Blogging in B Minor

Well, we were able to sneak away this weekend to Napa Vally here in California, some of the best wine country in the world.  Stopping at some wineries was fun – they are typically beautiful and surrounded by acres of grape vines, and at this time of year mustard blooms.  The real benefit was just getting away.  I was great on Friday – drove out, stopped off at some wineries, had lunch, checked in to our hotel around 2:30, took a quick nap and then dinner at 6.  By the time we were back at the room it was 9pm – that is a long day for me.

I woke with a pounding headache unfortunately – we had a nice breakfast and I was good until Noon but then I slept in the room until 6, ordered room service (we went with a group so Rach joined the group for dinner) and back to sleep.  Sounds familiar.  Sunday morning I had a hard time going and pushed it almost to checkout.  It was a nice getaway but I wasn’t the best travelmate!

My significant issues right now are extreme fatigue and headaches that seem to be focused mostly in the rear part of my head.  I have a few other strange anamolies such as chills but other than that things are ok.  The fatigue is the most difficult to battle as most of you with brain tumors can attest to.  When you think about it, your body is spending 100% of it’s energy fighting a tumor – and in many cases including mine, an extremely aggressive brain tumor.  On top of that, I am attempting to maintain my life – work, run errands, play with the kids, etc.  My doctor keeps telling me “most people don’t do what you’re doing at this point”.  Well, what should I be doing?  Stop working.  That doesn’t seem right at this point – at all.  Way too early.  I’m not banging out 12 hour days but I am far from being incapable of doing my job.

So, the next step is a few tests:  an MRA (magnetic resonance angiography), an MRV (magnetic resonance venography) and a standard MRI to see if we can figure out why I’m having headaches.  It could be as simple as swelling or as serious as growth or other malformations.

More to come…

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