tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77827424099608162162011-11-27T16:09:15.313-08:00Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.comBlogger181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-40829359436532037222008-11-22T06:15:00.000-08:002009-01-16T22:01:01.704-08:00

It has been 3 months since my surgery and all my vitals have returned to normal. I haven't had one of those headaches in several weeks. {Relief} And I can move normally again. I can run, I can bounce, I can strain and not have my head ring like church bells. I even started going to the gym three weeks ago. This was the final step in my recovery. The stress and strain of exercising at the gym,

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-2671978816518082372008-10-19T11:07:00.000-07:002009-01-16T22:11:53.665-08:00

I met with my Ninja Surgeon this week. It has been 2 months almost to the day. He was still as calm as ever and exceedingly modest for what he had accomplished. I had 3 MRI's performed last week, one on my neck, and two of my head, with and without contrast, and we reviewed those results. Since my last posting, my headache has come back temporarily but it only lasted for a couple of days. And

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-5770659345591722782008-09-19T17:54:00.000-07:002008-09-20T02:10:14.397-07:00

Well, the long awaited news is finally here... My Endo called this week to inform me that my IGF, Insulin Growth Factor, was 186, it was 1,111 prior to my surgery. The normal range is 70-306. Drum roll please... MY SURGERY WAS SUCCESSFUL!!! The only oddity in my results was that my testosterone levels were low-normal but still within an acceptable range. They will continue to monitor. Okay, TMI

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-48267072111588718062008-09-06T06:49:00.000-07:002008-09-14T21:21:14.175-07:00

Overall it was a good week. Despite the busy schedule, work was very productive and I had an opportunity to meet with old colleagues. In terms of my condition, I had a slight setback due to some carelessness on my part and met with my Endo which hasn't provided any results yet. With that, here's where I am with my current list of issues. List of issues:Headache - slight setbackInsomnia -

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-76033725954278045312008-09-02T10:45:00.000-07:002008-09-06T20:46:41.489-07:00

I returned to work this week and I didn't have any issues that prevented me from working in a sedentary environment. To be clear, my physical activity entails all of sitting at a desk, typing and using the phone. I did need to walk to conference rooms both upstairs and down but these are all activities well within my limits. My doctor recommended that I stay home for another week or work

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-71129422519934010712008-08-27T21:52:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:16:55.641-07:00

In trying to put together a picture timeline, I realized that I'm not in too many photos. I guess having children puts me on the other side of the camera most of time. It was the later part of 2006 (Sep/Oct) that I really began noticing my facial changes. Oddly enough it was the pictures and not the mirror that allowed me to take notice.

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-22956619850941708272008-08-26T22:49:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:17:48.097-07:00

Wow, what a difference another week makes. I'll run through the issues but first a little commentary. Now that I getting out and about more often, the comment I keep hearing is that I don't look like I've just had surgery... particularly brain surgery. And ironically despite how I feel, that's very true. I don't have any bruises, no black eyes, no visible point of incision, heck I don't even

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-8559389214662635072008-08-24T16:30:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:19:25.812-07:00

It struck me odd that I felt compelled to write about this milestone. It had little to do with my health but more to do with what I enjoy. I recall that stunned feeling when the hospital discharge instructions said "no driving". Say what??? Okay, whatever... (They obviously were not aware of my acquiring red just a few days before my surgery.) But there she sat, waiting... I checked on her

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-33109372109359015832008-08-22T10:17:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:20:17.999-07:00

Great news, the MRI results of my spine revealed fluid in my epidural space which they are guessing is probably blood. They speculate that the lumbar drain used to control the pressure in my head may have allowed blood to enter the area near the incision. That's as much as I understand at the moment. My doctor is inclined to not do anything just yet and see if this plays itself out. As a result,

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-66266532511169030072008-08-22T08:21:00.000-07:002008-08-22T11:51:21.358-07:00

It has been 10 days since my surgery and while I had the packing removed from my nose after the second day, I had no sense of smell until about 2 days ago. Sadly, all I smelled at the time was ammonia. It was fairly strong and followed me everywhere I went. When it occurred, I just took note of it. I didn't think there was anything I could do about it and since I had other issues, this was the

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-5384565893782724742008-08-21T19:38:00.000-07:002008-08-22T11:52:04.549-07:00

Well, today marks another important milestone for me. Despite my other adventures, I did not need to take any pain meds today. My activity level was light, all in all a good day for pain. To contrast, yesterday my neck pain was exceptional yet again and so was the headache after about mid-day. By evening it was time for some relief. But not today.

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-59055111985029567192008-08-21T17:20:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:21:30.408-07:00

So I had to take a break from my normal thread to interject today's revelation and important milestone. Today I moved my bowels. Let me say from the beginning that I do not generally speak of such things and I do believe these are truly private matters. But, if I could help even one person by documenting my ordeal, it would be worth all my tribulation and embarrassment. What you need to know

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-21101446876651893782008-08-21T16:50:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:22:16.425-07:00

If anyone attempts to allude to Endoscopic Transphenoidal surgery as being anything other than brain surgery or even "minimally invasive", don't buy it. Make no mistake, this is brain surgery and it is invasive. There is a reason that a neurosurgeon is performing the operation and he has a team of specialists assisting him. I guess in some respects I convinced myself that this was less than what

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-8013418365535608922008-08-21T16:15:00.000-07:002008-09-14T21:09:53.571-07:00

The next day was full of progress. My merciless nurse, Agnes, was gone for the day and Beth had returned with sunshine and a strong desire to make me feel better. Again I didn't feel like I needed much but she checked on me just the same. It occurred to me late in the morning that I hadn't eaten at all the previous day and I thought I should start eating something. Not because I was hungry but

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-16491175662443559242008-08-21T10:00:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:12:20.717-07:00

The day of surgery and the those leading up to it took on a life of its own. The momentum after the decision and surgery was scheduled, it was all I could do to just keep pace with it. A new job, a new car, my kids football practices, coaches meetings, perpare for surgery, it was a whirlwind. And the thing that kept going through my head was, am I even going to be here after Aug 12? The surgery

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-50754392040940987052008-08-20T10:27:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:13:20.617-07:00

After my diagnosis, I met with several specialists to discuss my condition. All were of the same mind and agreed that surgery was the best treatment and needed to occur to a) normalize my growth hormone (GH) levels, b) relieve any pressure on the surrounding brain tissue and c) preserve the pituitary functions (which I now understand is responsible for keeping the delicate balance of chemicals

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-25199603500592069232008-08-20T07:25:00.000-07:002008-09-20T02:17:37.862-07:00

The symptoms I experienced were very subtle as I was experiencing them and they didn't occur all at once. In the early years I had no trouble explaining what was happening and even considered it to be well within the realm of "normal" but over time it became harder and harder to explain. Also when viewed over time, the changes seemed drastic and seemingly occurred over night. It consisted of the

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782742409960816216.post-52246106866413131162008-08-19T17:59:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:15:11.274-07:00

I still remember the day I received a call from my primary physician. I had been with him for several years but I had never had the occassion to speak to him over the phone. If I ever called his office, I would leave a message and I would receive a response from his assistants or even the receptionist but never from him personally. To what did I owe such an honor, particularly when he begins the

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04757682493862418513noreply@blogger.com0