Hi!  I am a 24 year old female who is in the process of getting diagnosed with mm.  I am trying to find out all the information that I can.  Two weeks ago I had a mild stroke.  Which i fully recovered in a week.  I was sent to vanderbilt in nashville Tenn yesterday.  Dr. kirshner mentioned mm and said that  my brain has rerouted and is doing the same things that mm does.  The first doctor I saw said  I had vasculitis and put me on alot of prednisone.  I go for another CT on monday.  This will make my 5th this month.  Then in July i'm going to see a brain surgeon ( Dr. Miracle), to see about having the surgery.  If anybody has any informatin I would be greatful.  I was wondering about the healing time after surgery?  

Amanda:

I am so sorry to hear you are having a hard time. But, I am so glad you found us. We all understand what you are going through and are here to answer any questions you have. I am 25 and was diagnosed with MM when I was 8. I had 2 surgeries and have gone on to live a "normal" life. I am married and have a 15 month old.

When I first started having TIA's, they doctors put me on prednisone...  When it was discovered that I have MM, my neurosurgeon consulted with Dr Scott and performed the surgeries 6 months apart.

My advise to you is to send your test results to Dr. Steinberg or Dr. Scott and get an expert opinion. It is unfortunate that there are not more doctors who are familiar with this disease. But, IMO it is best to get an experts advice.

As far as healing time after the surgery goes, everyone is different. I recovered VERY quickly. If you have not had any major strokes, I think recovery is easier.

Just please keep in mind that this is a progressive disease and there is treatment out there... Go get it!

Please feel free to contact me by emailing or leave me a message here.

We all wish you the best. Please keep us informed. I'll be praying for you.. You will get through this!

- Sara

Hi Amanda,
I'm 24 too and I was diagnosed with MM last October. I'd had a few strokes leading up to the diagnosis and several TIA's. All with full recovery (apart from some minor memory issues).
I've had STA-MCA bypasses on both sides, the most recent only 2 months ago.
I'm constantly told that the minimum "complete-recovery" period after brain surgery is 3 months.
Last time it took about 6-8 weeks before I was feeling myself again, this time it was pretty much instant. I'm still taking it easy, sleeping lots and not hurrying into work - but i'm definitely much much better. (I had daily problems with fatigue, blurred vision, weakness etc.. now - nothing).
Basically healing time depends greatly on how fit, healthy and [more-importantly] POSTIVE you are.
Anyway feel free to contact me, sometimes i forget to check here, so email is cool also emily@bomba.com.au

p.s. as for specialist, i'm finding that there are actually a lot of neuro's in Aus that have heard of MM and now how to identify it, just that hardly any of them have seen it or have experience dealing with it. Still, an increase in diagnosis will be re-assuring (in a sense - you know what i mean).

Cheerio!

Hello Amanda~

I am also 24 and was diagnosed with MM three years ago. I had my surgeries two years ago in April. I know that this can be alot to handle but feel better that you are in the right place. Everyone here is so helpful and understanding. Without all of the other MM people here, my life may be very different today!

I saw that you recently went to Tennessee to see doctors ~ I was wondering were you live. I live in north Georgia which is pretty close to Tennessee. Please feel free to contact me if you want to talk moya2782@yahoo.com. Take care and keep us posted!

Christy

Thank you all for your wonderful advice and prayers.  I went yesterday for another CTA .  I go to see a
Dr. Mericle next Thursday. I am from Bowling Green, Kentucky.  We travel to Nashville, Tenn to Vanderbilt.  I still have not got a diagnoses yet.  They wanted their own CTA. I had one when I was put in the Hospital for the stroke.  I feel fine right now but they say that can change anytime.  I try to walk 2-4 miles a day to get in good shape before surgery.  Did anybody elses arteries reroute?  My major one did so they say that a plus.  Did your insurance companies give you any trouble?  I have already met my deductable and max out of pocket.  If I have the surgery soon will I beable to go back to work the last of August?  Again thank you for your time.  
                  Amanda