sketches of the mind

Seeing as it’s Christmas and all, the kind doctor from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention let me go home for a few hours today. Thank goodness, it’s a much needed break from the daily hospital routine. After a while it gets to you.

Status update: week one of treatment for Cryptocococcosis completed. Three more weeks to go, at least. The treatment involves a daily intravenous infusion sodium chloride (1000 mL), sodium choloride with Potassium (1000 mL), and Amphotericin B (1000 mL), in addition to two panadols (3 times a day), anti-seizure medication and another type of medication for the disease.

All these drugs are causing me to lose taste in food, and my sense of smell. Not to mention the havoc its wreaking on my bowels. Thankfully people have been bringing in fresh fruit which is aiding in my war against laxatives.After one extremely unpleasant experience with the liquid stuff I refuse to revisit it again. I also noticed these little bumps on my forehead, and if I rub the skin on my face it peels off. Not for the feint-hearted. Today and yesterday the smell of hospital food nearly made me puke. Hopefully I get over this real quick because like it or not I’ve got to eat the stuff, but it’s becoming a challenge that’s for sure.

Anyways, time to get my things together for the return to my fortress of solitude (ie. the private hospital room that I take residence in at Liverpool Public Hospital).

I can’t express enough how much all the well wishes, SMS’s, visits, cards, flowers, fruit, chocolate and REAL (non-hospital) food has helped me through the past couple of weeks. Only a few more weeks to go! I thank everyone for all their support.

Wishing you and your loved ones all the best over the holiday season.

Ok only temporarily and only for a few hours, but the nice doctors figured I was healthy enough to go home for a few hours yesterday and today. Thank goodness because spending too much time in that hospital ward can drive one absolutely crazy! Mum’s cooking some steak ie. REAL FOOD which is a definite bonus. Hospital food is boring, bland and about as tasty as a McCain’s microwave dinner with all the flavour sucked out of it. I’m not kidding.

Well the whole hospital experience has opened my eyes to a few things which I’ll go into another time, and all that free time staring into blankness from the comfortable position from bed 4 on ward 4 West has allowed me to put some things into perspective. I’ve been jotting down some notes from my hospital bed which I’ll type up and post at a later date.

For now, this is just a quick note to say that the surgery (craniotomy) went well and I’m generally OK. More soon…

Met with the Neurosurgeon this morning, and got some answers.

Q: Clarify the diagnosis again ie. Is it a tumor? If so, what type?
A: Potentially, it is either a tumor or a viral infection. This will be determined post-surgery.

Q: Chances of success/failure?
A: This is a common procedure with a high success rate.

Q: What are the risks of surgery?
A:
- Head bleeding (5-10%)
- Loss of vision
- No power on left side of body (1%)
- Infection (< 4%)

Q: When will the surgery take place?
A: Tuesday 12th Dec. Specific time to be confirmed after admission to hospital. Admission will be at 3pm Mon 11th Dec. Bring clothes, PJ’s, toiletries, medicare card, previous scans.

Q: How long will the procedure take?
A: Approx 2 hrs for the actual surgery, but it is expected that you will be in the operating theatre for half a day.

Q: How long will I have to stay in hospital?
A: Minimum 5 days

Q: Estimate of likely costs including tests, examinations, surgical, anaesthetic and hospital fees, medication, other. Which costs can be claimed on private health insurance?
A: Coverage & Fees:
- $500 excess payable towards accommodation (confirmed with NRMA)
- NRMA will cover 100% of hospital charges after the $500 excess
- The doctor has advised that there will be no gap. The doctor participates in the gap cover scheme and is a gap provider. Doctor will send paperwork to NRMA health insurance and Medicare.
- Possible $400 fee for anaesthetic. Doctor will attempt to get this waivered.

Q: How long before I can return to work, start exercising, and drive?
A: Approx 4-6 weeks, depending on recovery. You will not be able to drive for 3 months.

Q: What follow up appointments are required after I am released from hospital?
A: Scheduled appointment with Neurosurgeon post operation to be advised. Physiotherapy, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy sessions may be required also.

Additional:
- Anti-epileptic medication will be prescribed to stop you have seizures (fits).

So after all the scans and all the consultations I met with a Neurosurgeon last Thursday.

The verdict: I have a lesion in my brain, the cause of which is suspected to be viral (but still not conclusive), and it needs to be removed ASAP. This means surgery.

The operation: The surgical procedure is called "Craniotomy".

When: I’m scheduled to meet with the Neurosurgeon tomorrow morning and the operation will be on Tuesday.

Average recovery time: 6 weeks depending on the patient.

I put together a list of questions to ask the Neurosurgeon tomorrow:

1. Clarify the diagnosis again ie. Is it a tumor? If so, what type?  
2. Chances of success/failure?
3. When will the surgery take place?
4. How long will the procedure take?
5. How long will I have to stay in hospital?
6. Estimate of likely costs including tests, examinations, surgical, anaesthetic and hospital fees, medication, other. Which costs can be claimed on private health insurance?
7. How long before I can return to work, start exercising, and drive?

Hopefully I can get some answers because the worst thing about this whole experience is that we still don’t know what the cause for the vasogenic oedema is. Can’t believe all of this began started off three weeks ago with a series of random headaches. Life really does throw surprises at you.

Further reading:
- Pamphlet provided by my neurosurgeon (PDF)
- Neurosurgery.com.au pamphlet (PDF)
- Better Health Channel - Craniotomy

Needless to say I’m going to be out of action for a while. No Xmas parties, no new year’s events, no exercise (so much for kick starting my fitness program before Xmas).

I wish everybody a Merry Xmas, a wonderful New Year and the best of health.

Wish me luck! Maybe "luck" isn’t what I need, I would much prefer a speedy recovery so that I can return to living a somewhat normal life again

Jody Wisternoff, one half of progressive production super group Way Out West (Nick Warren is the other), delivers yet another tasty progressive house mix. Tracks 5 to 8 of part 1 are sweet as.

Part 1:

01. Jaunt - Pulsar [Work It Baby]
02. 16 Bit Lolita’s - Mystic
03. Julianne - And I Love To Say Goodbye (Moussa Clarke Remix)
04. Nick Warren & Jimmy van M - One & Only
05. M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade - Body Language (Tocadisco Remix)
06. Pryda - Frankfurt [Pryda]
07. Eddie F - Connected
08. Jaunt - Traveller [Work It Baby]
09. Unknown Artist - Elisa
10. Simon & Shaker - Pure State
11. The Marches - Turn It Around (Bombdogs Remix)

Part 2:

01. Underground Systems - Road To Home
02. Shiloh - Cafe Del Mariachi (Nick Warren Remix) [Hope]
03. Unknown Artist - Sharkjunior
04. Freddy B & Trente Cantrelle - You Don’t Have To Cry (Quivver Remix) [Bozboz]
05. Faithless - Bombs (Benni Benassi Remix) [Columbia]
06. Prydz vs. Floyd - Proper Education
07. Gabriel & Dresden - Dangerous Power (Cicada Remix)
08. 16 Bit Lolita’s vs. Motorcycle - Deep Breath Love Over Sedna [Yoshitoshi]
09. Unique 3 - The Theme (Rhythmatic 2006 Remix)
10. The Rapture - Whoo! Alright - Yeah…Uh Huh (Simian Mobile Disco Remix)

download here

For more WOW sets refer here.