Follow up details

This is a little late, but I wanted to post more details of the follow up visit to UAB. I went to the Neuro-ophthalmologist first. He basically said it was "an absolutely normal exam". I felt great after leaving there. The tech was making fun of me, since apparently I don't know how to "keep my eyes open when putting drops in my eyes". She said I was not setting a good example for my son, so she was glad he left the room. :) By the way, I have an angel of a child. He went with me to both appointments. We had to leave mamaw's house at 7am and didn't get finished until after 2. Angel. He only got fussy when he couldn't go in with me to the neurosurgeon's office visit. He was hungry by then, so mom took him to eat and voila. He truly is precious. Thank you, sweet Kade for coming with mommy. Thank you, mom, for coming with me and watching my baby! Thank you, Laura, for coming with me and then hanging out with me since my hubs couldn't come. I love you all!

So, I started the day with a blood pressure of about 100/70 and when I went to the NS appointment, it had suddenly risen to 150/80ish! say what? Of course, I argued that something was wrong with her machine. My body does something crazy when I see that brain doc.

Basically, I had out my 4 pages of question, I had one of my best friends (Laura) sitting as my scribe and my dad in the room. He answered everything and it just seems that we are going by symptoms at this point. And, from what I took from the conversation, a headache doesn't count for doing surgery (yeah)....since I have had headaches before. Even though they have become more frequent. He won't do surgery (thankfully) unless I have seizures or meningitis or vision problems, blackouts....those kind of symptoms. Praise the Lord that I am not having any of those, and he does not expect me to start having any. Basically, he said this:

1. Dermoids are very rare in the brain
2. Ruptured dermoids are extremely rare in the brain
3. I didn't have any of those symptoms the first time it ruptured (I give credit to the steroids Gio put me on in the ER so quickly so I really don't want to find out if it happens again)
4. Basically, the best thing for me to do is to try and forget about it

So, I don't have any limitations at this point...physically, medication-wise, nothing. I mean, I'm not really going to start taking gymnastics again or anything but - I could if I wanted to. Is it still weird to me? Yes. Do I feel at peace? Yes. What I do wish is that I would STOP getting STREP THROAT!!! As I write this, I have it for the 5th time now in 7 months. I mean, seriously? However, I have so very much to be grateful for at this moment.

I have been having a lot of headaches, so I started back on Topomax as a preventative and I will go see an Interventional Pain Management doc to see if there are any break through medications for when I get an acute headache, but I really do well on Topomax. My only real side effect is that I lose my love for carbonated beverages. That is not necessarily bad. So, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of the countless prayers. I hope that you continue to pray for complete healing and mostly the peace that is absolutely happening. I do have to go back for a scan and to see the neurosurgeon again on Halloween...(not sure how I feel about that day really) After that, I just go back annually and then maybe even every 1-2 years, depending. We shall see. He does feel confident that it is benign; however, he can't say 100%, of course, without taking out a piece...but the repeated scans will pretty much confirm by showing if and how it grows, etc. So, let's keep praying they got that diagnosis 100% correct, okee dokee? Thanks.

Special K Update
K started back to school this week and I love his teachers! Even though he is not in the class with all of his best buds from last year (except for a few), he seems very happy. I felt extremely happy after the Parent's night when I truly saw how passionate the teachers were about the kids. Thank you, Jesus, for watching over my child.

Now, prayer warriors, I ask that you pray specifically for a sweet couple that went to high school with me - Hayden and Kenny - their son, Tyler, was hit by a car and is in Children's Hospital. He is improving but please pray for complete healing and emotional healing as well for everyone.