Author Topic: Brain Surgery ? (Read 8418 times)

Bamabww · « **on:** October 31, 2014, 03:57:03 pm »

Brothers and Sisters,

I haven't been online very much lately due to an aggravating problem that has developed. The last month or so I've been having problems with my eyes. It first started as what I thought was floaters which would come and go. Then the "floaters" became multi-colored and stationary. Now in the center of my vision there is a multi-colored, pulsating rectangle that randomly comes and goes. It is there very erratically and sometimes stays gone for an hour and then will appear every few seconds for another hour. Doesn't matter what I'm doing it's still the same.
Blood pressure is good at 120/60 and blood sugar at 110 when the event is happening. My eye exam in late June showed nothing but normal aging and the retina phoyos taken showed my eyes clear. but another exM THIs Pat Tuesday showed a black spot on yhe back of my left eye. A MRI was scheduled and showed a. in layman terms, a mangled blood vessel in the back of what little brain I have that is diverting blood away from the optic lobe or nerves of my eyes. Bummer but at least its noy a tumor.

All the neuro surgeons in Nashville, Huntsville or Birmingham take off on Friday so I couldn't get an appoinymeny yill Monday. They will make an evaulation then about how to yreay the problem with brain surgery being an option. I would appreciate your yhoughts and prayers for the nexy several days as we work through yhis.

It is very hard to focus with the flashing lights so I can'y read or type vr7 y00d. I haven't driven in ywo weeks and can'y read the forums withouy geyying headaches. I wanyed to let you know as I feel I have many good friends on yhis forum. I'll be back in youch as soon as I can.

Wayne

iddee · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2014, 04:13:27 pm »

My thoughts and feelings are with you, Wayne. I have an appointment in 3 weeks with an E,I, N, and throat specialist.I have squirrels chirping in my head and they haven't found the cause yet, as all my vitals are good. I hope yours is a simple remedy, and that they find mine will also be.

Perry · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2014, 05:02:15 pm »

You are and will be in my thoughts Wayne, take heart.

Iddee, you have much to much work to do here, so no gettin sick and takin time off. (PS, you'll be in my thoughts too.)

Jen · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2014, 05:05:23 pm »

You Got It Bam and Iddee! I've got a candle going for ya and a direct line to the great power source in the sky! ~Hugs~

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2014, 05:49:28 pm »

You guya are in my prayers. Iddee, i think i know what some of those weird sounds are your hearing, but coming from a Dem. you wouldn't appreciate my analogizing.

Just kidding. Good luck to the both of you. Jack

iddee · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2014, 06:13:27 pm »

Jack, if I can't argue with a Dem. now and then, they can just let me pass on. That's the fun part of life.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2014, 09:40:50 pm »

THoughts and prayers are definately offered and I will be thinking of you Bama. You too Iddee.. If you want to get out of my visit this spring that bad just say so, I can stay away!!

riverbee · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2014, 09:47:34 pm »

wayne,
just know you are in my thoughts and prayers. hang in there. will look forward to an update from you when you can get back in here and post again.
take care of yourself!

iddee, you know you have my thoughts and prayers, as always......

rodmaker · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2014, 10:37:53 pm »

Wayne
I will keep you in my daily prayers and hope all goes well on Monday .

Lburou · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2014, 10:56:19 pm »

Thanks for sharing....You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Bamabww · « **Reply #10 on:** November 06, 2014, 07:08:46 pm »

Brothers and Sisters,

It's been a trying time but I'm much better. They have diagnosed my problem as a "cavernoma" or a mangled set of blood vessels that resemble a blackberry or rasberry in my brain. In my case it is diverting the blood from the part of the brain that controls my sight.

I've seen a neuro-surgeon in Birmingham and after 4 different MRAs and a CAT Scan of what little brain they could find, they determined the cavernoma was the source of my problems. Most of the time, 60% in fact, it causes seizures but fortunately I haven't had any yet. I have had blurred vision, nausea, and severe headaches, all of which have subsided now. I'm very thankful for that. Today is the first day I have been released to read or use the computer so I took this opportunity to let you know how it's going. I'm sorry to hear about your problem Iddee.

