Next stop Bakery and Recovery

As of two weeks ago, I am now doing all of the cooking.  Recently I made yummy Eggplant Parmesan and my first pie post surgery.  Personally, I think making a pie each week would be good therapy, but probably not good for my waistline.

New milestone, since I am not driving, I explored taking the LTD city bus about 2 miles to a local bakery in my neighborhood by myself.  It was a challenge to see my bus stop, but I got close enough and walked the rest of the distance.  Of course I had to reward myself for completing this task with a delicious gluten free orange cranberry muffin!  I am not able to use the bus to go across town yet.  I just tried it out in a familiar location near my home.  It felt good to get out and explore a little on my own.

 

I had my first post surgery MRI last Tuesday. The MRI is to check that all is healing properly.  I will learn the results during my consultation with Dr. Shahinian, my brain surgeon, on Thursday.  We are optimistic that all is healing well for this stage of recovery.  I will need to have yearly brain MRIs for the next five years as a precaution.

I continue to walk as much as possible and regularly go to physical therapy. I was asked what are they doing for me PT-wise since I can walk? The PT is mainly for my eyes and balance.  I still have double vision, depth perception deficits and vertigo.  My physical therapist is teaching me how to move my eyes from object to object smoothly and to re-learn how to focus my eyes again.  My eyes are a lot like a newborn baby's eyes.  I need to re-learn how to move my eyes where I want them to go and how not to get nausea or loose my balance in the process.  I am making progress and learning tricks to cope with every day living, but the deficits with my eyes are taking a while to improve. My surgeon explained that the eye symptoms are sometimes the last to improve.  We are optimistic that I will have a full recovery, as small progress is being noted week to week.

Each day is a blessing and I am so fortunate to have had my surgery. I can't imagine what my life would have been like without the surgery.

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Becki is Healing!

I have been busy healing since my last post.  Or at least that is what my neurologist proclaimed this week, "Good news! You are healing!"

I cannot see the progress daily, but each week I am noticing that I can do a little more.  I am still seeing double with blurriness and have sensitivity to light, but I am starting to wear my sunglasses less indoors each week.  Some have asked, what do your eyes see? Here is an example of what my vision is like:

Another question I'm asked, when will you get your vision restored?  I wish I knew.  Dr. Shihinian told me that everyone heals at a different rate...some in a few weeks and others in a few months. The good news is that I can tell my vision is improving each week.  I remain optimistic that my vision will eventually be restored ... with patience … all in due time.

As I have gotten stronger, my physical therapist has increased the amount of physical therapy I receive.  I receive therapy for my eyes as well as for my balance.  I cannot go upstairs yet without assistance, but hopefully in a week or two that will change.  Our house has two stories and I miss having full access to the house.  I am still walking daily and am starting to cook more.

Recently, I started venturing out into the public. I went to a small quiet church service and had pizza at small intimate pizza parlor with Rod (sunglasses and ear plugs still required).

Each day I count my blessings.  I have no more migraines and I am getting stronger all the time.  Rod continues to be my constant companion and has provided me strength and encouragement throughout my journey.  I owe so much of my  recovery to my wonderful husband.