It Lives

Posted By on May 23, 2007 at 11:17 pm

I didn’t have the opportunity to train my sister how to post here during my absence, but I hope to rectify that for future occasions. Did I miss anything while I was away?



OK, here’s the deal.
The word from the neurologist, short version: idiopathic hydrocephalus.
This is far far better news than I could possibly have imagined. Not that it isn’t serious — left untreated, it is. But it is also very fixable.
I was admitted to the hospital Monday, went through a couple days of testing, and am now at home. There is more testing and, ultimately, brain surgery in my future, but not immediately.



I know a lot of people have kept me in their thoughts and prayers. If you’ve been a loner all your adult life, as I have, it’s a hard idea to get used to.
All I can say now is thanks, I’m humbled beyond words.
More later.

Oh, This is Gonna Suck

Posted By on May 18, 2007 at 5:50 pm

I heard from my neurologist’s office a few minutes ago. They finally got the report of my most recent MRI from the radiologist. Unknown, as yet, is why it took almost two weeks for the report to appear.
My neurologist was actually not in his office today, but was attending at the hospital, so he hasn’t actually seen the report. Hence, no diagnosis today. The report, however, is front and center on the doc’s desk, so he’ll see it first thing Monday.
While speaking with the doctor’s assistant, I mentioned my current state and the progress, if you will, of the decline. This might not have been the prudent thing for me to do; she spoke to the doctor, and then called me back. First thing Monday, I’m to go for an office appointment, after which the neurologist will likely have me admitted to the hospital, duration unknown.
This is not what I was hoping for.
They want me in the hospital for two main reasons. First, safety. In the hospital, I’ll not be as likely to fall and hurt myself. Now, I’ve done lots of falling, and have so far managed to avoid serious injury. So far. But a fractured wrist could happen at any time. In my current condition, as reliant on my arms as I am, this would effectively end my roaming around the house.
Second, being in the hospital will give me more immediate access to additional testing, and to a neurosurgeon. I don’t yet know that I actually need either a neurosurgeon or more tests, but if I do, speed would be good.
Still, this is going to suck.



Adding to the suck: my sister and niece are coming to town tomorrow, to help out around the place for a while. “Nice to see you. Now, could you drive me to the hospital?” This was not how I was hoping to greet them.
On the other hand, since I’ll be offline, perhaps I can train my sister to post updates for me while I’m away, however brief or long that might be.
Well, this is a real turn-up for the plus-fours, as they used to say.