Wednesday, June 5, 2019

I Feel Like A Medical Miracle!

I was VERY nervous. We got to OHSU nearly an hour early, allowing me plenty of time to go to the bathroom and pace around trying to shake out the nerves. I couldn't wait any longer, and I checked in early. I was ready to find out what is up with my head!

Upon check in I was given a questionnaire to fill out all about what is going on. That alone made me even more nervous until I found the big open section where I could write down whatever I wanted. Now THAT helped ease my nerves! Phew!

The questionnaire was filled out and I had only a few minutes to stare out the window before my new doctor came out to get me. I liked that - normally it is an assistant person that gets you and drops you off in a office, this time it was the doctor herself!

Prior to this visit I was VERY concerned. Was this new doctor going to try to tell me that I just have headaches or migraines? I absolutely do NOT (and those two works instantly piss me off) and I just hoped that wasn't the direction this would go. Part of me was just so over all of this that I didn't even want to have this appointment. But I am so glad I did!

Shawn and I had discussed everything during our drive to Portland and kind of had a game plan of questions we wanted to address. We had our suspicions on what was going on with my brain, but we never even had to offer the up because she tackled it right away! Don't worry - I will now keep this short and sweet.


My doctor told me she went over all of my information a lot, curious as to how aggressive the other doctors wanted her to be with my treatment. But she wanted to hear this all from ME what exactly I was experiencing and what my medical path has been. It was a fluid exchange between all of us, and I felt my smile growing the longer it went on. She NEVER tried to even suggest I was having standard headaches or possibly migraines. Hallelujah!! It was all talk about Meniere's Disease (as a side discussion) and my CSF leak. So here's the very short, simple version of the conclusion....


I did have a CSF leak because of a dural tear inside my brain. The pain had started to ease up before that big round of testing because it was naturally healing on its own (which is why they couldn't isolate where the leak was)! So for now I do NOT have to have any surgeries, I don't have to go for more testing, I don't have to stop running! I just need to keep taking care of myself and pay attention if the pain increases. I have options available to me if it does increase and get to be too much. For now it is just drinking more water and celebrating being on the path to recovery! 

I celebrated the first round of no brain surgery by dying my hair purple and going to Las Vegas. Today I celebrated by buying myself not one but TWO new pairs of Adidas running shoes .... Ragnar and Hood to Coast, here I come!!