Hey Guys!

[TKLVR181]

Hey all. I know, I've been gone for a LONG time. I can explain that 😛

First of all, I had to take a break during finals pre-week and week 'cuz I HAD to get A's last semester (which I did! ^___^) I missed you guys tons!

Secondly, I've been having some (hopefully minor) health problems. To those of you who don't know, I have Spina Bifida--I had a hole in my back when I was born and now I use a wheelchair and can't feel from the knees down.

I have a shunt, which drains my cerebral spinal fluid-the stuff your brain floats in-to my abdomen. For the last several weeks I've had headaches on and off and dizziness/vertigo to the point I can't drive.

We're worried that the shunt's clogging up. If that's the case, I'll have to have surgery to replace it--it's a very minor surgery, I think it's not even technically involving the brain, just the cavity around it. I've had it once before when I was 7. It's the neurosurgery equivilent of an appendectamy. I'm lucky, most people with shunts like mine have to have it replaced several times by their 20s.

I'm not in a whole lot of pain--scale of 1-10 it's usually around a 4-5, most days but not all of them. I've had the necessary tests to tell if that's what's wrong, but my neurosurgeon won't get off break 'til next week -_- I promise I'll let you guys know as soon as I know myself.

I love you guys--hope to see more if you in the next few weeks! Happy New Year all!

~Karen

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

(Pies Karen for old time's sake)

Hey lady! That sounds like some scary stuff to start the new year. Here's hoping the best for you. You deserve it. We've indeed missed you.

 

[TKLVR181]

*wipes pie off face and then falls over laughing, then pies Rick right back*

XD Boy did I need that, thanks buddy! Stay frosty!

~K

 

[UBU]

You go Dean's List, girl! By the way, what's your major?

Also, do you follow House, MD? I ask because I doubt that physical pain alone accounts for his devil-may-care attitude toward conventional values.

I am sorry for your pain because I can only cope with pain knowing that it will pass. You just might not know your own strength.

Amazing.

 

[kopfhorer1]

Hang in there with your medical condition. I hope your surgery goes well, as it probably will. Please keep us posted. I myself have some chronic medical conditions which have been making my life interesting of late, so I have at least some idea of what it's like to live with chronic conditions. (Virtual hug).

It absolutely rocks that you're having a full life with successes like your schoolwork despite your condition. I don't doubt that it can be tough or even lonely at times dealing with it. Just the same, you've set a great example!

 

[MistressValerie1]

Best of luck, Karen.

 

[Ticklish Alex]

:::Hugs tight::: Good luck, we've all missed ya lots

 

[ohstalon06]

Aww, we hope that this will go through, I know I've been having some struggles right now too, so I hope things go well.

 

[hazelf1]

Hi we don't know each other, but i hope all goes well for you.

Like most people i have had operations and health problems but never on a ongoing or permanent basis, we don't always realise how lucky we are to have our health.

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

The scary little red headed devil girl! Karen! Were ya been huh? HUH? (pokes)

You never wrote. You never called. You never came over for fruit and cake.

mmmm...cake....^_~

We missed you! Yes we did! Now prepare for your penalty tickles! ^_^

 

[melanie2]

hugs you gently..i wondered where you'd been...

 

[Inverse]

Sounds rough, but you sound like a tougher person than most~ <3

Hope to see more of you in the months to come. Forum could use far more smiles~

 

[Volsung1]

Yes I would have to say that was an excused absence... hehe.
I must confess that I too took a hiatus from the web-site.

Anyway, welcome back and hope to hear from you.

 

[ticklebug101]

Feel better Karen *Hugs* happy new year 🙂

 

[Candis19]

Oh my goodness! I really hope you can get that all better..it sounds painful even when it's at weaker pains...(hugs you) I missed you so much! I hope when you feel better we can talk soon...and absolute congratulations on your A's, you should be proud of yourself. 🙂

 

[TKLVR181]

Thanks everybody! I'm a Psychologist going to be a school counselor ^.^

Update--I got a call night before last saying that the tests all came back fine and that the shunt is working perfectly. Which, frankly, worried me a little.

