Friday, June 06, 2008
Head Start on my Mullet
Since going through whole-brain radiation, I have lost most of the hair on my head. I'm told it may or may not grow back (people who have gone through this assure me that it probably will). In the meantime, the hairs that are growing have created the stupidest hair-growth pattern ever, aside from what Mr. Strangebeard has going on. That's one helluva cowlick.Business in the Front, Party in the Back
Anyway, you know those hairs on the back of your neck, which, if you've ever gotten a really short haircut the stylist whips out an electric clipper or a straight razor to hack off? Those are the hairs that are growing normally. (I suppose if the rest of my hair fails to ever grow back I'll have a skullet.) Even better is the fact that this particular hair used to grow in a corkscrew pattern...if the curl comes back, I'll be able to save on mullet perms. (The "permullet" photo has been edited to protect the identity of the doofus pictured.) I just need to get the 80's version of Guitar Hero and I'll be set.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Early but Sleep=Success!
I am slowly tapering of the decadron, which has been keeping me up at night and has made me extremely cranky during the day.
This is a relief.
My itchiness is gone; I have some dry skin where the shingles were, but that is much improved as well.
Yesterday we had a visit from a special home-program where my insurance will offer as little or as much home support as we deem necessary--this could be home nursing visits, occasional accompaniment to appointments, light help around the house, all-hours medical advice and assistance, and the social workers are helping to look into transportation options that might be a good idea for now. They were incredibly nice, and I'll be interested to see if I can actually think of stuff I'd like help with.
I like to be independent, so it's tough for me to think of things for people to come do, although if somebody wants to vacuum, I could totally get behind that!
We also went to a lawyer's office yesterday where we got help setting up some basic documents that everyone should have. This I don't like thinking about, but it's useful for people to have power of attorney and wills and living trusts and what not. I found the experience refreshingly non-smarmy, and it's good to have things arranged even if they're unpleasant to think about.
We also stopped at Zingerman's again--this time the potato salad was swiss and we got some excellent macaroni and cheese. The deli seems weird to find if you're not pedestrian, but we will make a heroic effort to take any guests there who come and visit. I swear to you, the food really is phenomenal.
Monday is my last radiation visit (for now, although the neuro-onc, Dr. Lisa Rodgers, did indicate she would speak to Dr. Hayman about whether two lesions in my spine needed to be addressed before they begin intruding with my spinal column).
Monday is also Brian and my second wedding anniversary. :D
We both failed to believe when we got married that I would get to this point. I am so very happy to be wrong. Celebration, alas, will have to wait for a day Brian is not doing his practicum at Plymouth Public Library. It's his last semester in the LIS program at Wayne State, and I'm so very proud of what he's accomplished.
We will celebrate Wednesday, I think.
We also totally forgot about Baxter's birthday on the 21st, but he'll be getting a nice, juicy bone on Sunday so maybe he won't mind.
This is a relief.
My itchiness is gone; I have some dry skin where the shingles were, but that is much improved as well.
Yesterday we had a visit from a special home-program where my insurance will offer as little or as much home support as we deem necessary--this could be home nursing visits, occasional accompaniment to appointments, light help around the house, all-hours medical advice and assistance, and the social workers are helping to look into transportation options that might be a good idea for now. They were incredibly nice, and I'll be interested to see if I can actually think of stuff I'd like help with.
I like to be independent, so it's tough for me to think of things for people to come do, although if somebody wants to vacuum, I could totally get behind that!
We also went to a lawyer's office yesterday where we got help setting up some basic documents that everyone should have. This I don't like thinking about, but it's useful for people to have power of attorney and wills and living trusts and what not. I found the experience refreshingly non-smarmy, and it's good to have things arranged even if they're unpleasant to think about.
We also stopped at Zingerman's again--this time the potato salad was swiss and we got some excellent macaroni and cheese. The deli seems weird to find if you're not pedestrian, but we will make a heroic effort to take any guests there who come and visit. I swear to you, the food really is phenomenal.
Monday is my last radiation visit (for now, although the neuro-onc, Dr. Lisa Rodgers, did indicate she would speak to Dr. Hayman about whether two lesions in my spine needed to be addressed before they begin intruding with my spinal column).
