New Treadmill

Happy Monday to you all! My two and a half year old niece called me her "bestie" (best friend for those who aren't down with the lingo) this weekend. Pretty fantastic! I should probably mention the minor detail that she was just repeating after me. But, in my defense, I didn't ask her to repeat it, she repeated after me all on her own. Obviously, I'm her favorite friend.

Although most of the weekend was perfect, there was a point on Saturday morning when I thought I was having an aura (the moment just before a seizure hits). With that realization, my pulse shot through the roof, I dizzily got up from the table, went for my purse and shoved my pill bottle at my brother, panicked because I couldn't get it open, shaking my hands at my sides. I swallowed my Ativan (prescribed for just the occasion), and headed for a bedroom where it was quiet and I could lay down. I took deep breaths until the feeling passed.

After the Ativan kicked in I felt normal again. It's hard to know when a feeling is normal or when it's a physical preposition to a seizure. I've decided that I can push myself when I have other people around, but when I'm alone I should rest and play it safe. If I feel dizzy or light headed while alone, I drink extra water and close my eyes for a few moments. As Danny says, it will take time for me to know my limits.

Fun news...since I can no longer drive, we bought me a treadmill on super crazy cheap sale and my brother, father, Danny and I assembled it in my living room. I'm excited to keep up with my walking and running. In fact, I read an article from the National Brain Tumor Society that brain tumor diagnoses who work out regularly live much longer (just like you regular non-terminal illness people - I guess exercise is great to increase the lifespan of all. That should have been a no-brainer) than brain tumor patients who are sedentary. I live in an unsavory location for a lone female, and since Danny will be in training between Seattle and Portland until November, I now have the ability to walk/run in my living room. Cool! Now, even today after my nap, I was able to watch my favorite DVR'd show Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition with Chris Powell as I walked on the treadmill. It was fantastic! I even grabbed two cans of garbanzo beans for my hands and did arm exercises. This is going to be a great new thing!

Ondansetron

I have exciting news. The past few nights I had been waking up and vomiting due to my anti-seizure medicine. It took me a bit to figure out the cause, but once Danny reminded me of the side effects, it was a very easy problem to eradicate. The doctors had already prescribed Ondansetron, an anti-nausea medicine usually given to patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgeries, but I hadn't started taking it yet. In fact, I had completely forgotten about the Ondansetron prescription. I don't love to take medicine, but I am telling you, Ondansetron completely saved my quality of life.

I had been vomiting all of my food, and dry heaving each night. It would happen about 30 minutes after I would lay down in bed, and then I would have to run to the loo. It was interfering with my sleep, I wouldn't finish vomiting until midnight. Anyway, last night I took a Ondansetron (they're good for eight hours), at about 3:00pm. I was in bed by 9:00pm, never vomited and slept for thirteen hours. I feel fantastic! It's amazing how much sleep can affect attitude.

I'm concerned that of the 4 mg pills, 3 mg of that is phenylalanine, something that I have avoided to the point where I don't even chew gum because it is a main ingredient in sugar free gum. I'm scared of phenylalanine and its' effects on the human brain and body, but right now I physically need it to function. Maybe I can get a different prescription for a different high dosage anti-nausea drug that won't contain the bad stuff. I guess I'll have to research that.

In the meantime, no more vomiting!!! Yay!!!!!!

Also, my brother, my niece, and Danny will all be here for the weekend! I can't ask for anything more. Cheers to a wonderful weekend to all!