Then yesterday morning I got another call saying my neurosurgeon wants to talk to me about the results :-s even MORE worrying.

I'm going tomorrow--and I have an unfortunate hunch about what he's going to say--it's time. My shunt's been in for seventeen years, way WAY longer than most peoples. He's probably going to tell me that it's time to switch it out, and that elective surgery would be better than emergency surgery. And as scared of surgery as I am, I'm going to do it, if that is indeed what he suggests. I just hope I don't have to lay out of school -_- Taking me long enough as it is.

Thanks for you well-wishes, guys. I love you all too--and I'll try to be a bit more active XD Holidays are busy anyway x_x D

~K

 

[Candis19]

I'm happy to hear you're almost in the clear Karen...I hope you can get through the surgery and be completely healed soon. (Hugs)

 

[AiritheDestoyer]

I know exactly what you are going through.

As you know, I also have a shunt. I have had two replacements thus far, one when I was four and then when I was eleven. I, too, have been having the major headaches that sometimes leave me confined to a bed. Look at me, making this all about me.

I love you, K! I hope things turn out OK and that you don't need the surgery, recovery can be a bitch. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Love, Airi

 

[Candis19]

I know exactly what you are going through.

As you know, I also have a shunt. I have had two replacements thus far, one when I was four and then when I was eleven. I, too, have been having the major headaches that sometimes leave me confined to a bed. Look at me, making this all about me.

I love you, K! I hope things turn out OK and that you don't need the surgery, recovery can be a bitch. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Love, Airi

You too!?!? Wow...now I've got 2 friends to worry about...

 

[TKLVR181]

Okay guys, here's the update from today.

I could tell a LONG story 'cuz it was a 4 hour drive each way @.@ but I'll spare you 😛

Long story short, three possibilities remain. The first and most hopeful is that this is something to do with ear/nose/throat, and I'm going to see a specialist next week. It'd probably entail a round of strong antibiotics.

Here's where it gets scary--two more possibilities. One is it's my shunt, just time to have it out and replace it, in which case I'll probably wind up getting it revised sometime in the next month or so. It hasn't got anymore risks than any other surgery--unfortunately the PA listed those to me as bleeding (such as inside the brain cavity) and death o.o. Scared the patooey outta me, I'm not gonna try to BS ya'll.

The last, and scaryist possibility, is that I have an infection in the shunt. The last culture of my cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) I had done (last week) cultured out p-acne, a bacteria--they think it could have been contaminated medium, the stuff they put my cerebral spinal fluid in to culture.

If it turns out that this culture of CSF they took today is also bacteria-laden, I'll have to have TWO surgeries and a two week or so stay at the hospital. One surgery to take the shunt out and put in an external one while I have a serious round of antibiotics--another one two weeks later to put my normal shunt (or more likely a new one) back in. Scary to think about--I'm not. Not tonight anyway....too tired -_-

I'm going to bed now, it's 8pm and I just got home x_x Senshi's laid out on the bed, I'm sitting next to him, and we're gonna watch some Who's Line is it Anyway? 😛

Luv u guys!

~K

 

[Candis19]

(Hugs you,wanting to hug tight but maybe thats not good) You have my best wishes that its the lighter option...and if it has to be the last option I'm going to pray each night at my bed side for your safest recovery...if thats okay...please have a good sleep and stay happy and positive! We miss you! Me especially...

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

Hun, you'll make it through this. I know you will. Your strong, brave, and very VERY awesome. Senshi is with you. Izzy is with you. Candis is with you. Bug is with you. Dalek is with you. Bella is with ya. I'm certainly with you. Even Rick is with you (that may or may not be a good thing come to think of it) BUT WE'RE ALL WITH YA NONE THE LESS!

