Well, I have put it off for about a month, debating as to whether or not to blog about my latest diagnosis of a Brain Tumor. Today, I decided that I need to share my information to prevent someone from "waiting too long to be checked out". The word Brain Tumor sounds way scary when the doctor is talking about YOU! However, I have been learning that there is a difference between TUMOR and CANCER. I have also been learning that I can blame any slip-up, wrong word, forgotten thing, silly action or saying on my BRAIN TUMOR. (For awhile there, I was just thinking that I might have Alzheimer's-especially after reading Forget Alice, I really can't remember if that is the name of the book or not.)
I have always had headaches, at least I think I have. They never really bothered me, except a few times in my life, I have had Migraines. I have been to the doctor for them. He said they were caused by stress. (You all know that I major in worry and stress). About two years ago I started having a pulsing sound in my ear, especially when I was lying down trying to sleep. I again went to the doctor, he referred me to an ENT. The ENT looked in my ears and said they were fine, I have lived with that and mostly ignore it. Last Fall, I started noticing that I had double vision in my left (laserd perfect) eye. When I turned my head or stood up it took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. I ignored that while we were getting Britton ready for his mission. A few days after Britton left in January, I was having horrible pressure type headaches and vision issues. I think many people, including myself, thought I was just in depression after Britton left. I called the Dr. He could not find anything so he scheduled an MRI. (without contrast) I did the MRI the same day Britton left for Everett. They called me back and told me that they did not find anything. I begged for a Z-pack antibiotic because now the pain felt like pressure in my sinuses. A few days later the headaches subsided. My vision seemed to be not bothering or I was just getting used to it. In May, I finally had enough with my eyes. I went to my eye doctor and he said as far as he could tell, I was fine, so he suggested that I go see a Neurologist. In June I did. He immediately thought that I had pseudo-tumor. He scheduled me for a Spinal Tap. I did that but my opening pressure in my spine was not very high, so that was not the clear-cut answer. I suffered about 2 solid weeks with the most horrific (spinal) headache that I have ever had. So that doctor told me to go see the ENT, the Opthamologist and Internist and find out what they think about Pseudo-Tumor diagnosis. The ENT requested an MRI with contrast this time, telling me that there was something noticed on the first MRI but they couldn't really see it without contrast. Another MRI in July. The week later they wanted another picture from the MRI and also a CT Scan. So finally on July 22, 2009, I was diagnosed with the Menengioma, and referred to the University of Utah Neuroscience Department. The good thing about this is 90% of all Menegiomas are benign. Mine is behind my left eye and blocking the optic nerve thus causing bad vision. I feel like I am always looking out of my left eye through a cloud. I have also experienced a loss of viewing of color from my left eye, my eyelid drooping, and the eye just being sore. My visual field test showed that my eye sight is deteriorating fairly quickly. I started with a size of of dime in vision loss on the visual mapping test. About two weeks ago I had lost about the size of a plum.
Now at a few weeks later, and my headaches are still coming and going, sometimes severe and sometimes not noticeable. I have to say that my favorite doctor at Tanner Clinic is the Eye Doctor Larry Nelson. He went to bat for me and got me in earlier than scheduled for my second appointment for the Neurosurgeon at the U.
My Neurosurgeon is great also, I saw him on Wednesday, for a big MRI session and scheduled the surgery. He said we are very lucky that we found this before it got much bigger. He saw a guy the day before with the same tumor but huge and he has lost his vision.
The surgery is scheduled for September 4th at the UofU. It will be a 6 to 8 hour surgery with a 4 to 6 day stay at the hospital. I have requested a six week leave from work. YEAH! GO BANKCARD!
The doctor did also point out to Dave and I that I have something else. My brain is slipping into my spinal column. The doctor said he is not worried about that now, but said that the reason for the bad reaction to the spinal tap was due to this. Right now he is more concerned with the delicate surgery. He said he will fix that if my symptoms don't subside after I am totally recovered. I have complete faith in Priesthood Blessings. I know I will be fine. My family is holding a fast on this Sunday. It is a little uncomfortable and awkward to be at the center of the fast. I am so blessed to be surrounded by good family. I am thankful for the many family and friends for praying and thinking about me and my family.
Today is Thursday the 27th, and I have already been blessed because I got to speak to Britton on the phone today. I called the Mission President last night and he returned my call today. He said it was a perfect day to talk to Britton since he was going to be at the mission home that afternoon. He had Britton call me at 5:00 our time. I told Britton that I had faked a tumor just to talk to him. I also told him that we have named the tumor Hank. My friends at work have given me a Voodoo doll with pins sticking in his head with a name tag on it of Hank.
I informed Britton that he was not invited home until he has completed his mission. I also told him not to plan on me dying yet since they can't get rid of me that fast. He reminded me that we will be together forever, I said, yeah but alive. He seemed down at first, but I told it too him straight. We laughed and shed a few tender feelings together. I am so proud of him. I have gotten permission to have Dave call him on Friday after the surgery. He will be fasting with us this Sunday. President Showalter wanted to visit with him after our talk. I'm sure he got a blessing. I ask for your faith and continued prayers in Britton's behalf also, this is a hard time for him to be away from home. I told him I needed to have him keep the blessings pouring in to our home.
I also ask for your continued prayers on behalf of my sister in law, Michelle. I have only a very minor issue compared to her trials this past year. I love her for her strength, her kindness and concern for me. Thank you Michelle, you continue to amaze us.
My new slogan is DOWN WITH HANK, UP WITH BRAIN!. As for the brain slippage, Some people just have brains that are too big for their own head. (If I stand up and you see something drop out, pick it up, it probably is my brain.)
