03/14/2024: Pi Day!

 Updated 03/14/24- Pi Day!


The day I had been patiently waiting for, my “meet your neurosurgeon” day,  is finally here! It is the neurosurgeon my ophthalmologist spoke very highly of, one that performed the surgery on her own tumor five years ago. Also, he happens to be my dear friend Ruta's cousin! The universe was definitely conspiring to line me up with Dr. Gore! Today, I found out that he is the best there is, and I am in a pair of very safe hands! 


Dr. Gore assured me that he would do his best to pull in the angiogram and put me on the calendar for the end of April or the beginning of May, worst case. He is confident that I will be fully recovered by the end of June.


He reviewed the process with me. Some of the details scared me shitless, I am not going to lie. Like breaking a tiny part of the skull. Putting a catheter in there to monitor blood flow. Chiseling every possible bit of the tumor away. Assessing the need and frequency of radiation. Then he reviewed the risks: risk of stroke if the damaged parts of the sagittal vein somehow block the flow of blood, risk to my right arm and leg motor function,  risk to my ability to make quick mental computations. Raaga and Taara can both outperform me with their mental math already, and I may have just found a valid excuse for any future blows to my ego :). 


Dr. Gore doesn't seem to be too worried about my left side numbness or the localized headaches. He expects the tumor to impact my right side, if anything, since the brain control has reverse polarity. He is also not overly worried about my sinusitis either. He said my craniotomy has the higher priority, and sinusitis doesn't need to be completely treated prior to the surgery. 


He asked me to keep tracking the headaches. He is specifically concerned about my headaches that come as a result of laying flat. Blood through the sagittal vein (where tumor sits on) is supposed to flow from top of the head to back, kind of along the part of the hairline. Because of my possible blockage due to the tumor, that blood is getting redirected elsewhere, causing my headaches, more so when I lay down flat. That is the working model anyway. For now, I am advised to sleep with two pillows under my head to give my blood the best chance to drain properly. 


I would have to get a few more diagnostics done prior to the surgery- EKG, and something for the lungs, etc. The doctor's MA will get in touch with me soon to schedule those. 


In short, I might not have any new/solid dates to show for yet, and I am still terrified of many things, but I am hopeful that the universe will continue to conspire in my favor. I am grateful for Dr. Gore's team that is leading this important phase of my journey, and I am forever thankful for all my cheerleaders. I am looking forward to soaking up the sun and catching up on my reading and writing until the surgery!

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