Horatio update: Post radiation results in

[Shwa Girl]

Seems my problems have been brain swelling from my brain radiation due to being weened off of the steroids too quickly. Who knew being taken off of meds that quick could throw you into such a tailspin.

Yes. That can happen. I had to come off morphine a while ago and I was not a nice person to be around. Withdrawal. Been there. Know what you are talking about.

However, I was placed on dexamethasone 2 weeks ago for brain swelling and took my first dose at night and the next morning I didn't vomit. And I haven't since. And I feel normal. I can eat, I can drink,

So good when you get a medication that makes all the difference, eh? Thx for sharing your good news.

My regular MRI is scheduled for March 4 and I get they don't want to expose me to more radiation then they need to, but, ummmm, it's my brain and I'm dealing with brain cancer here so I kind of would rather have an MRI sooner rather than later.

Here's hoping for a great result for the March 4 MRI.
Happy New Year!

[Natalka]

Tara, glad you could check in.

Wishing you all the best, as always!

Cheers to next year bringing you healing and better health.

[TaraF]

Yes Shwa it's amazing what the right meds can do. I just wish one of the 4 ER Doctors I saw would have clued in on this a bit earlier than having to track down my Oncology nurse, and really I had to track her down. Glad you've made it through your withdrawals.

Thank you Natalka, I hope next year is a great year for all of SC! Far and wide!

[walkonby]

Happy New Year Tara!!!!

[ticul]

Happy New Year to you and your family Tara! Best wishes and take good care...............

[Patty Smyth]

Happy New Year

[TaraF]

Thank you! A Happy New Year to you lovely ladies as well! Except maybe Patty haha Horatio? Really? HAHAHA. He kind of needs a dart through his head. Well, I guess if we're toasting him goodbye it's okay!

[lilo0003]

Thanks for checking in, prayers are being sent your way.

[Patty Smyth]

Thank you! A Happy New Year to you lovely ladies as well! Except maybe Patty haha Horatio? Really? HAHAHA. He kind of needs a dart through his head. Well, I guess if we're toasting him goodbye it's okay!

He is the ONLY Horatio we want to see, remember?

[TaraF]

I forgot Patty....dain bramaged, 'member? lol My heads taken a beaten ya know!

I spoke to my Oncology nurse today and she's pleased that I've not been attached to the ole bucket lol. So, tomorrow is my last dose of dexamethasone and if I start again with the symptoms I simply go back on the meds. Well isn't that easy enough! Now that we have it all figured out.

As it stands it's just waiting now until March 4 for my MRI. I am hoping I can behave for 2 months! Especially since I get to see Bryan Adams next month! *squeeee

[Lynn49]

All the very best to you, Tara! Hit and miss, this drug thing, isn't it? Let's say prayers and send healing thoughts to all SCers ... Everyone is going through something....some we're aware of and some that stay hidden....Blessings to you, Hon...for a lovely weekend...and more!
Hugs, Sweetie...

[MortgageQueen]

Tara,
Here's a cheerful article about a "real" man and his devotion to wife with cancer.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskat...911953?cmp=rss

[TaraF]

MQ thank you for posting this article, I love it! And I LOVE Dionne and Graham! I actually have their book "Never leave your wingman". You want to talk about inspiring? Dionne is freaking AMAZING! And the fact that her Husband has been by her side and so devoted as he has, their love story is amazing too.

[MortgageQueen]

They look like they'd be great fun and an inspiration too. So nice to see a happy story!

[TaraF]

They do look like great fun MQ.

So I had a hearing test Friday as I've been having a lot of issues with my right ear since my radiation treatments and as suspected I've lost some hearing in that ear. I knew it was a possible side effect of brain radiation and the tinnitus hit about 2 weeks into it so I wasn't too surprised, especially since the TV now has to be on like volume 20 and I'm really easily mixing words up. My comprehension is worse as well. I had a hearing test done last Feb to compare this one with so that showed my high frequency was off more as well which effects the comprehension. Neato, eh? lol

I don't need hearing aids or anything which is good, it just needs to be observed every 3-6 months to see if it's declining. Unfortunately I'm screwed on the tinnitus and just have to live with it, which sucks because it's so loud and a constant 24/7. I don't know if I'm having seizures again or not. Grrrr. Since falling ill I've had weird smells as like my previous seizures manifested (auras) but they aren't a familiar smell like my previous ones. But the patterns are the same and the smells remain the same each time now. I'm keeping a journal to show my neurologist in a few weeks to see what he says. Only thing I can think of is maybe since I was vomiting up my meds for a solid 5 weeks that the meds need to build up in my system again? Because that's when these "episodes" started.

Other than that though I'm feeling ok. lol