Posted 10/27/21
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”- Mark 10:27
Howdy all! Hope you are having a great week so far! I am doing ok if it wasn’t for the dang headache. I have a “classic” post-lumbar-puncture headache, apparently, and am going back to St. Louis to have a “blood patch” applied. While this sounds like a really cool Halloween goodie you might buy for 99 cents at Spirit Halloween, it is actually an ingenious procedure to fix leaks caused by extracting Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). There is a decent percentage of folks who develop this headache from donating this fluid. It is more common in younger women (epidurals from childbirth included but others included as well…). Interestingly enough, the headache goes away when you lay down, but when you sit/stand or especially bend over, it returns. There is absolutely nothing that could have been done to prevent this and the folks at WashU have been incredible. I still hope to do more lumbar punctures in another study by the same university with or without headaches… Does that further prove my hard-headedness in wanting to #EndALZ ? More info can be found here: LINK
I am working a short day, then heading down to see my uncle (He has early- to mid-stage dementia and end-stage cancer) for 15 minutes, then heading home to pack and drive the 3.5 hours to the hospital for the procedure tomorrow morning early… Then I will drive home after laying on my back until hotel check-out time. It is what it is…but this disease needs to go and if I can move the needle even a mini-blip, it is worth the headache.
Speaking of headache, we have now blasted by fall in the Ozarks and apparently entered winter. 🙁 Our first hard freeze is expected early next week, so you’d better plan accordingly to save whatever plants you keep outside. One splitting headache associated: we are still forced to either do outside visits or fruitless window visits. We are vaccinated up to our gills, but apparently, we pose more of a risk to others there in a sealed, indoor room with plexiglass dividing us than the dozens of employees there not vaccinated do. The CDC and the state are blamed, but there is no reason for that blame. I wonder if it is guilt at the many who have died there? It is a sad and very hard decision, and I appreciate their administration very much…but it does cause a headache…and sadness at not getting to spend more time with my mom and her friends. Therefore, until Spring, I am dropping off the “Semi” at the Shawshank Re: Dementia title of these pieces as a testimony to the headache…and heartache… these decisions cause.
Last headache shoehorn moment: Take care of your head! It is likely the only one you will ever have as the chances of a head transplant ever happening are low. In all of the many articles written on dementia prevention, avoiding head injury is the most common one to be downplayed or skipped. I guess, because accidents are just that…accidents, we can give it a pass? Nope. Folks with TBI, veterans for the same reason, and those with concussion history are considerably more likely to develop dementia than those who have no similar history. Consider one of the courses that your local senior center/Area Agency on Aging likely teaches on fall prevention. Exercise also helps…talk to your doctor. Avoid home clutter and loose rugs. Install grab bars at the steps and the shower. Guard the ole noggin!. Please.
And, as John Lithgow’s character Dick, on Third Rock from the Sun, liked to say “Why should I be concerned about gaining weight? My body is just the vehicle that carries my brain around – and my brain deserves a smooth, luxurious ride.” Well, at least Dick was right on the brain’s importance. 😉
#EndALZ
Update: Visit tomorrow is unlikely due to the terrible weather. 🙁 Nothing new to report…