I have been symptom free for 4 days now and the neuro-surgeon told me today that sometimes the cavernomas will repair themselves but usually only temporarily. He has advised me to have it repaired eventhough my symptoms have disappeared. He has recommended a non-invasive surgery using pinpoint radiation with what he calls a "cyberknife". The cyberknife people will call me to set up a consultation for next week, hopefully, and then the actual procedure will take 30 to 90 minutes. I'll go home the same day and have followup MRIs and MRAs annually to check the cavernoma or if symptoms return.

They have treated almost 6000 people in the clinic with cavernomas in their brain or spinal cords with outstanding success. 98.9% of patients say they would have the procedure again.

So that's where I'm at. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers or any other act for my benefit. I'll be back in touch asap.

Best of luck to you Iddee, my prayers are with you.

Perry · « **Reply #11 on:** November 06, 2014, 07:20:45 pm »

Hey Wayne, so good to hear from you again so soon.
98.9%, I like those odds, take 'em any day!
30 to 90 minute treatment and you're done? Sounds like a good plan of action to me!

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2014, 07:33:27 pm »

That's good news Wayne, now i'm hoping we get some good news from my buddy iddee. I have a constant ringing in my ears and at times i hear kattie dids(sp?) for days. Doctors say i'll have to live with it. They think it is because of all the sirens i've listened to on emergency runs for almost 30 yrs.

Jack
PS. my wife isn't buy that? she claims i have selective hearing.

Lburou · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2014, 07:49:04 pm »

Great news! Keep us in the loop.

iddee · « **Reply #14 on:** November 06, 2014, 07:56:48 pm »

Wonderful, Wayne. I think mine is much less severe. I can't half hear now, and I think the worst that will happen is I will be able to hear less. Hopefully, I will hear a bit better.

PS. How's your brother. Haven't gotten an update on him lately.

Jen · « **Reply #15 on:** November 06, 2014, 09:05:16 pm »

Hi Wayne, looks like your bees aren't letting you get too far away for too long. That's a good sign

riverbee · « **Reply #16 on:** November 06, 2014, 09:22:12 pm »

wayne, because i can't send flowers to you directly, i am sending flowers to you virtually:

"brothers and sisters"

i have missed your presence on the forum wayne. i truly enjoyed your update and how you started your post, we are all brothers and sisters in some fashion on this forum, and as long as i have known you, i do feel as if i am a 'sister'.....thank you!
i wish you well, and godspeed my friend! prayers are with you, stay in touch as you can!

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #17 on:** November 07, 2014, 02:00:27 am »

Yah buddy! Thats good news compared to many other possibilities. Keeping my fingers crossed despite the great odds!!!

Bamabww · « **Reply #18 on:** November 07, 2014, 06:45:32 am »

Quote from: iddee on November 06, 2014, 07:56:48 pm

Wonderful, Wayne. I think mine is much less severe. I can't half hear now, and I think the worst that will happen is I will be able to hear less. Hopefully, I will hear a bit better.

PS. How's your brother. Haven't gotten an update on him lately.

Ronnie has improved since you and I last "talked" about him. He went to a different physical therapist and they have really helped his mobility and by doing so lessened his pain. He is more like his old self now. Thanks for asking.

Hoping you get some relief for your problem soon.

Bamabww · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2015, 07:09:22 am »

Brothers and Sisters,

I have some good news to share. Last Friday was my 6 week checkup after the radiation treatment to seal off the leaking cavernoma in my little brain. I was released to resume my normal activities which includes driving, reading, using the computer, watching TV, etc. I'll be around more often now and appreciate very much all of your thoughts and prayers during this time. I was told not to strain my eyes and focus on anything for long periods of time so I have not been on the forum since before Thanksgiving. That is something very hard to do but rather than take the chance of losing my vision permanently I did my best. I have gradually eased back into reading and using the computer over the weekend so I feel like now I'm as bad as ever with my spelling, typing, etc so I'm ready to go.

Our temperature is forecast to reach 60 degrees F this afternoon so I plan on sneaking a peek at my bees too.

I'll post some pictures of my procedure a little later. I appreciate each and every prayer, thought or good wish that was done on my behalf very much. I have missed all of you and look forward to catching up on how things have been going.