Wednesday, November 20, 2013

I had a WHAT???

I have been really lucky the last couple of years with minimal health issues considering I have a high risk of getting ill. Besides a cold here and there, I have been rather healthy. While I am still healthy, I have been battling frequent headaches. Headaches are pretty common in transplant patients but since I am not the "common" transplant patient, I am not happy with this development.

In July, I ended up in the ER with a headache that would not go away.......

After some really good pain meds, a CT scan and talking the Doctor into skipping a spinal tap, I was told I have joined the many members of the migraine club. I followed up with Dr. Olson, my Primary Care Doctor and since I scare the shit out of him, he sent me to a Neurologist. The Neuro Doc ordered an MRI to make himself be able to sleep at night (seriously, he said that) and yesterday I received some crazy news. On January 8th, 2011- the same day of my transplant, I suffered a brain hemorrhage also known as a STROKE! I guess this was a small detail that we were never told about but the MRI showed it and my medical records from CPMC confirmed it. They think the old blood from the bleed is irritating my brain and causing the headaches. My team isn't worried so neither am I but now I have something else to add to my past medical history!

I survived acute liver failure, a liver transplant and a Stroke. What a great excuse to buy myself a present!

PS... Writing the first sentence and being able to say a couple years totally blew me away.... HOLY SHIT... it's been a couple of years since my transplant. I am so honored to be able to say that. My donor is my hero!