On 07.16.2005, I had two brief auras. I attributed it to stress from work. My relationship with my supervisor is a very negative one. Almost every work day is a hostile environment while working for Lieutenant Kim Bianconi.
On 07.17.2005, I had another aura.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Friday, May 13, 2005
05.13.2005 - Follow-Up
I had more MRI scans done in May and the physicians advised me on 05.13.2005 that my brain looked better than right after surgery. There is always a lot of swelling after surgery, so that went down. They want to keep an eye on what could be residual tumor tissue, but could even just be scar tissue from the surgery.
Monday, April 4, 2005
04.04.2005 - Driving Again
As I had hoped for, I was able to resume driving again beginning 04.04.2005. It is so freeing to be able to drive again.
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
03.01.2005 - Getting Back To Work
On 03.01.2005, I had a follow-up appointment with my neurosurgeon and he encouraged me to get back to work. A few days later I did just that and returned to modified duty at work. I had great friends who were willing to drive me to and from work so that I was able to work again.
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
02.01.2005 - Follow-Up & Healing
On 02.01.2005, my friend Bradley drove me to my first follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeon and had the staples removed. I had no restrictions on my activities other than not to participate in contact sports for at least one year. No problem for me as I did not play any such sports.
Most of the follow-up decisions now would be up to the neurooncologist who would be monitoring my situation.
The next day, I went out in public for the first time. I felt a bit tired as we were checking out at Costco. It was perhaps a bit more exertion than I had been prepared for, but everything was alright. Every day is a dramatic improvement for me right now.
After another day, I was able to make dinner for our family and then had the most regular sleep schedule so far since leaving the hospital. A couple days after that I was able to do some household chores with out much difficulty.
A couple days later, I was able to take my daughter to the park and it was the first day that I could definitely say that I felt pretty good and almost normal.
The following day, I met with the neurooncologist and he confirmed that my tumor was in fact a grade two oligodendroglioma. Oligodendrogliomas only come between grade two and four. We would now have MRI scans at three month intervals to check on any new growth and/or activity with the tumor tissue. Should any occur, I may need chemotherapy or focused radiation. I could even need further surgery at some time, but certainly not now. He wanted me to hold off on driving again until at least April.
Several days later, I started working out again. I did light work on a stationary bicycle and didn't feel too tired afterwards. I tried attending church services the following day and that was a bit more than I was ready for because it was the longest I had been out of the house since the surgical procedure.
Most of the follow-up decisions now would be up to the neurooncologist who would be monitoring my situation.
The next day, I went out in public for the first time. I felt a bit tired as we were checking out at Costco. It was perhaps a bit more exertion than I had been prepared for, but everything was alright. Every day is a dramatic improvement for me right now.
After another day, I was able to make dinner for our family and then had the most regular sleep schedule so far since leaving the hospital. A couple days after that I was able to do some household chores with out much difficulty.
A couple days later, I was able to take my daughter to the park and it was the first day that I could definitely say that I felt pretty good and almost normal.
The following day, I met with the neurooncologist and he confirmed that my tumor was in fact a grade two oligodendroglioma. Oligodendrogliomas only come between grade two and four. We would now have MRI scans at three month intervals to check on any new growth and/or activity with the tumor tissue. Should any occur, I may need chemotherapy or focused radiation. I could even need further surgery at some time, but certainly not now. He wanted me to hold off on driving again until at least April.
Several days later, I started working out again. I did light work on a stationary bicycle and didn't feel too tired afterwards. I tried attending church services the following day and that was a bit more than I was ready for because it was the longest I had been out of the house since the surgical procedure.
Monday, January 24, 2005
01.24.2005 - Surgery
Surgery was now confirmed for 01.24.2005. The procedure should take about four hours total. After that, I would likely be in the hospital for three to four days. Once I am able to walk around, use the restroom, eat, etc. on my own I would be able to leave the hospital. I would probably be wiped out for a couple weeks and be a couch potato. I would likely be able to resume driving after a reasonable period after the surgery as long as I took the anti-seizure medication. I would need to have follow-up MRI scans at regular intervals after the procedure to monitor the tumor.
01.24.2005 at 0830 hours, the procedure began. After surgery, they didn't find any deficits in any of my abilities. Peripheral vision was all intact and I had no noticeable deficits in my memory abilities.
A couple days later, I walked on my own and was feeling well enough to have visitors. I was informed that about 80% of the tumor tissue was removed and that it was believed to be a low grade (grade two) oligodendroglioma. I received my first visit from the neurooncologist (specialist in brain tumors).
The next day, I was discharged and returned home to recooperate. It was nice to be out of the hospital and be back home. A few days later was the first time I felt mostly like a normal person with closer to normal energy levels.
