This medical alert bracelet, like a handcuff. Holding me to a past I didn't want. Condemning me to a future I don't deserve. Vibrant, energetic, and strong. My health was ripped away without warning. This can't be real. They must be wrong. I didn't deserve this. I want me back. I want my life. Unfair. …
Life After Brain Surgery: Perspective
Recently, I ended up back in the hospital with the scare of another infection. Thankfully, all the tests came back fine. Docs think I was just still in recovery mode and could possibly be catching a cold or something so they sent me home. But before leaving, the Chief Resident of Neurosurgery gave me a …
Life After Brain Surgery: A Realization
As I trudge through this recovery process, what I once thought was a normal part of recovery, I've now learned is something permanent. That realization is soul crushing. There aren't words to describe what it has done to my spirit. As a graduate student of psychology, I am fully aware of the implications of what …
Life After Brain Surgery: My New Normal
***Content warning: x-ray images of my head! May be disturbing for some. It's almost 3 am and I'm still awake. As I try to sleep, I'm reminded that I'm never going to be normal again. Not the normal I had. Here is my new normal. Incisions itch as they heal, even months later. Hair takes …
Life After Brain Surgery: I’m Fat
So I know that I've been basically sedentary since my surgeries, and the loads of steroids they pumped into my body probably didn't help. But OMG why did it take seeing my x-rays for me to see how fat I am? You guys, fat shows up differently on an x-ray. You can see the difference …
Life After Brain Surgery: Vent
I am not okay. I have pushed myself too hard and too fast. I have tried pretending that I am okay and I'm not. I need to face that reality before I end up doing more damage to my already weak and broken body. Fact is, I went through hell and I'm not allowing myself …
Life After Brain Surgery: Rest days!
I have been resting more than normal this weekend. It seems I've overdone it the past couple weeks. Many errands to run, appointments to keep, and then lots of stuff around the house. I've been resting, reading, replenishing. I will write more when Brain rests a bit. ❤️❤️
Life After Brain Surgery: Memory (Part 2)
Staring at the blinking cursor on the screen, I cannot, for the life of me, remember why I labeled a previous post "part 1".... I haven't the foggiest idea why or where I intended to go with part 2. But I guess my lack of memory fits, doesn't it? I feel like today has been …
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Life After Brain Surgery: Therapeutic Thoughts
Often at night, I find that soaking in a bubble bath is helpful for me. It helps ease some of the muscle tension I have from surgery. But it also allows me to lay in silence alone with my thoughts. Most times, while the bath water fills, I cup my hands under the running water. …
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