It's All In My Head

Today I got in my car and drove off only to find that I was confused
about which way to go. (I have lived in my house in Colorado Springs
for 30 years.) I was afraid that the brain tumor, which had been in
the parietal or perceptual area of my brain, was coming back.

Fortunately, the doctor assured me that it was NOT coming back at
this time. My MRI on June 22 showed NO signs of cancer. The cancer
could not come back so soon! That means the perceptual problems
seemed to be "in my head," just signs of stress.

This afternoon I saw my occupational therapist, Judy Pierson for
integrated manual therapy. She explained that I had "leaky blood
vessels" in my head. She has had some special training and was able
to work on correcting that problem. Now my head has stopped hurting
and my perceptual ability is beginning to come back. It turns out
that the problem was "in my head," but in a physical way, It was not
simply mental stress. Judy said that the physical problems led to my
experiencing more stress than I would have otherwise.

Cancer Treatment: So Far So Good

My first MRI after radiation and chemotherapy showed no signs of
cancer! What a relief! My son, Dave, and I just saw the pictures at
a meeting with Dr. Mitchell, my radiation oncologist, on June 30.
That good news makes it easier to deal with the many lingering
effects of the radiation and chemotherapy. I had heard that many
people feel that they have been run over by a truck after brain
surgery. I began feeling that truck toward the end of my six and one-
half weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. That "run-over," run-down"
feeling has now continued for over a month. However, I have
progressed to feeling I was run over by a volkswagen, and now, by a
loaded wheelbarrow.

I do not think I would have believed that fatigue could be so extreme
if I had not experienced it. Thankfully, I have brief periods of
energy. I can now see one client every few days. I can do some
gardening and I can sometimes walk around the neighborhood for up to
fifteen minutes. I have either stopped or am tapering off all my
prescription drugs, I and am taking healing supplements from my
naturopathic doctor.

It has been a long journey and I am very thankful for help and
prayers and support from so many people. Rather than thinking of all
I can not do, I often focus on my leisurely life with a morning nap,
several rental movies a week, and time to read. Some of this luxury
has to continue! I know I will not be pushing myself, like I did
before my cancer diagnosis in February. It is time to smell the
flowers and, as my energy permits, to have more and more time with
friends and family.