Recovery Begins
Friday, May 11, 2007.
On Monday, April 30, 2007, I underwent a 7.5 hour bifrontal craniotomy at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore to have a very large, "bigger than a baseball", brain tumor removed. The surgery was a success, and the tumor was benign. The type of tumor is called an olfactory groove meningioma . I came home from the hospital on Monday, May 7, 2007. Here I am fresh out of ICU with a tube coming right out of my head!
The psychosis I suffered from before the surgery is gone, thank God. I'm a bit weak and tired, but progressing nicely. I am relearning basic motor functions, like eating and walking and writing and typing. My cognitive abilities seem to be intact, though I do struggle sometimes to remember things. However, I am quite anesthetized. I feel no pain whatsoever. I'm taking many medications to prevent stroke, seizures, blood clots, and psychotic reactions, all perfectly normal expectations for recovery from this type of surgery.
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all the LOVE and support and caring you have been giving me and my family through this difficult time. I can actually feel it, physically, and it really, really helps.
Much love and happiness to you all. I'll write more as I get stronger.
Jinx
May 14, 2007
Post Op Day 14
I have two great songs stuck in my head. One is Bobby McFarrin's, "Don't worry. Be happy", and the other is a reggae song that goes, "Don't you worry, 'bout a thang. Cuz every little thang gonna alright". Good thoughts.
So it turns out I have steroid-induced diabetes now. We're set up for Brand to check me with that thing that pricks your finger, and insulin shots for when my number's too high. Since I didn't have diabetes before, I probably won't once I'm off steroids in a few months.
The tumor was squashed between my frontal lobe (which controls personality) and the back of my optic nerves. My recent vision problems are partially due, as we discovered at the opthalmologist's, to the fact that there was permanent damage done to the optic nerves when they peeled the tumor off. The good news there is that they will be able to write me a prescription for glasses eventually. The other problems with my vision are related to all the swelling and other activity going on in my coconut, including complications from the diabetes. Some days it's okay, other days the whole world is just a blur.
When that happens it triggers another problem area I'm having. Personality disorders. Paranoia, manic, euphoria, and big time anxiety. Fortunately, the meds I take are great at managing them all, keeping them from getting out of hand. But it can be a struggle.
In other ways I'm making fantastic progress. Today and yesterday Brand and I went for a morning stroll and walked a quarter mile! Made me feel so strong, even though I did use my quad cane the whole way. The in-home Physical Therapist has left me with several daily exercises but we're all done with the home visits now.
We continue to accept the help of the many angels who come to stay with me for an hour while Brand gets a chance to get some things done but now that I can go with him on some errands we're cutting back on sitters. My parents are coming from Michigan in a few days and that may be when Brand returns to work.
I hope you are all having as euphoric a day as I am.
Love,
Jinx
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Yesterday, Day 14 Post Op, Brand and I went shopping at Target and Borders - my first outing! We were out for a doctor's appt and I needed a couple of things and knew I was feeling strong enough for a quick trip, with my walker of course. It was fun!
On the downside, I'm having visual problems. Everything's blurry. Seeing the ophthalmologist today.
Yesterday was my first psychiatrist's appt. It could not have gone better, he's exactly what I need and knows just how to get me through this part of the recovery process. I'm ecstatic! Even before the meds!
Love,
Jinx
May 20, 2007Post Op Day 20
My parents are coming in from Michigan today to help us out for a week - yay! This will be a big help to Brand. Me too, of course, but as caretaker, even The Best Husband In The Universe needs a break now and then. (That was his title even before the surgery.)
Yesterday was the fourth day in a row that we walked (with regular cane) a quarter of a mile! It's tough, I take breaks, but so exhilarating. And so good for me.
Recent bloodwork shows that I'm anemic so now have to take an iron supplement with my meds. Still struggle with anxiety but am able to adjust meds to get better. My blood sugar levels have been good enough so that Brand hasn't had to inject me with insulin yet.
I enjoyed playing on ebay when I first got home, shopping for hats and wigs and scarves and other fun things, and the packages have been arriving lately. Today I got my blue wig! Perfect for Halloween. Such fun! I don't have a camera yet but I'll get a friend to take some pix and will post them here. In the meantime, here are some pictures of me taken by my friend Warren on May 10.
click to enlarge
This one was taken in 2005.