Just concentrate on how awesome it will be to not have all that pain bothering ya after the surgery. Don't think about what can go wrong. Think about how wonderful you'll feel after the surgery and recovery. We wuvs ya and hope the best. Believe in yourself and don't despair. You must not fear. Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death. ^_~

 

[sadi]

Wow, this is a MAJOR surprise to me - but irregardless my shock, you're still awesome and I just KNOW you can stick it through this! 😀

Think about everything you've already overcome. You were born with a condition that should have killed you soon after you were born; but contrary to what the doctors predicted, you're still alive, married, DRIVING, and going to school. Furthermore, to clarify that you're not only 'going' to school but excelling at it, getting better grades than most 'average' people! (With those mandatory A's you needed to get because of 'extraneous' circumstances [and some people being assholes]) Yes, the doctor wasn't going to sugarcoat it for you and you 'might' die but, you or I might die in our sleep 'just because'. I'm positive that you'll be positive and make it through this, girlie! And if it takes you a little longer than usual, so be it. You're going to be '50', but why not be '50' and either have your desired occupation or be still working towards it, right? All that matters is that you're trying your best. It's just a plus that you're excelling at it! 😛arty:

Know that my prayers are with you, and that God is always there to lean on (with your husband being a substitute shoulder to lean on when you need some "real", physical support 😉).

You've come this far already and, if your shunt needs to be changed, so what? Like you said, this shunt's lasted you 'tremendously' longer than it should for anyone else with one in. You're reasonably nervous, but know all the other people that have to have shunts have them changed, and are still surviving - alive - afterwards! You can do this and though I hardly know you, from what little I do, I KNOW that you can! :wnod
And, this may not be too nice but it's 'logical' at least: what's the benefit of worrying going to do you? What can you achieve by worrying that you couldn't by yes, realizing the potential negative outcomes, but feeling blessed for the time you have now and enjoying it to the best you can? (Now, this is not to say you're 'wasting your time' by just sitting at home on your bed if you feel like it: you need to relax and have spare time and... time to be lazy, because you CAN afford it! :happy:

And, welcome to the club for having daily, debilitating headaches girlie. 😉 For you, these will pass, but while you have 'em, just be 'annoying' and frustrated when you're in pain and know that it will end. I repeat, It WILL end for you - and even if these 'terrible' headaches should persist longer than you 'appreciate' (which is likely longer than never) don't let 'em getcha' down. It's just a headache. When it hurts, it hurts; when the pain gets so bad you want to die, know that this feeling is going to pass, and, if the pain is terrible enough it makes you vomit, well you just go ahead and barf your guts up (hoping that there's something in there to make you feel better after you've painted half the bathroom wall :blush). And finally, when you pass out, it's a blessed freedom. 😉 When you're over them (feelin' fine) live it up to the best that you can! :w00t







*Oh, and also (this is more so a plug for Senshi) when you're not feeling like a living form of PAIN, remember, '"laughter's the best medicine!" 😉 I'm sure Senshi can help you realize the validity of that point. :shifty:

 

[TKLVR181]

Wow, it took three pages for someone to make the 'laughter is the best meds' crack...you guys are falling down on your jobs!!! :lol

In all seriousness though, you're totally not. You guys just reminded me that there are people ALL OVER THE WORLD rooting for me...that's a damn powerful feeling. And of course you're all right, I'm bloody tougher than this--I had this surgery once when I was 7 and it's the same surgeon doing it so I KNOW he can.

I love you all so much and THANK YOU for your responses. I've got a rotten headache but, thankfully, haven't had the 'throw up' bad headache yet--it's not that bad. And it's not GOING to get that bad because I DID something about it at the first sign of a problem, back when this was just dizziness, before I even got so much as a headache.

Between you guys and Senshi, it feels like I've got positive emotions and pep talks coming in from all over the globe...which I kind of have. I love you guys. Thank you.

~K

 

[sadi]

XD Haha! I'm responsible for the 'clichéd' aphorism! ALL bow to my ruling awesomeness! :lol

And yes Karen, feel what you feel, don't try to be a superhero, but like you've even said, you've had this done already so YOU CAN DO IT!

😛arty:

Now where's the celebration cake?