture or other sharp objects.
• Cushion the person's head.
• Loosen tight clothing, especially around the neck.
• Turn the person on their side. If vomiting occurs, this helps make sure that the vomit is not inhaled into the lungs.
• Look for a medical ID bracelet with seizure instructions.
• Stay with the person until they recover or until professional medical help arrives. 

Things friends and family members should NOT do: 

• DO NOT restrain (try to hold down) the person.
• DO NOT place anything between the person's teeth during a seizure (including your fingers).
• DO NOT attempt to hold the person's tongue.
  
• DO NOT move the person unless they are in danger or near something hazardous.
• DO NOT try to make the person stop convulsing. They have no control over the seizure and are not aware of what is happening at the time.
• DO NOT give the person anything by mouth until the convulsions have stopped and the person is fully awake and alert.
• DO NOT start CPR unless the seizure has clearly stopped and the person is not breathing or has no pulse.

February 17 2023

 Aysha has been taken for the Angiogram at 9am. 

Procedure completed little while ago. She is in recovery.

But tests show NO new AVM. So that’s great news.

Aysha is being discharged as AVM is ruled out. Checks will be done by neurologists to check previous MRIs. Also follow up with doctors on current medications being taken. She will be on anti seizure medication for the time being.

February 16 2023

Aysha has been stable, alert, oriented since seizure event. Dr Majumdar and crew looking for images and information from previous MRIs and Angiogram. 

He wants to verify no clips/ stents are present and proceed with the imaging.

MRI will give more details but angiogram will give definitive idea on new AVM presence. If there is one or not. 

Root cause of seizure is goal. Hoping it’s medication related and not existing AVM or new one.

Dr Chenelle: neurosurgeon came by. He will need to look at MRI/MRA to understand more. Angiogram still might be needed. Can’t rule out anything at this point.

Angiogram scheduled for tomorrow morning 2/17.

February 15 2023

Aysha is at the neuro floor at CDH now. She had seizure today at NIU convocation center. Per witnesses she was convulsing so it was deemed as Gran mal seizure. MRI and MRA scheduled. EEG going now. They did CT and found AVM. But I am thinking it’s the original and only one. Possible side effect of medication she is taking , as I am being told. 

She had a ‘fainting’ episode few weeks back. She was by herself in her dorm room at that time. Checkups were done but nothing really diagnosed and found. Primary care doctor didn’t deem it necessary for MRI at that time. 

Aysha - 8/14/12

Aysha is having a cerebral angiogram today. This is to scope and view what is the status of the AVM after radio surgery two years ago. It will give us more information on if radiation is having the intended effect. There are many risks for this procedure, including stroke,hemorrhage, etc. She is in general anesthesia and the catheter will go from femoral artery all the way to the brain and AVM location. Procedure will take 3 hours.... Update GOOD News. The AVM has been eradicated. The risk of re-bleeding has been eliminated. MRI will need to be done to check status of edema causing left side weakness. Aysha has been going through ot/pt for the past few years. Last week she had Botox injected into her left arm muscles to loosen them up. Maybe this will improve the flexibility and allow her to use her left side with more ease.

Aysha - 11/27/11

There have been no procedures since last post and nothing planned until an MRI in March. It has been more than a year since the weakness with Aysha's left side limbs started showing. The progress has been slow if any at all. She goes to weekly physical therapy still. We also try to have her exercise at home. Its a dilemma with with getting the exercises completed as if we don't push her to do as much exercise as possible then her muscles stay weak and if we push her to do the therapies then she get emotional because of the pain and suffering. Her left knee is still hyper-extending when she walks. The left hand is especially concerning since she is hesitant and unable to use those fingers as needed. Its difficult to watch her try to do 'simple' tasks such as put on shoes, pants, jacket, etc. At this point, she does pretty much all things with her right hand only.
We will need to make appointments with psychologists about her emotional well being. We must get an evaluation on psychological status, since we don't totally know how the physical limitation is affecting her. Considering that she was a highly active kid before injury. From being able to do flips on mattresses, easily going back and forth on monkey bars, being first in races at picnics to not able balance properly on one leg.

Aysha - 09/07/11

Aysha had a scheduled MRI yesterday morning. This was also one where it required full sedation. The procedure went well, she has recovered and did not have the issues as last time. The edema near the AVM is still there. There is slight improvement from the previous scan. Lia met with neurologist and the neurosurgeon. They stated that the left side weakness will not improve until the edema subsides. So physical therapy will have to continue to keep the muscles as strong as possible.