Now, after the Gamma Knife I noticed that the pain I’d been having, for for what seemed like an eternity still haunted me. At first, I went into “freak-out” mode as I thought it would be gone right away; but this wasn’t the case. When I went back to UCSF for my 3-month Angiogram I talked to Dr. Barbaro and asked him why I still had this pain! He then told me that the Gamma Knife wasn’t a “quick fix” and that it could take up to a year or more for the full effect of the procedure to take hold, and I should be patient. I was thinking, easy for him to say, but then I though, he was right, medicine, after all is not an exact science. so, I thanked him and went to get my 3-month Angiogram.
Then when I went back 3 months after that I noticed that the pain wasn’t quite as severe as before, and I was thankful. Then the Dr’s. told me to wait six months for my next Angiogram. So, I waited, and as I did, I noticed the pain subside even more, which was okay with me! After the 6 months wait the pain was barely noticeable at all. It was leaving, I was elated! About the only time it does flare up is when it gets cold outside, or in the summer when I go into an air-conditioned building. I do have the occasional flare up, but it is nothing compared to pain I was having a year and a half before. I was still experiencing the usual muscle tightness pain that’s normal in stroke survivors, but at least that was something I could deal with as there are ways to relieve it without drugs.
After 6 months I went back to UCSF and had my Angiogram, same as before, but they asked me to wait afterward to talk to Dr. Harsh. So, I waited in the hallway to see him. He came out there and had a copy of the Angiogram in his hands and he told me that at this point the AVM was gone, and I had no need to worry about another stroke from that point of origin. Then he smiled, shook my hand and congratulated me, and walked away. I just stood there and smiled to myself… I said “goodbye” to monster pain that had tormented my existence to 10 years. I went home happy as a clam!
I still have daily stroke related pain on my whole right side, and that will not go away no matter how long I live. But I’m happy to be alive… I’ve found my faith that I had when I was a boy. God has shown me mercy and even though the last 43+ years haven’t been easy and still I have challenges, He has given me the hope and the fortitude to know that wherever I go, I walk with Jesus, He has my back.