Both of Us .org
News and views from two charming fellows in Northeast Minneapolis.
Now with Cancer!
Now with Cancer!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Living through the Gamma Knife
By JB aka JayBee
Last night I played soccer. My team (the Matrix in a Rec "B" league) came back from a 1-3 deficit to win the game 5-4. The teams I play with (Orange Crush) in two co-ed league nights)on Sundays and Mondays have each also won this week. I was fortunate to play three games in the last four days and win each of those games.
On the minus side, when I got home from the game last night, I was pretty sure that I had fractured my left forearm during our game. I am not playing soccer tonight.
My hair started falling out in gobs yesterday. Hair fell into everything, in my mouth, pillowcases and all over the sink. I just wanted it gone.
This morning at 4:45 AM I asked JSP to use the hair clipper to take my hair off. After trimming down the unruly and rapidly thinning mess on my head, JSP helped me to get dressed because I was not able to use my left arm with out We made ready to leave and I was at the hospital by 5:40 AM.
I looked disgusting this morning. Yes, those metal pins were anchored into my skull for most of the day today.
Shudder, now look away.
If you want the basic run down of the procedure, feel free to go back to my January 16th Gamma Knife in Your Brain posting.
The specialized MRI today helped the medical team decide to treat three of my largest brain tumors. Dr. Paul, after reading today's MRI called my other, smaller tumors "wispy" suggesting that the whole brain radiation that I had done during two of the last three weeks may have had the desired effect of shrinking or stopping their growth.
After the MRI, technicians did an Xray for me of my possibly fractured arm. Luckily the images of my arm showed no fracture. I was positively surprised by this information and am happy that my left arm will heal faster now that there is actually nothing wrong with the bone. I may take to the soccer pitch again next week after all.
JSP was with me during most of the time I was at the hospital today, of course he could not be in the room during therapy, but he was a rock for me, proving to me time and again that he loves me and will do anything to make this easier for me. He even smiled calmly when he took the above Frankenstein monster photograph of me.
I was sent home this afternoon and have been relaxing and consuming fruit and vegetables and some juice.
I am feeling tired out by the days events, but otherwise doing well.
Honestly, the only truly terrible part of the treatment was having that frame anchored in my head. Dr. Paul and the neurologist and the physicist were each very professional while still being lots of fun. My nurse, Trixy, was also really wonderful.
I felt fortunate to have this all done so close to home. I am thankful for many things, including my partner, my family and friends, my colleagues at work, my health insurance, and the fine doctors and staff in Radiation Oncology at the University of Minnesota.
On the minus side, when I got home from the game last night, I was pretty sure that I had fractured my left forearm during our game. I am not playing soccer tonight.
My hair started falling out in gobs yesterday. Hair fell into everything, in my mouth, pillowcases and all over the sink. I just wanted it gone.
This morning at 4:45 AM I asked JSP to use the hair clipper to take my hair off. After trimming down the unruly and rapidly thinning mess on my head, JSP helped me to get dressed because I was not able to use my left arm with out We made ready to leave and I was at the hospital by 5:40 AM.
I looked disgusting this morning. Yes, those metal pins were anchored into my skull for most of the day today.Shudder, now look away.
If you want the basic run down of the procedure, feel free to go back to my January 16th Gamma Knife in Your Brain posting.
The specialized MRI today helped the medical team decide to treat three of my largest brain tumors. Dr. Paul, after reading today's MRI called my other, smaller tumors "wispy" suggesting that the whole brain radiation that I had done during two of the last three weeks may have had the desired effect of shrinking or stopping their growth.
After the MRI, technicians did an Xray for me of my possibly fractured arm. Luckily the images of my arm showed no fracture. I was positively surprised by this information and am happy that my left arm will heal faster now that there is actually nothing wrong with the bone. I may take to the soccer pitch again next week after all.
JSP was with me during most of the time I was at the hospital today, of course he could not be in the room during therapy, but he was a rock for me, proving to me time and again that he loves me and will do anything to make this easier for me. He even smiled calmly when he took the above Frankenstein monster photograph of me.I was sent home this afternoon and have been relaxing and consuming fruit and vegetables and some juice.
I am feeling tired out by the days events, but otherwise doing well.
Honestly, the only truly terrible part of the treatment was having that frame anchored in my head. Dr. Paul and the neurologist and the physicist were each very professional while still being lots of fun. My nurse, Trixy, was also really wonderful.
I felt fortunate to have this all done so close to home. I am thankful for many things, including my partner, my family and friends, my colleagues at work, my health insurance, and the fine doctors and staff in Radiation Oncology at the University of Minnesota.
6 Comments:
Cosmic Monkey wrote:
Wow, that thing on your head is so City of Lost Children! Google image it.
I am so glad you are doing well, and everything went well! I'm looking forward to dinner on Friday.
Much love from me and the missus to you both...
Pamela wrote:
Hi JayBee,
I have been following your blog and Julie's updates. Thanks for getting Julie home so I could have a fun evening with her to myself!
Thoughts of Both of YOU are in my heart and mind every day. Also, thanks for buying that leftover beer.
Mrs. Pam
(more widely known as Marta's mom)
Miss Melanoma wrote:
JayBee,
Dude! So glad you made it thru that so well and that you two are supporting each other thru this. It's truly touching.
I'm sending crazy good positive vibes your way and hoping you recoop quickly!
-MM
JB aka JayBee wrote:
Cosmic, thanks for coming to visit with Emma and Tess, it was a great late evening.
Mrs. Pam, So glad to see you here! Julie told me that she gave you this blog address and I was hoping that you were reading. We should get together and drink some juice. Seriously.
Miss Melanoma, thanks for the positive energy and the example that you set in terms of fighting for wellness with a smile on your face. You are an inspiration to me.
Scientitian wrote:
I think Gamma Knife would now suit you as a superhero name, though you do look a bit Darth Vaderish in that first photo.
I'm glad to hear things are going smoothly. We shall have to break bread/vegetable juice sometime soon.
Jackie Becker wrote:
Hey there cuz. Nice hat. Man, that thing looks nuts! That pic of you in the blue shirt-you look exactly like my dad did in his old army pictures! Genes are interesting.
Talk to you soon!
Love,
Jackie