Patient & Researcher Blog
Here I aim to capture what I am learning as a newbie researcher from a patient perspective.
Living with a slow growing brain cancer
It is taboo for researchers to talk about their work before it is published.
I think that’s a bummer.
My favorite part about research is learning new things in real time. Here I share my observations as a learner and my n of 1 (personal) findings as a patient.
Note: I started blogging about brain cancer in 2008, at age 29.
I had no background or knowledge about healthcare when I began. Please excuse typos and other misconceptions. What you read here is me in real time, like a time capsule.
There are more than 500 posts here. Use this search to look for something specific. Good luck!
Trying Depakote
All of this is great if the tremors go away, but I have been on the new drug for a week and I still have tremors--and they are weird. It almost feels like I've had way too much caffeine and I am shaking with excitement, but I am not excited, nor do I have extra energy.
Mark Miller
There's this guy I met at the UC Davis brain tumor support group, Mark Miller. He was there to make a presentation on managing health with technology – and Mark had brain cancer too.
Taking a break from temozolomide
I am fortunate to be in a position to take a break. I don't remember what a normal body feels like. I know everyone is tired after a day of work, but it is serious work to stay motivated to go on a walk. (Brett keeps me motivated.)
MRI looming and I’m just happy to be alive
At work today I ran into a woman I rarely see around the building. She said, "How are you liking it here?" And I said, "It's great!" And she said, "Well, you sound happy!" And out of nowhere I blurted, "I'm just happy to be alive!"
Sunshine and rainbows
Seriously, I am seeing things in a new light. Maybe the "I am just lucky to be alive" bug got to me.
New regime for anti-seizure medication
What would you rather: Have out of body experiences due to seizures, or have out of body experiences due to your seizure medication? I just can't really tell the difference some times.