Tags
Recovery and new paths
Aftermath and turmoil
Discovery and surgery
One strange summer
The before times
On October 16, 2023, I got the results of an MRI that showed a large mass consistent with a meningioma, a type of tumor of the meninges, which is the tissue separating the skull and the brain.
Meningiomas are "benign" in that they aren't usually cancerous, but they are far from being non-impactful to the lives of people who experience them and the people around them. After a few visits with different doctors, I was very lucky to get a referral to a neurosurgeon in Houston who specialized in meningiomas, and he agreed to take me as a patient. Surgery was scheduled for November 9. It was quite a whirlwind between the third brain fog incident on October 2, my visit to my primary doctor on October 6, the MRI on October 16, and then the surgery on November 9.
The surgery was successful and the doctor said they were able to remove the whole mass. I noticed pretty quickly that my executive function (I sometimes call it my 'give a shit-ness') returned. I also noticed that I was feeling emotions on a deeper level than I had in years. I frequently describe it like coming out of a smoky room - you might not notice how bad it was in there until you come out into the fresh air. Suddenly I was crying at sad songs, laughing at funny stories, and feeling things I hadn't felt in years.
MRI, top view
Another MRI top view
MRI, front and side views
Another clear top view
more MRI
Before and after getting my head shaved. They said I didn't need to, but I wanted to.
Nice dome
In the doctors office
In Houston, day before surgery
Night before surgery
Dad getting his head shaved in support
He looks pretty good shaved!
Surgery day, probably waiting for it to end. 9.5 hours!
Day after surgery. Big black eye!
The day after still - lots of wires and stuff still connected
Two days after, bandages off
Bandages off, showing the incision
Getting a visit from dad, two days after
Steve and dad
Big hug!
That short hair feels funny!
Black eye starting to heal up. Still two days post-op.
Looking pretty good. Three days post op.
Nice. Three days post op, zero out of 10 pain.
Going home! Three days post op.
Four days post op, at home. The patch is to force me to use my 'bad' eye.
Recovering nicely
T +5 days
One week later
One week later
Hair showing some stubble
Incision healing nicely
I think these are the bruises where they put the IV lines in my leg.
Ten days worth of healing
Looking good
A button Mom had made for me. I seemed to like telling people my story even very early.
November 23 - Thanksgiving
Healing continues
Eye looking much better. November 25, 16 days post op.
November 25
Looking good!
Scar nearly invisible.
December 8
December 8
December 9, one month later
December 9
A 3D print at 1:1 scale of my tumor, extracted from my MRI.
What an actual meningioma looks like
A few more replicas