My mohawk is now completely even except for at the very top of my incision area, but thanks to some of Jason's creative layering, you won't even be able to tell as it grows out. I LOVE having my hair all one length again!!!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
I did it!
As previously mentioned, I chopped off 9 inches of my hair today to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. 9 inches on the 9 month anniversary of my surgery. Here are the before and after photos:
My mohawk is now completely even except for at the very top of my incision area, but thanks to some of Jason's creative layering, you won't even be able to tell as it grows out. I LOVE having my hair all one length again!!!
My mohawk is now completely even except for at the very top of my incision area, but thanks to some of Jason's creative layering, you won't even be able to tell as it grows out. I LOVE having my hair all one length again!!!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Save the Date!
September 20th, 2008
Conquer Chiari Walk Across America
The goal is to have one walk in each of the 50 states. For more information, please visit: Conquer Chiari Walk Across America.
I've volunteered to co-organize an event in Southern California. I encourage you to participate in your state as well!
Conquer Chiari Walk Across America
The goal is to have one walk in each of the 50 states. For more information, please visit: Conquer Chiari Walk Across America.
I've volunteered to co-organize an event in Southern California. I encourage you to participate in your state as well!
Friday, April 4, 2008
6 Month "Anniversary"
My "mohawk" is getting quite long and is at the awkward stage where it's too short to fit in my ponytail and too long to just ignore. I have to clip it up and it almost always sticks out somewhere.
I've decided to grow my long hair for 3 more months and then chop off 9 inches on the 9 month anniversary of my surgery and donate the two ponytails to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. They only require 8 inches and give free wigs to women who lost their hair due to cancer treatment.
I've decided to grow my long hair for 3 more months and then chop off 9 inches on the 9 month anniversary of my surgery and donate the two ponytails to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. They only require 8 inches and give free wigs to women who lost their hair due to cancer treatment.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
5 Months Post-Op
Still "boring", no symptoms, I just feel absolutely wonderful! The busy season at work is drawing to a close and for the first time, I didn't leave work each night completely exhausted with a piercing headache. Sure I was tired, but in a completely different way - I wasn't exhausted and drained. Just in need of a little rest and relaxation. Words can't describe the difference. It's amazing!
Tomorrow is my birthday and I'm getting my first professional massage post-op. I can't wait! It's nice to be getting a massage for pleasure, rather than for survival.
I've received a few emails over the last few months from others with Chiari that want advice or just to hear more about my experience. If you're reading this and want more info, or just want to "talk" to someone who has been there, please don't hesitate to send me an email. It is so rewarding to be there for someone and is amazing to instantly feel so connected to someone you've never met that lives 3,000 miles away!
To have "survived" Chiari and be symptom free, I feel a need to give back. If this blog and a few emails help someone else, I feel that I'm making a difference, however small it may be.
Tomorrow is my birthday and I'm getting my first professional massage post-op. I can't wait! It's nice to be getting a massage for pleasure, rather than for survival.
I've received a few emails over the last few months from others with Chiari that want advice or just to hear more about my experience. If you're reading this and want more info, or just want to "talk" to someone who has been there, please don't hesitate to send me an email. It is so rewarding to be there for someone and is amazing to instantly feel so connected to someone you've never met that lives 3,000 miles away!
To have "survived" Chiari and be symptom free, I feel a need to give back. If this blog and a few emails help someone else, I feel that I'm making a difference, however small it may be.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
And they all lived happily ever after...
Sorry for the delay in getting this post up! I went back to work just in time for a bunch of meetings and so I've been lacking free time this week.
I saw Dr. Oro on Monday and it ended up being up there on my list of the happiest days of my life! I had my MRI in the morning and my follow-up appointment in the afternoon. Dr. Oro did all of the neurological tests and went over all of the symptoms that I had prior to surgery. I told him that they were all gone and that I was officially "boring". Nothing noteworthy on the medical front at least.
He showed my mom and I my MRI images and it looked rather weird (weird as in odd/unusual, not bad). There's a ton of room now compared to before (but not too much that there's anything to be worried about). He was very pleased with my progress and how well the surgery resulted. I told him that I honestly felt better than I had ever thought was possible. He said that given the extent in the herniation, we'd probably had a little help from the big guy upstairs - I'll take it!
I don't have to go back for any additional follow up appointments. I only need to avoid bungee jumping, sky diving, and roller coasters - no great loss there as I'm not a big fan of heights anyhow. I asked about child birth since I'm hoping that's in my future and there is some debate over whether or not women with Chiari should have natural/cesarean or natural/epidural. He said that my Chiari wasn't a reason to automatically have a c-section so not to let a doctor talk me into it for that reason alone. He also said that as long as the epidural was done correctly, that shouldn't be a problem either.
We all got a little teary-eyed and hugged each other (including Dr. Oro). It's a really amazing thing to find a doctor that truly cares about his patients and shares in their happiness. He asked if he could use my MRI images in his blog on Chiari Times, because there is a lot of debate as to the best surgical methods to use and Dr. Oro's clearly worked for me and was the least invasive method. I offered to help in anyway I could! He gave me an amazing gift and if sharing my experience can help even one person, I'll feel that I've paid that gift forward.
The End.
I saw Dr. Oro on Monday and it ended up being up there on my list of the happiest days of my life! I had my MRI in the morning and my follow-up appointment in the afternoon. Dr. Oro did all of the neurological tests and went over all of the symptoms that I had prior to surgery. I told him that they were all gone and that I was officially "boring". Nothing noteworthy on the medical front at least.
He showed my mom and I my MRI images and it looked rather weird (weird as in odd/unusual, not bad). There's a ton of room now compared to before (but not too much that there's anything to be worried about). He was very pleased with my progress and how well the surgery resulted. I told him that I honestly felt better than I had ever thought was possible. He said that given the extent in the herniation, we'd probably had a little help from the big guy upstairs - I'll take it!
I don't have to go back for any additional follow up appointments. I only need to avoid bungee jumping, sky diving, and roller coasters - no great loss there as I'm not a big fan of heights anyhow. I asked about child birth since I'm hoping that's in my future and there is some debate over whether or not women with Chiari should have natural/cesarean or natural/epidural. He said that my Chiari wasn't a reason to automatically have a c-section so not to let a doctor talk me into it for that reason alone. He also said that as long as the epidural was done correctly, that shouldn't be a problem either.
We all got a little teary-eyed and hugged each other (including Dr. Oro). It's a really amazing thing to find a doctor that truly cares about his patients and shares in their happiness. He asked if he could use my MRI images in his blog on Chiari Times, because there is a lot of debate as to the best surgical methods to use and Dr. Oro's clearly worked for me and was the least invasive method. I offered to help in anyway I could! He gave me an amazing gift and if sharing my experience can help even one person, I'll feel that I've paid that gift forward.
The End.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)