My daughter was diagnosed in '09 with Moyamoya as a means to rule out any other issues when diagnosed with Chorea.  She had her surgery in Oct. '09 and had her follow-up angio done Oct. '10 everything is going good with the surgery and moyamoya.  However, since the doctor informed her of the moyamoya and that she could possibly die her grades have went down hill significantly.  She hasn't had a stroke or any problems that would affect her brain.  Could this just be some type of stress related issue, should we take her to a counselor?  She is 14.

sshad10,
I am going to part time collage for BS in Electrical Engineering. For about a year after my surgery my grades were not at the level I was used to, but i never dropped below a C. had my surgery in the fall semester and took that semester off and restarted in the spring semester. My Grades dropped to the C level then as I healed the grades steadily improved back to the As.

My class load may be light but I also work as an engineering aid 40 hours a week.

She is healing and I believe that uses more brain power so her grades will slip a bit. Let her know that she shouldn't stress about it. Her grades should bounce back.

Stay strong,
Becky

Hi,
My daughter is now 16, had her surgery at 14 when she was a freshman in high school.  She was an A student in honors classes.  During her sophmore year her grades dropped.  She had a lot of migraines and missed a lot of school.  she was also stressed about the Moyamoya.  We decided to have her tested by a Neuropsychologist.  They wre able to show where she had lost some of her executive function.  That is not uncommon.  What it did was allow us to go to the school and get her a 504 plan.  That way the school is legally bound to work with the student as far as missing class, late work etc.  We also tried 3 different counselors until she found one she liked.  It has helped her tremendously.  Try to find someone who works with patients with long term illness.  Of course she has to want to go and it has to be someone she clicks with.  If you want to contact me to email me and put Moyamoya in the subject line...djinkster@aol.com