Welcome back to the next Thriving Not Just Surviving blog post. Its been another eventful week of doctor and hospital visits.
Up until a few weeks ago I didn't know what it was like to experience a seizure and I never gave much thought about epilepsy. Since Sunday, February 11, I've had 4 seizures with each one increasing in intensity. This past Tuesday I experienced another seizure during the night. I was taken to the emergency room the next morning and I experienced another seizure in the emergency room. I have no memories from these seizures, but I experience intense pain from the convulsions when I wake up. In fact one of the seizures was so intense that I actually partially fractured my right shoulder.
I was admitted to neurology center at Barnes Jewish Hospital on Tuesday evening to undergo testing. I was seen by several different neurologists and underwent an Electroencephalography (EEG). This test monitors the electrical activity of the brain. The test failed to reveal anything abnormal. I also had my spinal cord tapped for fluid. The first round of tests completed on the fluid revealed nothing significant, but we are still waiting for some of the results.
Despite all the testing and checkups from multiple neurologist,s we were not able to identify the cause. I continue to exhibit epileptic symptoms with no identified cause. The good news is that I respond positively to anti-seizure medicine. Fortunately, epilepsy is treatable and most patients are able to keep seizures under control by taking a daily medication. So far the medication appears to be working. However, my oncologist is still wanting to learn more about this because there is no reason for me to be having seizures.
I was discharged from the hospital on Friday afternoon and I am spending the weekend recovering from a grueling hospital stay. During my stay I was seen by many different doctors in an attempt to diagnose my seizures. Thus far in the cancer journey this has been the most painful part. I have no memory of experiencing the seizures, but the pain is intense when I wake up after the seizure has passed. I experienced more pain during the past two weeks than during any other part of the lung cancer journey. I am very thankful for high strength narcotics.
The cancer journey was bound to get tougher. I just never expected that epilepsy would play a role. This week I resume physical therapy to continue recovering from the seizures. I'm looking forward to putting the pain behind me as much as possible.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Friday, February 16, 2018
A Rough Week
Welcome back to the next Thriving
Not Just Surviving blog post. I initially planned for a blog post this week
that discussed how no news was good news. However, the events of the past few
days have dramatically changed that plan.
On Sunday evening as I was falling asleep in bed I experienced two fairly severe seizures. Each one was about a minute in length and a minute apart. The only recollection I have is being unloaded from an ambulance at the emergency room. A CT scan of my brain later in the night revealed nothing imminently wrong. After I was discharged a few hours later Maureen and I departed for St. Louis to be in closer proximity to my cancer medical team.
On Monday I underwent a full brain MRI to check for brain tumors. Fortunately, the MRI came back clean. This is very good news. With the exception of actual brain cancer, lung cancer is the type of cancer that most often spreads to the brain. It’s not uncommon for lung cancer patients to have numerous tumors throughout their brain once they start exhibiting the common symptoms of brain tumors. Seizures are one of those symptoms.
The bad news is that we don’t know the cause of the seizures. According to the neurologist we visited with, 60% of people that experience a seizure never have them again. I hope that I’m part of the 60%. However, I am restricted from operating a motor vehicle for at least 6 months. This is a precautionary measure for my safety and the safety of other drivers. This piece of news was very frustrating, but I am thankful that I should still be able to live an otherwise active life.
Muscle pain is the only residual effect from the seizures. I saw an orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday and he x-rayed my back to check for fractures. The x-ray came back clean, but he prescribed several rounds of physical therapy to manage the pain and regain my range of motion.
Obviously this has been a tough week. Over the last few weeks I felt that I had put the lung cancer in the rear-view mirror; at least for the next few months. Now I have to manage lung cancer AND the potential of future seizures. As frustrating as the seizures are, I’m confident that I can put this behind me as well. I’ve beat back terminal lung cancer over the past year which was significantly more serious than an episode of seizures.
Over the next few weeks I will be in St. Louis to complete my physical therapy and for follow up appointments with various doctors. I can’t overstate the gratitude that Maureen and I have from the outpouring of prayers and support.
On Sunday evening as I was falling asleep in bed I experienced two fairly severe seizures. Each one was about a minute in length and a minute apart. The only recollection I have is being unloaded from an ambulance at the emergency room. A CT scan of my brain later in the night revealed nothing imminently wrong. After I was discharged a few hours later Maureen and I departed for St. Louis to be in closer proximity to my cancer medical team.
On Monday I underwent a full brain MRI to check for brain tumors. Fortunately, the MRI came back clean. This is very good news. With the exception of actual brain cancer, lung cancer is the type of cancer that most often spreads to the brain. It’s not uncommon for lung cancer patients to have numerous tumors throughout their brain once they start exhibiting the common symptoms of brain tumors. Seizures are one of those symptoms.
The bad news is that we don’t know the cause of the seizures. According to the neurologist we visited with, 60% of people that experience a seizure never have them again. I hope that I’m part of the 60%. However, I am restricted from operating a motor vehicle for at least 6 months. This is a precautionary measure for my safety and the safety of other drivers. This piece of news was very frustrating, but I am thankful that I should still be able to live an otherwise active life.
Muscle pain is the only residual effect from the seizures. I saw an orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday and he x-rayed my back to check for fractures. The x-ray came back clean, but he prescribed several rounds of physical therapy to manage the pain and regain my range of motion.
Obviously this has been a tough week. Over the last few weeks I felt that I had put the lung cancer in the rear-view mirror; at least for the next few months. Now I have to manage lung cancer AND the potential of future seizures. As frustrating as the seizures are, I’m confident that I can put this behind me as well. I’ve beat back terminal lung cancer over the past year which was significantly more serious than an episode of seizures.
Over the next few weeks I will be in St. Louis to complete my physical therapy and for follow up appointments with various doctors. I can’t overstate the gratitude that Maureen and I have from the outpouring of prayers and support.
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