Brenda's Brainstorm & Trevor, a T Man Production 2009 - 2022

This blog has been a long time coming.  You see...around about February of this year...I started noticing some numbness and tingling in my left hand... my first thought was, that I had just slept on it.  It continued to get worse...actually starting in my right hand as well. In April...I had my annual physical with my PCP...and he did a little test.  He had me put my 2 hands together in an upside down position for approximately 60 seconds.  Guess what?  The numbness and tingling instantly returned.  He felt...that I had the start of carpal tunnel syndrome.   Like I had mentioned in a previous blog...why must everything be a syndrome?  Sounds so ominous. Just so happened that very afternoon...I had an appointment with my rheumatologist... so he told me to be sure and mention this to him.  I got to my appointment...and he did the exact same test as my PCP did...and lo and behold, the numbness and tingling began just like that. The next step was to have an EMG...or what they usua

As some of you know...that read this blog, that I have struggled with Rheumatoid Arthritis for the past 19 years...but nothing could have ever prepared me for the terrible recent flare that I experienced. I realize...that this disease is very unpredictable...n ot knowing from one day to the next what to expect.  That's why I get up early each morning...to deal with the unexpected.   My right ankle had been bothering me for several weeks...but I just figured...it would get better in time just like anything else has, that had been hurting, etc. I went to work...but when I was walking on it, it hurt much more than usual.  I finally took a little break to inspect it...and lo and behold it was red and swollen.   I knew I had to attack this head on, so I contacted my nurse and left a message.  I went home from work...to wait for her call.   She called back later and said she could work me in...but it would be waiting.  I didn't care.  I was just happy...that I would be seen

On September 8TH..I will be celebrating my 2ND chance craniversary . It's hard to believe that almost 2 years have flown by. So much has happened in that span of time. What I want to do with this blog entry, is to share some of the highlights of the past 2 years. Prior to being diagnosed with my brain tumor...I joined a group called "Living The Truth." It started with a vision from Dr. Keith Ablow ...who is a renowned psychiatrist. His philosophy is that everyone has a story. Everything you need to know about yourself is already deep inside of you. That is what he calls our hidden or buried treasure. I also wear a key...that was originally a key chain...that I put on a chain and wear it around my neck. It is quite the conversation piece. Besides that...it's beautiful. Along my journey..I have met many wonderful people on this site. We also have a place where we can have a blog...that's where Brenda's Brainstorm was born...An Inspiration Out Of The Blue.

Nobody ever said life would be easy...making friends is no different sometimes. Recently...I had to make a very hard and difficult decision. I had been involved in a friendship that I thought was going pretty well. We had some rocky times...but that is to be expected. Each time..thinking it would get better. I tried to be there for this person as much as I could...and in turn thought..I would get the same results. Depends on the day or the situation.. and so I found out the hard way. I was just about to share something really spectacular that had just happened to me..and the response was.."That maybe so, but I have more important things going on in my life right now." Believe me that hurt, as I was only trying to maybe cheer this individual up..but it took me by surprise..that I decided right then and there....that I was done investing in this friendship. That person really just told me..that what I had to share was of no value and that all their problems is all that I

Recently, I attended our bi-annual family reunion on my late Dad's side. This was the 2ND one without him...and also the first one for me, since I had my brain surgery...which made me realize, that I had not been on a road trip for almost 2 years. WOW! My cousin took Mom & me up to Bowdon...which happens to be the town where I grew up. The event was held at our local community center. Bowdon is about 100 miles from Bismarck, so we saw some beautiful crops on our journey. The flax was especially beautiful this time of year...and you should have seen all the hay and the sunflowers looked good too. They have had a lot more rain than we have. We made a stop to the cemetery, where my Dad is buried and some of my other relatives as well. His tombstone still looks beautiful after almost 3 years. There is a badge engraved..as he was Chief of Police..and the funeral director, thought this would be a nice touch. They really keep the grounds looking really nice. We arrived at the

This particular blog is very personal to me...as I am fighting mad! Last week a high profiled neurosurgeon...made the blanket statement...that, "After you have a craniotomy for a Meningioma you are cured." That is just utter nonsense. As many of you know...I had a benign Meningioma removed on September 8TH, 2008. I am almost 2 years out...but I have to tell you...that my recovery has been anything but *BENIGN*! I still battle with constant head pain...so severe at times...that all I want to do is scream...and nausea so bad...that I just feel miserable. I hardly call that cured. You have to also know that people in my support group...Meningioma Mommas are not taking this sitting down. Many have written this individual...and one was even fortunate to get her letter published. I was so proud of her. She worded it in such a way...that you can't deny...that there are still problems/deficits after such a procedure. The facts I want to bring out here are...even though ma