01.24.2005 at 0830 hours, the procedure began. After surgery, they didn't find any deficits in any of my abilities. Peripheral vision was all intact and I had no noticeable deficits in my memory abilities.
A couple days later, I walked on my own and was feeling well enough to have visitors. I was informed that about 80% of the tumor tissue was removed and that it was believed to be a low grade (grade two) oligodendroglioma. I received my first visit from the neurooncologist (specialist in brain tumors).
The next day, I was discharged and returned home to recooperate. It was nice to be out of the hospital and be back home. A few days later was the first time I felt mostly like a normal person with closer to normal energy levels.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
12.23.2004 - Dealing With Bureaucracy
We had some problems with the referral to Stanford. The usual bureaucratic stuff. I wasn't going to settle for anything less than referral to Stanford.
I had been feeling more anxiety recently and can't attribute it to any one thing. I am frustrated about the brain tumor, being out of work and getting paid for doing nothing, being frustrated about how slow things are progressing with regard to consultations, treatment, and getting this whole thing taken care of.
My primary care physician is now working diligently on the Stanford referral. Interestingly enough, they were unsuccessful. I asked for the contact information for Blue Shield and then called the appropriate person directly. I received nearly instant authorization to consult with a neurosurgeon at Stanford for a second opinion as to my situation. I then called that neurosurgeon's office at Stanford and arranged for a consultation and it was all arranged.
I went to Stanford, met with the neurosurgeon (who was also a professor of neurosurgery) and consulted with him about my situation. I described my symptoms, my history, and showed him the MRI films that I had brought with me. He believed that he knew exactly what kind of tumor I had and believed it to be a low grade tumor based on all the information I presented. He believed that all the sweating and anxiety incidents were auras. Auras are pre-seizure activity that are cues to indicate that a seizure may occur.
The neurosurgeon did not favor radiation and felt that he could surgically resect the vast majority of the tumor. He didn't see any point in performing a separate biopsy, since the tumor tissue obviously needed to be resected and they could biopsy it all they wanted after they removed as much as they could. He didn't think that I would experience much of a deficit as a result of the surgery.
As a result of the surgery, I may lose some peripheral vision on my left side. He thought I may be out of work for a month or so and then could return to a desk job for a few months and then go back to a full-duty assignment.
The bureaucratic process was breaking down in my favor now. Authorizations were underway and surgery was tentatively scheduled for January 2005.
On 12.02.2004, I had some more unusual anxiety, but brushed it off. It went away after about 30 seconds or so. On 12.04.2004, I was laying down on the couch watching a movie and felt pretty tired. I had some more anxiety and sweat a bit and then just fell asleep.
On 12.23.2004, my neurologist cleared me to return to full-duty, but work thought I should probably stay modified duty until the surgery with all that was going on.
I had been feeling more anxiety recently and can't attribute it to any one thing. I am frustrated about the brain tumor, being out of work and getting paid for doing nothing, being frustrated about how slow things are progressing with regard to consultations, treatment, and getting this whole thing taken care of.
My primary care physician is now working diligently on the Stanford referral. Interestingly enough, they were unsuccessful. I asked for the contact information for Blue Shield and then called the appropriate person directly. I received nearly instant authorization to consult with a neurosurgeon at Stanford for a second opinion as to my situation. I then called that neurosurgeon's office at Stanford and arranged for a consultation and it was all arranged.
I went to Stanford, met with the neurosurgeon (who was also a professor of neurosurgery) and consulted with him about my situation. I described my symptoms, my history, and showed him the MRI films that I had brought with me. He believed that he knew exactly what kind of tumor I had and believed it to be a low grade tumor based on all the information I presented. He believed that all the sweating and anxiety incidents were auras. Auras are pre-seizure activity that are cues to indicate that a seizure may occur.
The neurosurgeon did not favor radiation and felt that he could surgically resect the vast majority of the tumor. He didn't see any point in performing a separate biopsy, since the tumor tissue obviously needed to be resected and they could biopsy it all they wanted after they removed as much as they could. He didn't think that I would experience much of a deficit as a result of the surgery.
As a result of the surgery, I may lose some peripheral vision on my left side. He thought I may be out of work for a month or so and then could return to a desk job for a few months and then go back to a full-duty assignment.
The bureaucratic process was breaking down in my favor now. Authorizations were underway and surgery was tentatively scheduled for January 2005.
On 12.02.2004, I had some more unusual anxiety, but brushed it off. It went away after about 30 seconds or so. On 12.04.2004, I was laying down on the couch watching a movie and felt pretty tired. I had some more anxiety and sweat a bit and then just fell asleep.
On 12.23.2004, my neurologist cleared me to return to full-duty, but work thought I should probably stay modified duty until the surgery with all that was going on.
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