Next week and beyond...
OK, I felt it my civic duty to fill all of you who give a shit in on what's going on the next few weeks. Just under a week from now, next Tuesday, December 27, I will be going in for my second major brain surgery. As most of you know, the first was last November. I've known about it for quite a while but have kept it between myself and a select few people because I don't like a lot of attention. But now I didn't want to suddenly disappear for a month only to have you find out and say, "Dude, why didn't you say something?". But then again, I could disappear for 3 or 4 months at a time and there are certain people who couldn't care less. But I digress.
Anyway, I have to be at University Hospital at 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday but honestly couldn't tell you when the surgery itself is scheduled for. I have the same surgeon as last year, Dr. Yeh, who many consider to be one of the top, if not the best, neurosurgeons in the country. I have gotten nothing but optimistic outlooks from everyone from my personal neurologist to Dr. Yeh to Dr. Schefft, a doctor who analyzed my neuropsychological testing. I was the one who initiated all of this, wanting again to look into the possibility of a second surgery if it possibly could help my situation. After some testing, everything I have heard is that I do not have much to lose and could come out of this better in many ways other than just having a lack of seizures. Going into last year's surgery I was told there was a 50-50 chance of it solving the problem. Basically a coin flip. It obviously landed on tails. Now my surgeon is giving me numbers like 70-80 percent. Other than hopefully becoming seizure-free, which was the original goal of all this and which I've been fighting to do for the past 4 years or so, I was told by Dr. Schefft today that this surgery could actually improve my thinking, how I cognitively solve problems, improve my memory (which I have a problem with sometimes), and some other brain functions. While he explained that I do have very normal thinking and brain functions, removing the chaos and problems the seizures cause in the brain will ultimately allow the brain to heal better and allow it to function much better as a whole. Talk about some good news.
So that's basically what's going on beginning next week. Everyone have a safe and happy holiday weekend, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year if I do not speak to you until then.
p.s. -- I don't mind answering questions about the surgery or anything related if you have any.
Anyway, I have to be at University Hospital at 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday but honestly couldn't tell you when the surgery itself is scheduled for. I have the same surgeon as last year, Dr. Yeh, who many consider to be one of the top, if not the best, neurosurgeons in the country. I have gotten nothing but optimistic outlooks from everyone from my personal neurologist to Dr. Yeh to Dr. Schefft, a doctor who analyzed my neuropsychological testing. I was the one who initiated all of this, wanting again to look into the possibility of a second surgery if it possibly could help my situation. After some testing, everything I have heard is that I do not have much to lose and could come out of this better in many ways other than just having a lack of seizures. Going into last year's surgery I was told there was a 50-50 chance of it solving the problem. Basically a coin flip. It obviously landed on tails. Now my surgeon is giving me numbers like 70-80 percent. Other than hopefully becoming seizure-free, which was the original goal of all this and which I've been fighting to do for the past 4 years or so, I was told by Dr. Schefft today that this surgery could actually improve my thinking, how I cognitively solve problems, improve my memory (which I have a problem with sometimes), and some other brain functions. While he explained that I do have very normal thinking and brain functions, removing the chaos and problems the seizures cause in the brain will ultimately allow the brain to heal better and allow it to function much better as a whole. Talk about some good news.
So that's basically what's going on beginning next week. Everyone have a safe and happy holiday weekend, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year if I do not speak to you until then.
p.s. -- I don't mind answering questions about the surgery or anything related if you have any.