Thoughts and Observations: Four years after my surgery.
Thankfully, fortunately I do not to have seizures and I don't take any seizure medicine. In the months right after surgery I was on seizure meds and I hated them. For a while I took a natural supplement called Taurine, which has helped some people prevent seizures. I no longer take it.
Also, I very rarely have headaches. Another blessing I am very grateful for.
I do sometimes experience some light headedness. Sometimes it gets bad enough I wonder if I am about to have a seizure or black out. My bloodpressure can be a bit on the low side so that may be to blame. I don't know.
I will say I have had some problems with insomnia and depression.
I was diagnosed with a disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis in Summer 2005.
This has been a huge challenge for me physically - more than the brain tumor probably. It is an auto immune disorder that causes inflammation (pain) in my back and some other joints.
The prescription drugs for it are called "TNF blockers" which suppress the immune system. I tried them (out of desperation) even though I had concerns that was a good idea for a person whose body was possibly still fighting (or at least "on patrol against") cancer. These drugs have proven to me to be very powerful and basically exhausted me. I think they were very taxing on my liver.
Not to create a whole new website for A.S. here, but I have learned a lot about it! including some more natural ways to deal with it. I have discovered that A.S. is often caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the intestine (along with some other conditions). As one of the ways to fight this imbalance, my diet now includes virtually no starch or sugar. This bacterial imbalance and strict diet I feel account for most of my insomnia and depression symptoms.
I don't take as much flax oil as I used to because I don't eat cottage cheese anymore because it caused my A.S. to flare.
A Weather and Mood connection?
There is something I have noticed and wonder if others who have had brain surgery have noticed... when the weather is changing, say for instance a storm is coming in, I get quite tired and depressed. On the contrary in a high pressure system I usually feel "extra good". I have observed this many many times.
I relate this to the small void I have in the right lob of my brain. This is the space where the tumor was. I wonder if there is some pressure differential there that exerts pressure or relieves pressure on the right side of my brain (right side controls emotions) causing some kind of mood change. Its not a major problem, more like an observation.
To some this website is full of capricious and irresponsible ideas with absolutely no medical basis. I'm not practicing medicine or charging money - just trying to lead the healthiest life I can and help others if I can. In dealing with health problems, my own or others, I often feel like I am putting together a jig saw puzzle and I have to take leaps and follow hunches that conventional medicine refuses to do. There is both risk and reward in doing that.