Hello

I just wonder. After surgery is it possible that life become what it used to be before  
this diagnose. I have not been well enough to work for the last 2 years. It is not possible for me to play in the garden with my children, or go to the gym. Reading is very difficult sometimes. And in periods I get very tried just talking with my family or friends. Will things get better or is this how my life is going to be?

Janni

I think it all comes down to the individual. Life is what you make of it.
No one can say "Yes it is definately going to be better" as each has had to cope with the effects of MM like stroke damage etc in their own particular cases.
I can only say how it was for me, and yes I can say that my life was pretty good before MM but even better now. It has given me a totally new lust for life and I live each day to the absolute fullest: I am fitter and healthier than I ever have been, and have a rigorous gym routine, complete with personal trainer every week. There is nothing in my life that stops me doing things, I just use common sense to apply to my situation, like you would not catch me bungee jumping! Besides it being very unhealthy for your blood flow to your head, I just wouldn't do it - with or without MM.
Nothing annoys me more than the attitude that if you have something wrong with you,you have to curl up and die!
No one knows when their time will be up so live life to the fullest every day.
Once again how you take the diagnosis and treatment of MM is up to the individual, positivity and lust for life will enhance it!
Moira

Janni wrote on Jul 27^th, 2006 at 5:11pm:

I just wonder. After surgery is it possible that life become what it used to be before   this diagnose. Will things get better or is this how my life is going to be?

Yes it is possible to get your life back after surgery Janni, many here can attest to that, but it’s hard to say that for everyone diagnosed because each MM case is different with all the many different factors involved. I’ve seen so many here have drastic improvement after surgery, (Thank God) yet some others not as quickly for various reasons. For example… How PROMPTLY a MM case is diagnosed and treated is vital and could be life changing for their future. It also could depend on the type of surgery they have as to whether they would see an improvement right away. There is the direct and indirect method of surgery. With the direct surgery, you would get immediate blood supply to the brain, and the indirect surgery could take months to induce the new blood vessel growth to the brain to get the additional blood flow needed to hopefully lesson some MM symptoms. Also, getting back to normal would definitely depend on whether there was damage from a prior stroke, hemorrhage etc. But still, surgery is the only option with MMD in most cases. It’s a progressive disease and prompt management with a doctor who has experience with MMD is the best approach to managing this rare disease and getting your life back. I understand you live in Norway where you say they don’t have much experience with MMD… but all I can say to that is… please find a doctor who does have experience with MM and get to them ASAP. That's the best hope you have for getting your life back, IMO. We’ll help you in any way we can.

You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.

Mar

well yeah as it's been said, this will be different for everyone... from medical variables to attitude..
my life sure has gone back to [normal] - well is on its way anyway...
i had direct surgeries and now i'm more than 3 months post my last one and i feel absolutely fantastic!  i'm mentally and physically more alert than i have been in years i think...
i'm slightly effected by heat but i pretty much have heap of energy to run hop skip jump ride scooter wherever i please and i recently had neuropsych test results stating that my intellectual abilitities, organisational and planning skills are all in the superior range, with my memory working its way up through high average..
basically you just cant let yourself get down...

it helps to keep a journal of how you're feeling and look back everyone now and then to see how far you've come.. set goals and keep on at it

It does take time. I agree with everyone before this post. Take the time to get used to the changes in your life. And always be thankful you are still alive. Even if it is hard now you will get use to the changes. I struggled to read a book which is one of my favort pass times. I just read everyday untill I started to get a headach. Then I would go and rest my eyes for a bit. Then did something else the reat of the day. Now I still struggle and I was up to reading for hours at a time. I also get extreemly exausted with my friends and they now can tell when I have had to much company and ask me if they should go. I find the more rested I am the more I can do.  You Will get your lust for life back. Take one day at a time if necessary.
Good luck and god bless,
Becky