That's about it for now. Love,
Jinx
May 22, 2007
Post Op Day 22
Big day yesterday. We went to another opthalmologist and this time the news was pretty good. The optic nerve damage found last week is healing! The first doctor did say that the damaged area he saw could improve as things settle down as heal in my head but we didn't expect it so soon! I currently have 20/20 vision in one eye, 20/25 in the other. I do still get blurry vision episodes, but they're probably due to my fluctuating blood glucose levels. Speaking of which, were high enough yesterday to require insulin, but instead, I opted for a quarter of a mile walk and that did the trick - level went back to normal range. I've really gotta watch my carb intake. But I love carbs! Wah!
Still struggling with insomnia. I only sleep about 3-4 hrs a night. My psychiatrist has a plan for adjusting my meds to help me out there. Let's hope it works.
May 25, 2007
A prayer from my Mom.
Dear God, As I rise up, I thank You for the opportunity to be on this earth. I thank You for my mind and body. I thank You for my life. Please bless my body and use it for Your purposes. May I rise up strong today, and may my body and soul radiate Your love. May all impurities be cast out of my mind, my heart, my body. May every cell of my being be filled with Your light. May my body and mind both be illumined for Your sake and for the sake of all the world. Amen.
May 26, 2007
Post Op Day 26
Click on this link for this story: They missed the tumor in 2003!
I got the “all clear” signal at my visit to the neurosurgeon yesterday! I’m no longer in danger of seizure or stroke so have been taken off the anti-seizure drug. I’m being weaned off the steroids, and by Tuesday, I will have stopped all the post-op meds I’ve been taking (with the exception of the anti-psych meds). In addition, I will now gradually be able to be left alone for periods of time so we can cut back on the sitters when Brand needs to get stuff done. I am so happy!
I have strong days and I have weak days. The last couple of days have been weak days. I wasn’t able to take any walks, and just getting around from room to room was a chore. I still had insomnia, too, but last night I finally slept through the night. I still struggle with the psych issues too, mainly anxiety and memory problems. Our next follow-up appointment is in three months, when they’ll do an MRI and check out what’s happening in my brain.
It’s been so nice having my parents here. Brand has been able to relax for the first time since the whole ordeal started. They’ve been so very helpful to us both, and cheerfully fulfilled any tasks or missions we’ve assigned them. And our house is now clean and organized! Here we are on my first luncheon outing.
Much love,
Jinx
May 30, 2007
Post Op Day 30
Mom and Dad flew home on the 27th. Their week-long stay sure flew by fast. I miss them very much. There’s no doubt my steady recovery has much to do with the amount of loving care I receive from my husband and family.
For the past three nights it seemed we’d conquered the insomnia but alas, last night it got the better of me. I slept about four hours and am feeling it today. I woke up with a headache, the first pain I’ve had since even before leaving the hospital. Luckily it went away with Tylenol.
It’s another weak day, I’m exhausted, my legs don’t want to do any work at all, especially go up and down stairs. Reading makes me sleepy and there’s nothing good on tv. We got a stack of DVD’s and even though I picked them, none interested me. My hand doesn't want to write at all, so on top of everything else, I’m bored. Luckily we had some errands to run today and it’s gorgeous out.
When my parents were here we went through our bookshelves and filled four grocery bags full of books we no longer need or want, and today we took them to a used books store. It was very cathartic.
The other day my friend Val was visiting and mentioned that she gets pedicures. I’ve never had one and it sure sounded heavenly, so today while at the dry cleaners/tailor’s there was a nail salon next door so we just popped in and I got my first pedicure. I feel so pampered!
A couple weeks ago my friend Suzanne was on vacation in Arizona when she stopped into a boutique/jewelry store in Bisbee. The proprietor mentioned that all the beads in the store were made by her. Suzanne said she had a friend (me) who also makes beads and asked if she knew me. “Jinx?”, said the lady, “Of course I know Jinx! How is she doing, I haven’t heard from her in a long time.” As Suzanne told her about my situation, the lady, Kate Drew-Wilkinson , reached over and grabbed a pretty little necklace and handed it to Suzanne to deliver to me back in Maryland! What generosity and trust. Thanks Kate and Suzanne and Jill who got it from Suzanne and delivered it to me just before she went on vacation.
That's it for now, Love, Jinx
Questions and comments can be mailed to jinxgarza@comcast.net .
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