Nearly a year ago, 40-year-old Michelle Gustilo-Smithson began a rigorous workout routine which consisted of cardio, strength training and weight lifting. As she cooled down after her workout sessions, Michelle began to notice a slight ringing in her ear. She did her best to ignore the ringing, which at first seemed more like a nuisance than anything to worry about.
But as the weeks went on, the ringing became more frequent and intense. Michelle described the sound she was hearing as a “heartbeat” or a persistent “whooshing” sound in her ear. When the sound started interfering with meetings and conversations at work, Michelle knew something was wrong and went to see an ear, nose and throat doctor.
“It got to the point that it was maddening because it was something only I could hear,” says Michelle. “I think people around me knew I was uncomfortable because I would constantly tug at my ear to try to make the sound go away.”
After seeing several different ear, nose and throat specialists and undergoing a battery of different tests, her results returned normal. She was assured that nothing was wrong and the ringing was likely something she had to live with. Disappointed by that news, Michelle wanted to exhaust all her options, so the specialist ordered an additional MRI test.
Within two days of the MRI, Michelle received a phone call that would change her life.
The doctor told Michelle that the MRI showed a brain arteriovenous fistula — a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. The arteries are responsible for taking oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. Veins carry the oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs and heart. A brain fistula disrupts this vital process.
Michelle was in shock. The doctor explained to Michelle she could live with the fistula and it might not affect her overall health – besides the constant “whooshing” noise she was experiencing, however it had the potential to rupture causing bleeding in her brain. After receiving the news, Michelle felt like she was a ticking time bomb.
Within 30 minutes of receiving this life-altering news, she received a call from the Division of Interventional Neuroradiology team at Long Beach Memorial. The next day Michelle met with Viktor Szeder, M.D., from the Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, MemorialCare Neuroscience Institute, Long Beach Memorial, who gave her the facts. The abnormal connection of arteries and veins – located directly behind her ear – was causing the “whooshing” sound and could potentially cause Michelle to have a stroke.
The Division of Interventional Neuroradiology care team treats cases such as Michelle’s and recommended she undergo an embolization – a minimally invasive treatment that would eliminate the abnormal connection that was creating a “short circuit” between the arteries and veins in her brain.
“Embolization is less invasive than conventional open surgery,” says Dr. Szeder. “As a result, the recovery is easier, the hospital stay is shorter and there is no surgical incision.”
Michelle underwent the embolization, which blocked the fistula in her brain – eliminating the risk of stroke and curing the ringing in her ear. She went home after two days in the hospital and returned to work eight days later. Michelle is back to working out more than four days a week, volunteering to feed the homeless and spending time with her family and friends.
Fortunately for patients like Michelle, innovative treatments, advanced technology and a specialized multi-disciplinary neuroscience team comprised of neurologists, neurosurgeons, stroke nurses and interventional neuroradiologists are available around the clock at Long Beach Memorial.
“As difficult and frustrating as a health problem might be, listen to your body and be persistent,” says Michelle. “I think we all are our own best advocates – do research, but mostly, seek help from practitioners who are just as persistent as you are, who care, are proven, and are confident about their ability to help you.”