Personal Health Update
 

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been so absent in recent weeks. Specifically, I had wanted to finish my review of the ultimate Songs of a Dead Dreamer. That may have to wait for a bit.

I've had health issues in recent weeks.

Specifically, I have been experiencing some weird symptoms which eventually sent me to the ER this past Friday. They had already done an MRI A which showed possible aneurysm and that was corroborated by a CT Scan which was performed last Friday. The aneurysm is on the carotid artery just before it branches and is fortunately on the small side. The CT scan showed no sign of rupture.

The long and short of it: I was admitted to the hospital and was seen by some neurologists and one neurosurgeon over the weekend. I was discharged this past Sunday as I was deemed stable. I'll likely get an angiogram (the gold standard for diagnosing these things) in the near future, though our local docs are apparently in no rush since I was clearly not about to die on the spot when they examined me. My symptoms (including left-side numbness of my face) continue.

We’re seeking a second opinion given the potentially life threatening nature of this problem.

I realize that it may seem a bit odd to relay such personal news on TLO, but I consider many of you good friends, and I know most of the rest of you are like minded individuals whose thoughts and shared ideas I've enjoyed from afar for years now. At the risk of being sentimental, the TLO family has always been a safe haven for me. And, though I may well be absent here for some time to come, I'll try to relay any pertinent updates as they come. TLO and its members are never far from my thoughts.

Best Wishes,
Jon

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Wow, Jon. Thanks for the update. I'm glad you're receiving the necessary medical care. Look for an off-list message.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Jon. You know you have friends here. I hope you're doing well, all things considered. Please keep us updated on how the angiogram goes. Stay positive, my friend -- that's key.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

I hope all works out for the best, Jon.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Three wags of the tail, Dr. Locrian. Get Well!

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Wow!Hope you come out of this adventure stronger and healthier than ever, Jon. Sending you positive thoughts and wishes.

Best,
Aggeliki

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Hope you come through it as quickly and as painlessly as possible!

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Thank you for sharing, Jon. I have to confess that I am equally sentimental about TLO, so I would have done the same. Sorry to hear about your health problems. I hope these will be over soon. Pls, keep us updated.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Hope you're feeling better soon, Jon.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Thanks so much for the well wishes, everyone. It is indeed heartening.

Wound up back in the ER via paramedic this afternoon after my blood pressure went through the roof and my left arm went numb today on my way home from lunch. I'm ok (no stroke or brain bleed or anything super serious) but am going to take it easy for the rest of the week and try to find out what's wrong with me.

I know I have an unruptured aneurysm, but--aside from that fact--I don't know what the hell's going on with my body. Although I'm having weird headaches and numbness, the docs don't think the aneurysm is to blame.

I turned down a neurologist's recommendation for a spinal tap to rule out MS. Don't want to go down that path unless there's no other choice.

I'll update everyone again when I know something substantive.

Thanks again, everyone.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Jon,

Hearing your tale is heart-rending, though through my own experiences a couple of years back I can tell you that the medical field is mined with false alarms. It is best to systematically rule out the worst of situations first, however, and I am certain that you are a patient that assumes a position of total awareness and demands attentive care. I do extend the very best of wishes for you and your family in this time of crisis. Please do keep us informed as best you can.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Best wishes for a swift recovery.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Best wishes for your swift recovery, Jon

Re: Personal Health Update
 

I hope that we hear better news from you very soon. Best of luck in your fight for health.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Hope you get well soon, Jon.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

This may sound inane, but consider asking your doctors if it wouldn't be a good idea to take a few aspirin each day (as a blood thinner) as an added precaution until they get a grasp on what the situation is. Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Hi everyone.

Have an appointment at Cleveland Clinic to see a neurosurgeon/neurologist this Wednesday morning. Who knew the Cleveland Clinic was in my health insurance network?

Last Friday--after receiving really poor and confusing care here in New Orleans--I decided to pore over a list of the best hospitals in the country in neurosurgery, querying them and checking to see if I was covered. Going to a doctor in Cleveland won't be any different than going down the street--medical bill-wise. They set up the appointment FAST with no fuss or paperwork.

I have some hope that these disturbing symptoms (which have progressed but haven't gotten critical) will be identified and (possibly) dealt with. At least I will have given it my best shot.

I'll keep you posted as soon as I know more and am able.

Thanks for all the good wishes. They are heartening.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Best wishes, Dr Locrian. Your silence is not like that of the others. Take care.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

I've only just become aware of this.

May I add, belatedly, my sincere hope that you'll prevail Dr. L.

All best
Mark S.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

I hope you can sort this thing out as soon as possible. Glad to hear you got proactive and hope all turns out well, Paul.

Re: Personal Health Update
 

I am so sorry to hear about your health problems. Hopefully you will get them all sorted out!! My thoughts are with you!!!

Re: Personal Health Update
 

Good news.

I saw a neurosurgeon here in Cleveland yesterday. The clinic, doctors and nurses are as just as terrific as I hoped.

Here's what we've learned:

1. Yes, I definitely have a 3mm, unruptured cerebral aneurysm and maybe a tiny second one (1/2 mm or so).
2. My chance of rupture is approximately 1/1000 per year.
3. My chance of death during a surgery/procedure to fix the aneurysm is 3-4 percent.

My family and I are well satisfied that we took this trip as we got a real read on the aneurysm(s) that the local neurosurgeon was unclear about. Also, we found a world class neurosurgeon for me for the long haul
-- one who works on salary, not commission (which could make a difference in whether they went ahead with a risky but financially lucrative procedure). Finally, we got a real number for chance of rupture (based on multiple factors like size, shape, location, etc), one that looks a lot less ugly than the general population stats.

I can live with a .1% chance of aneurysm rupture per year. Of course, it's possibly that the aneurysm will grow over the years and will need to be dealt with surgically. But the neurosurgeon up here has offered to review my yearly scans for evidence of change and will perform the surgery if/when it becomes necessary in the future.

In conclusion, thanks once again for your support and positive wishes, everyone. It's been a harrowing past couple of weeks, and your messages literally helped me see all this through without having a nervous breakdown. Once more: thank you all.