As some of you know...this being May...is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month...only the 2ND one though...which is sad...because so many are touched by this awful diagnosis. It's also National Arthritis Awareness Month. The reason I am addressing both of these...is the fact that I am a brain tumor survivor...and have also had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 19 years now. The fact that I am still holding down a full time job is enough of a celebration for me...as statistics show that after 10 years..you can no longer work or are disabled. Arthritis is the #1 cause of disability in the United States. The following are facts from the magazine "Arthritis Today." 46 million adults and approximately 300,000 children in America are living with doctor-diagnosed arthritis..which probably means, many more are living with this disease, and have not been diagnosed yet. There are over 100 kinds of arthritis. I having one of the top 5...that being Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have mana

Okay...as many of you know, I am a BT survivor. I have been dealing with real bad bouts of nausea for quite sometime. I was told by my PCP the other day...at my annual physical, that it may just be something, I will have to live with for the rest of my life. That would be fine, except for the fact that it would be nice to be able to learn how to cope. This week was to be a much needed vacation for me...instead it ended up being jammed packed with doctor's appointments. I now have a new problem! Surprise! It seems never ending for me. If I sound a bit frustrated...you are right, only I am beyond that stage I am angry! You see...about 3 months ago, I ended up having problems with my hands..the left being worse than the right. I also battle Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I just thought maybe it was something that would last a few days then leave. Guess what folks...this one is not leaving. Turns out I have the start of carpal tunnel syndrome. Why must everything be a syndrome? Sounds so

This blog really comes out of what I have been going through recently. As you know, all of my writings come out of personal experience. They say experience, is the best teacher. Anyway...I am happy to say...that it has now been 18 months since my brain surgery. WOW! When I say it out loud...it is just so unbelievable to me. So much has happened. I have definitely developed some real different coping mechanisms. You have to really...this has become such a different kind of lifestyle. One of the things that has changed along this journey...is my ability to write. I would have never been doing this prior to brain surgery. I guess it's true...that you really do become creative, after going through such an ordeal. I also really feel much more sensitive to everything really. Noises, especially high pitched sounds...literally send me through the ceiling. I also have developed a new habit of pretty much wearing my cozy cap to bed..most every night now, as well as on weekends..whe

This particular blog is dedicated to my Meningioma Mommas, The National Brain Tumor Society, The American Brain Tumor Association, anyone who is a brain tumor survivor, or has a brain tumor, that cannot be operated on at this time...and to anyone who has ever experienced a traumatic brain injury or a head injury in general. I realize it encompasses a lot of people...but I really want to give you all a sense...of what this kind of lifestyle is like for many of us. I am no expert by any sense of the imagination. What I write here, is from personal experience and also out of much frustration and misunderstanding from many...who don't or haven't experienced this. By the time..you have read this, I hope you will have a better understanding, of what some of us go through on a day to day basis. That's just the point, we need to keep on keeping on with day to day activities. Life does not stop, just because we were diagnosed with a brain tumor...benign or malignant..or expe

January 9, 2010...which was Saturday, was my 50TH birthday. I have to admit to everyone reading this...that I am quite proud of that fact. For one thing...I do not look my age...so turning 50 didn't bother me in the least. Throughout the week, I received birthday cards from relatives & friends...from all over the country. I got several emails from cousins..who are in other states... an animated card...which was just the neatest thing..from someone..who used to live here...but is now in another state. I had many well wishes from people on Facebook. Speaking of Facebook, I had a birthday wish to raise $100.00 for the cause," Mad About Meningiomas." I am happy to say, that $70.00 was donated...which I think is pretty spectacular. For those of you who donated...I thank you very much for your generous spirit. You are doing a great service to Meningioma Mommas. My Mom wanted to have a birthday party for me...but she needed my help. So we drew up a guest list of va

RABlog Week Wildcard #1 - New doctors - Ideas for breaking in new doctors, how to begin the process of establishing viable collaborative patient/doctor relationships. What do you do in those days leading up to the new doctor visit? This blog post is about the time that I met my new rheumatologist for the first time. He told me that I was in remission. Even though it lasted for only a few months, it gives me hope that I will one day hear those words again. It was written back in 2010, but my blog was updated in May of this year. He moved away to become a teacher, but he was the best rheumatologist that I ever had. I hope you enjoy my first encounter with him. I also share about seeing my neurosurgeon, as I was experiencing some issues after my craniotomy on September 8, 2008.  This blog is actually going to be written in 2 different parts. The first, I have lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis for over 18 1/2 years. The second part will be about my life as a Meningioma brain tumor sur