Saturday, July 25, 2009

Headache Medicine

I haven't updated about my condition in a while. So here's a little something, with more to come soon.

I went to see my Radiation Oncologist and Neurosurgeon in La Jolla last week for our regularly scheduled follow-up MRI. It's always been a little tough for the technicians and/or nurses to find a vein, but they've always ended up finding one after some time and patience.

Not this time. I was poked and prodded 3 times to no avail. We called my doctors to see if I should go ahead and do the MRI without contrast anyway. They said to go for it (after all it is 8 hours away from home each time I go see them). All this MRI showed was some swelling at the radiation treatment site. Normal. Explains why I am having headaches again. I've been taking some Hydrocodone (Vicodin) again, which I never took the first time that I went through the 6 weeks of radiation treatment. It dulls the pain and makes me drowsy, but doesn't relieve the swelling, so I opened up my old scrip of dexamethasone. (Steroids). Since thursday I've taken a total of 4 pills, but will likely start taking 4 a day. Swelling is a normal side effect of Radiation treatment, but steroids are no fun.

I still get headaches periodically throughout the day. And in 6 weeks I am going back to La Jolla to see my doctors for another MRI, this time intended to be successful so that I can have the normal Contrast, Profusion, and Spectroscopy included.

I'll be seen first in the Infusion Lab for an Ultrasound so that a vein can be found and successfully used to inject the contrast and the profusion. I'm hoping and praying for favorable results. (tumor shrinkage..no spreading).

Other than that, I'm trying to stay cool in the Sacramento Heat this summer. Not too terrible today, only 93. ;)