Four Weeks Post brain surgery

[furzicle]

I am now stating that my recovery has reached a point where it is less obvious. I assume and hope that improvements are still occurring. My walking is steady, my speech is perfect. My son and I walk about a mile nearly every day, either up a very steep hill or on a trail

Comments

[millysdaughter]

Personally, I found repeating prayers far more helpful than the "panting" they tried to encourage when I was in labor.
So I think it is quite possibly universal for all believers, no matter which faith you practice.

[furzicle]

Interesting! I really think it has to do with transporting yourself to another place. When I was in labor, I zeroed in on a detail in a picture of a village that someone else had posted there. When I was repeating familiar words in the Jewish prayer, I was not letting my mind run free, I was swimming with the familiar words. I was also enjoying an image of someone I know well and appreciate from my school who always sings these words to our assembled students-as they join him.

[furzicle]

They did ask me about claustrophobia before I had the MRI. I didn't think it would bother me, but then, you never know. I think I was helped through that because they were only looking at my head. The rest of my body extended beyond the machine. The second time it was a different machine and they put earphones on me and let me select some music I liked.

[furzicle]

Kris's interests are divided between seeking something in the diplomacy field, continuing his fairly extensive experience in sailing, and extending his experience in bee science. Since the diplomacy field has absolutely zero opportunities for a guy with just a bachelor's degree, there being no money in tallship sailing, and the door to getting into a merchant marine academy apparently closed to him, he's pursuing opportunities related to insects. This interview is with San Mateo Vector control.

I see it as a good option.
1, it's probably attainable
2, it will enhance his knowledge of mosquito control.
3 it is good background should he get more opportunities to go back to Africa (as he has done in the past.) In Africa, knowledge of beekeeping helps the people there earn money. Knowledge of mosquito control would aid them in fighting malaria.

Finally, getting over to Africa again could well help him get into international business/education/diplomacy.

Besides, he really does love to learn and write about insects.

[that]

Thank you for the report. I am so happy to hear that you are feeling yourself. It sounds like you have a great attitude toward recovery.

I too often think about health and medicine in earlier times. I have neuralgia, which, without effective pain medication (which I can get easily over the counter) my life would be a living hell every so often. If I lived in Victorian England, I'd be an opium addict.

Be well. Keep us posted.

[furzicle]

It has crossed my mind more than once that if I had lived in a time or place where this medical treatment were not available, I would probably have died and no one would ever have suspected the true cause. I think they might have surmised that I simply had had a stroke.

[bensdiorama]

...until they did the autopsy -- and found an orange in the wrong place. Then they would have wondered about how oranges get there, and maybe done some citrus research? I've been reading "The Greater Journey", about rich and ambitious Americans heading to Paris in the second quarter of the 1800s, a big part of which was to study medicine. It was the dawn of a new age, including firsts in anesthesia among other things.

[furzicle]

Thank you, I will. Good luck with your Kazakstan life! (I know there's an "H" in there somewhere.)

[joeymichaels]

So glad to read an update from you! Continued love!

[furzicle]

Thank you! Sometimes I think all us LJers are as supportive (or more) as our local friends.

[bensdiorama]

My often but not always successful antidote to insomnia is to listen to Garrison Kiellor podcasts. I know all the first half of the stories much better than the second halves, so in other words ...it works! (If my Nano croaked, I'd have to immediately go get another one.) Oh, and as mentioned, i agree, exercise (exhaustion) is really helpful for that too.

[furzicle]

I am also extremely skeptical about coffee. Sure you have it in the morning, but I think its waking properties stay with you throughout the following 24 hours. If you drink it strong, or repeatedly, you're doomed. I have just recently discovered that there is something missing in flavor from decaf coffee, however. I may therefore be doomed tonight. It might be a two benedryl night!