Suboccipital craniectomy, C1 laminectomy, and expansile duraplasty

Yes, that is a mouthful. And yes I had this procedure done to me 5 weeks ago because I was diagnosed with a Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia. To over simplify: Chiari is a congenital condition where the lower portion of your brain herniates through the opening at the base of your skull. This can lead to compression of the spinal cord which can disrupt normal cerebral spinal fluid flow. This disruption can cause a syrinx (a fluid filled cyst in the middle of the spinal cord) which is called syringomyelia. Not all people who have the Chiari malformation have clinical signs, or a syrinx, or even need surgery/treatment.  But go figure, I did.

The whole ordeal has been quite the eye opener. I started 2013 finally feeling like my life was in order. Within the last year I had purchased my first home and left a crummy job for an excellent one. If you would have asked me how I felt about my health I would likely have said if my health had to be quantified by some kind of numerical scheme, I would fall in the good to excellent category. Well in early March this all changed. I had acute onset of severe pain at the base of my skull and neck along with progressive tingling/numbness of my arms and legs. And this is how my suboccipital craniectomy, C1 laminectomy, and expansile duraplasty came about. Fortunately I live in an area with good healthcare providers and I'm lucky enough to have good health insurance

Overall, I feel I am recovering as well as can be expected. The hope long term is that my pain goes away, clinical signs stop progressing, and hopefully improve. Recovery will take several months and there will likely have to be some minor lifestyle changes but all things considered, that's not too shabby! The surgeon, his surgical team, and the hospital were fantastic. I am so lucky to have had such excellent medical care. It has been a not so gentle reminder that you never know what life has in store for you good or bad. Make every day count and strive to do things that bring you happiness. If my recovery continues to go well, 2013 will hopefully end with me feeling again like my life is in order :)

And a couple of my pictures....

My MRI image: shows the syrinx (the bright white oval shaped thing in the middle of the picture) and if you know your landmarks the 12 mm herniation of my cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum.

Just after hospital discharge. 2.5 days post-op and 32 staples later. It really does look like a zipper!

Links to more info on Chiari and syringomyelia:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Mayo Clinic - Chiari Malformation
Mayo Clinic - Syringomyelia

And a few years later....

Been quite some time since I have graced the presence of this blog. Life happens I suppose. Honestly, I forgot that I had the blog. Since 2009, two more wonderful 4 legged friends have joined my home.

Anyway, suppose I might start writing again.

I like my coffee black.

Holy cannoli!! It's been quite some time since my last update. Guess life has been busy. Well I have passed boards and now am on the ever elusive job hunt. The past 6 months have gone by in light speed. I have no real idea where I want to go after graduation. Somewhere warm perhaps; I'm no longer limited to the Minnesota area. Callifornia, Washington, somewhere near mountains, Florida? I have no idea. Hopefully something with horses and maybe a bit of the small animals as well. Just don't think I could be indoors all the time. And hitting kitty veins isn't as fun as the jugular of a horse. A slightly random aside...I really liked doing anesthesia on horses. It was exciting.



I think the thing I will miss most about vet school will be my friends. I am a self proclaimed introvert/loaner and seem to decline (or at least have the desire to) social outing offerings more often than accept. But will miss being able to just hang out with those that I have become close with. Crazy how it all works.

Out of town

Mini photo blog of my NYC trip.


Peace sphere that was in the plaza of the World Trade Center near the twin towers. Has since been moved to a temporary memorial site with an eternal flame lit in honor of those who died.




Ground Zero.




On Wall St.



Lady Liberty



Freedom.



Lady Liberty and Manhattan



Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge



From atop the Empire State Building - 86th floor. You can see Times Square.

Nothing is free.

Some pictures taken over the summer.


Grasshopper on the yucca plant.


Mother's koi pond.


One of my most favorite flower pictures that I have taken.


Camp fire.


On some Missouri back-road.

Everything in life has a price. With every action comes a consequence.

Movie soundtrack

Music is one of the few things in life that I often find myself becoming totally immersed and lost in. I can forget everything while I am listening to it. I saw There Will Be Blood last night. And while I'm still forming an opinion on the actual movie, I was immediately captured by the soundtrack. So much so that I purchased it today. The movie was definitely worth seeing. Confusing, but I would watch it again, more than once. But the soundtrack is the best I've heard since American Beauty. As cheesy as it sounds, music like this makes me feel full inside. I can visualize the music in my head and it captures all of my neural activity. I don't think there is any other activity where my mind permits me to do so. How thankful I am to have this escape.

Work it

Not all those who wander are lost. I don't really know what the heck I am doing, but I have decided that I am NOT lost. And I don't always believe that you will get no where if you don't know where you are going. Life after 3rd year fall semester has commenced. Have managed to indulge in a fermented drink on average of every other day. Amazing! Not done this since undergrad. Does this mean that I am regressing? Maybe. But I am enjoying it. Have grand plans of decorating my home. I have only been there 3 months shy of a year. Hoping to blow up some pictures I have taken over the past couple of years. I also hope to go sledding, skiing, and indulge in other pointless activities.

Word to your mother.