Brain Time

I am still walking like Dudley Moore in Arthur but without the laughs.

Today, I had an interview with the neurologist (a man I have always respected as a great clinician and teacher). I went over for the MEI of my brain and will follow up with the neurologist in the am.

My father, wife, kids, associates have always said I should have my head examined so today I did and it is weird to be able to look inside your head.

The good news: no senility, tumor, infection, stroke, blood vessel problems, bleeding.



Double click the picture to see the fine print!!

Well, more exams and more tests - stay in touch.

WK

Rolling and Tumbling

The last several days have been spent at Doctor's Offices and Imaging Centers. When I got the wobblies and started bumping into things, it seems that I probably had something compressing my spinal cord; however the MRI suggested otherwise. It seems that I have short pedicles in my spinal cord (the arch that the spinal cord and nerves run through) that is further compromised by bone spurs and other aging phenomena causing a crunching of the nerves coming out of the spine with pain and spasm.



On the picture you can imagine if the pedical is short (someting I was born with) and some spurs where the nerve runs, it could get ouchy!

The bone scan shows plenty of tumor but most it looks knocked down by the cancer treatment, so it may be that my current problems are not primarily being caused by cancer - but who knows for sure.

Yesterday there were many attempts to put dye into my spinal canal but each tap came up dry - no spinal fluid so no picture of the nerve roots (myelogram) so we can see exactly what is going on.

In the meantime, I am unsteady and using a walker. So what now.

Tuesday I am having my head examined (an idea people have suggested long ago) via an MRI and I see a neurologist, then more scans, then the oncologist and the the doctors at UCSF. In the meantime it is Percodan, dinner on the patio, and catching up on my TIVO movies.

Cheers...

K

La Grande Aventure

This is going to be a bigger blog - covers lots of stuff.

The Cruise
We flew from LAX on May 6 to Tahiti - 9 hours - but great service. We spent the next day in port at Papeete, Tahiti - Carole walked about the twon and I did some retoxing, then we sailed out.


The cruise ship was awesome - very well appointed and best service and food ever. We visited 4 islands in French Polynesia (Tahiti, Mo'orea, Bora Bora, Raitera) and the largest island of the Cook Islands (Raratonga) - every island had a barrier reef with miles of crystal clear green water 80 degrees and 3 feet deep with tropical fish abounding.



We finally flew back to LAX May 16 - overnight - arriving the a.m. of May 17. My final class at Fresno State was that evening so we drove to Fresno, showered, tucked down the class and prepared for Burning House Festival X

Special thanks to Jeri Techman at etravelexpress.com for setting it up.

Burning House Festival 10

Well 5/19 1997 was the great house fire so we celebrated the 10th anniversary of that event. We had three bands: Drum Magic - an afro-centric percussion band, Mariachi alas del Cielo - a young and passionate group of Mariachis and Good Medicine - our spiritual journey band. Festival X was the best - about 80 people, unbelievable pot luck sensations, the best in meat and drink, best weather and the nicest people you would ever want to meet.






Special Thanks To:

Ken Vredenburg - the cool draft pale ale
The Maldonados - the kitchen, the meat, the great young people, the morale support
My family - the hard work
Onna Mehas - the bounce house and the tent


Hell Week

I have put off dealing with the prostate cancer top get thru the cruise and the class but Hell week has been set up to decide what is going on and what to do.

Since the cruise I have been walking funny, sort of like a drunk who can't pass a sobriety test - I thought it was just sea legs but it has progressed to the point that I stumble about. Today, I had some scans ordered for UCSF but called my oncologist instead, who did a clothes off evaluation and felt I had a spinal cord cord tumor and would likely need emergency spinal surgery.

However, I underwent CT scan, MRI, blood tests and the cause of my wobblies is not apparent - a puzzle - so he told me to get a cane, don't fall and get more tests.

So tomorrow it is a bone scan, Friday a CT myelogram and then reassess (Does anyone have Dr. House' phone number?).

Anyway, good news --> no immediate surgery; bad news --> I do need the handicapped parking.

Stay tuned.