Monday is also Brian and my second wedding anniversary. :D
We both failed to believe when we got married that I would get to this point. I am so very happy to be wrong. Celebration, alas, will have to wait for a day Brian is not doing his practicum at Plymouth Public Library. It's his last semester in the LIS program at Wayne State, and I'm so very proud of what he's accomplished.
We will celebrate Wednesday, I think.
We also totally forgot about Baxter's birthday on the 21st, but he'll be getting a nice, juicy bone on Sunday so maybe he won't mind.
Labels: anniversary, Baxter, Brian, Decadron, Dr. Hayes, Dr. Lisa Rodgers, insurance, lawyer, library, Plymouth Public, shingles, Wayne State, WBR, wedding, Zingerman's
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
You Are Not Morg or I-Morg
Sunday I was afflicted with aphasia.
I had posted to a bulletin board and was flipping back and forth with Brian between Alias, Puppy Bowl IV, and the Superbowl. I was also trying to begin knitting a hat, and started having trouble counting my cast-on stitches.
I suddenly felt very stupid. In addition to actually having problems counting, I couldn't remember how to finish casting on. Then I couldn't figure out how to start knitting the round.
Then I got tired of watching Alias, so I tried to tell Brian that he could watch the Superbowl, since we had already seen most of a showing of Puppy Bowl.
The words wouldn't come out.
I got frustrated, Brian got frustrated with me, so I went upstairs to take a bath. When Brian tried to ask me what was wrong, I really couldn't explain or do anything much more than cry. I could pretty much only say "yes," "no," and "oh Lord." So he dialed the on-call oncologist's number, and we were told to go to the emergency room at U of M, where they tried to ask me dizzying questions I couldn't answer, and gave me various scans, which indicated positive for brain metastases.
I was admitted and have so far been through three whole-brain radiation treatments. I will undergo fourteen altogether.
What really helped me recover speech and thinking (I couldn't remember properly the days of the week or months of the year--I couldn't remember our dog's name; I couldn't spell "Elkins" or "Yanosko") was a tiny steroid pill. I have been evaluated by a speech therapist, who believes I am doing just fine. The brain radiation might cause some temporary loss of memory or cognition, but it may be possible to increase the steroid. I have also heard a lot of positive stories about people being successfully treated for brain mets so I am very hopeful.
It was terribly frightening, but we will deal with this.
For now I feel like I've had the brain helmet put on and could operate on Spock if I needed to.
I had posted to a bulletin board and was flipping back and forth with Brian between Alias, Puppy Bowl IV, and the Superbowl. I was also trying to begin knitting a hat, and started having trouble counting my cast-on stitches.
I suddenly felt very stupid. In addition to actually having problems counting, I couldn't remember how to finish casting on. Then I couldn't figure out how to start knitting the round.
Then I got tired of watching Alias, so I tried to tell Brian that he could watch the Superbowl, since we had already seen most of a showing of Puppy Bowl.
The words wouldn't come out.
I got frustrated, Brian got frustrated with me, so I went upstairs to take a bath. When Brian tried to ask me what was wrong, I really couldn't explain or do anything much more than cry. I could pretty much only say "yes," "no," and "oh Lord." So he dialed the on-call oncologist's number, and we were told to go to the emergency room at U of M, where they tried to ask me dizzying questions I couldn't answer, and gave me various scans, which indicated positive for brain metastases.
I was admitted and have so far been through three whole-brain radiation treatments. I will undergo fourteen altogether.
What really helped me recover speech and thinking (I couldn't remember properly the days of the week or months of the year--I couldn't remember our dog's name; I couldn't spell "Elkins" or "Yanosko") was a tiny steroid pill. I have been evaluated by a speech therapist, who believes I am doing just fine. The brain radiation might cause some temporary loss of memory or cognition, but it may be possible to increase the steroid. I have also heard a lot of positive stories about people being successfully treated for brain mets so I am very hopeful.
It was terribly frightening, but we will deal with this.
For now I feel like I've had the brain helmet put on and could operate on Spock if I needed to.
Labels: aphasia, brain metastases, brain scan, Brian, CT scan, Decadron, MRI, star trek, WBR, whole-brain radiation
