Patient & Researcher Blog

Here I aim to capture what I am learning as a newbie researcher from a patient perspective.

Living with a slow growing brain cancer

It is taboo for researchers to talk about their work before it is published.

I think that’s a bummer.

My favorite part about research is learning new things in real time. Here I share my observations as a learner and my n of 1 (personal) findings as a patient.

Note: I started blogging about brain cancer in 2008, at age 29.

I had no background or knowledge about healthcare when I began. Please excuse typos and other misconceptions. What you read here is me in real time, like a time capsule.

There are more than 500 posts here. Use this search to look for something specific. Good luck!

Liz Salmi 7/22/14 Liz Salmi 7/22/14

Seizure drugs: Where is our jetpack?

By the way, no matter who you are, or what you do, someone will always be older than you and will be able to get away with belittling your minor neurological deficits.

Liz Salmi 2/26/11 Liz Salmi 2/26/11

I accidentally self-titrated to a lower dose of Keppra, and I feel good about it

I told myself I'd be super careful with the seizure meds because... who wants a seizure? But deep down I've often questioned the reasoning behind what I was prescribed.

Liz Salmi 12/17/10 Liz Salmi 12/17/10

When nausea comes from out of nowhere

I kept making the kind of noises a person makes when uncomfortable, miserable, or in pain. It was embarrassing.