Month: November 2006

It Goes Like This

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My days now go something like this.

I awake around 7:00 with a headache. I get up pretty much only so I can eat breakfast and take a pill…these days only Tylenol thankfully. I only take the Vicadin if it’s a sever headache and haven’t had to do that since last Friday.

I do some things around the house…slowly, usually sitting. Then I lay down or sit down for awhile.

I’ll check my email. I lay down or sit down for awhile.

I do some things around the house…slowly, usually sitting. Then I lay down or sit down for awhile.

I’ll eat lunch. I’ll take a pill again if needed.

I’ll check my email. I lay down or sit down for awhile.

I do some things around the house…slowly, usually sitting. Then I lay down or sit down for awhile.

Either Dave or I will fix supper. We’ll eat supper. I’ll take a pill again if needed.

Then I lay down or sit down for awhile.

I’ll go to bed and take a pill before hand if needed.

Yep, that’s about it. I’m hoping to weed out one of those.
Then I lay down or sit down for awhile. Next week.

Phase 3

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I think this is phase 3 of my recovery.

It’s the time where people don’t even respond to my “reports” on how I’m doing anymore. They’ve been there, done that, so why bother. I’m sure it’s something like: “I’ve already told her I was glad she survived, I have better things to do”.

OR, could it be I’m missing human contact (other than Dave. He must be sick of me!) or that I have PMS….or that depression phase I’ve been hearing so many people say I might experience is happening. Just not sure.

I think that “cooped up feeling” is going to start too, but I just can’t do too much yet, so this could be a test the next couple of weeks.

Hell, I’ve survived worse.

Laundry

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Well, I guess this is a big step. I did two loads of laundry yesterday for the first time. Goody!?!?!?

I took it slow, basically leaned into the washing machine trying not to bend over too much and sat on the floor to
unload the dryer. But even with all those “precautions”, I was still mentally,visually and physically exhausted and had a lovely headache all day.

But I did it.

Check up

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This morning, I met with Dr. Kwan, who is actually a neuroradiologist, rather than a neurologist which I have been my mistakingly calling him. He’s a specialist basically, who does coiling.

He had seen my shots from the MRI and MRA from last Tuesday and said things looked very good. I wasn’t even able to find the aneurysm on the MRA images because it had clotted so well, but I sure could on the one MRA image he showed me from the day it happened! WOW! I had no idea it was that large. Very scary especially when I saw how close it was to my left eye and he made a size correction that it was a 11 mm annie, rather than 10 mm. That’s almost a half an inch.

Again, it was located in my left internal carotid artery behind my left eye.

He showed me images taken throughout the surgery where each coil was inserted. Really fascinating stuff. Dr. Kwan was also able to squelch any fears I may have had by answering a lot of questions I’m sure he didn’t have the time to answer, but I’m grateful he at least made the effort.

One of the main questions I had, was how did he get to the LEFT side of my brain from the RIGHT side of my groin.mDr. Kwan begrudgingly drew a diagram…but I found this one as well. Makes sense.

He said the headaches I’m experiencing were still probably being caused by blood reabsorbing into my system and it could go on for months until it completely lets up.

Dr. Kwan said that only something more catastrophic happening would be a signal of a problem with the coiling. So, when I sneeze and it hurts…don’t worry! It may happen for some time yet.

He said to use common sense with getting back into things like housework, driving and work. I need to pace myself and ease my way into it. He said it’s not uncommon for most people to be off work for three months. I’m hoping to get back to work, at least part time from home soon. We’ll see.

Keeping my blood pressure normal is also important as the higher it gets the more the blood is pumped through those
arteries and can cause stress.

Dr. Kwan did NOT recommended any serious neck manipulation, so I’m not sure how that will come in to play with the OMT therapy I’ve been having monthly.

He DID say a beer or glass of wine now and then won’t hurt me, nor will a cup of strong tea or a pot of tea…so that’s good! And he said getting a massage would be good, but with not a lot of neck manipulation.

Overall, I was very pleased with the visit. I still have concerns with other parts of my head, like sinus and migraines, but he basically directed me to go to a neurologist, which I think I will with the help of my regular PCP.