Today is the first day since surgery that I feel as good and as strong as I do normally. The headache I had for three months is gone.

Yesterday, five days after minor brain surgery, I felt fine. Nothing hurt, I had breakfast, even after getting up early. I caught the 7:30am train to Chicago, then a bus to Michigan Avenue. Arrived on time for one-day convention on Crime Writing.

By 11:30am I was ready for a nap! That was only after one session; I couldn’t believe how little energy I had. All I’d done was sit all day, on the train, the bus, the talk…good night!

I took a small nap during their State of the State address. I plopped into a comfy chair and was out!

I went to the next presentation then their organized lunch. I was slugging around a bag that was at least ten pounds. I’m not supposed to lift anything over ten pounds, let alone lug it around all day!

At 2pm, I realized my body literally couldn’t endure the rest of the convention, even though my brain wanted to. I began my trudge back home. Waited for the bus, waited for the train. Arrived home 4:30pm. At 6pm I started a longer nap until 7:30. No dinner needed, appetite lost.

And that’s why, as small as the surgery seems; it’s not.

#neurosurgery

Normal intracranial pressure is 15-19 mm/Hg. From the photo see that mine was a tad low. Who knows what caused the sudden drop in pressure, but it certainly caused one hellava long headache. A simple shunt adjustment and I should be good as I get. 🧠 #neurosurgery

Looking forward to insertion of this, an intracranial monitor into my brain this coming Monday. 😳

Especially looking forward to brain surgery under local anesthesic.😳

I’ll be in the ICU for up to three days. Do you think they’d frown on my doing yoga during that time? 🤔

Is how long this headache has lasted. It’s taken a day off here and there, but basically three months with the same headache. My eyebrows hurt, the top of my head hurts. None of my cures or remedies have helped.😡

I’ve never been part of a museum exhibit before!! Pretty cool.😎
Illinois State Museum -Springfield.
We Are Illinoisans
February 23, to June 7, 2019.
An exhibition highlighting immigrants to Illinois from the 18th century to today through photos, objects, and life stories.

In November of 2017 I participated in a survey conducted by the Hydrocephalus Association regarding my experiences as a middle-aged adult with hydrocephalus.

Fast forward eighteen months, the information I and others provided resulted in a new area of research for hydrocephalus: feelings of nausea and general malaise as an additional symptom experienced by those with hydrocephalus.