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!
I have plenty of neurons left
I always heard we use just 10% of our brain. Now that my brain has a missing chunk it appears my brain willl take advantage of the neurons I didn't use before. I have a feeling that by the end of all this my brain will be more efficient than ever.
I heart Kaiser Permanente
HMOs have a bad rap and I'm setting the record straight. Here's why I chose Kaiser Permanente for my medical needs at age 25… and at age 29, here's why I know Kaiser was the best decision I ever made.
Driving again after seizures
I didn't think too much about driving until early March, when I suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to have my independence back. Who wouldn't feel this way? I'm surprised I lasted this long.
Why didn't anyone tell me how I would feel?
Chemotherapy week was not so bad. I experienced mild nausea Monday through Thursday, but life sucked Friday and Saturday, and I was still nauseated on Sunday.
Snippets from: The Brain that Changes Itself
If you haven't seen me lately, don't even talk to me about the human brain because it's my favorite topic and I won't stop talking for hours. I could talk about neuroscience about as long as I can complain about the improper use of typefaces.
Pre-brain surgery playlist
Here’s the music I listed to on repeat before my last brain surgery.
In the bedroom hallway
The orange band and blue Post-It notes remind me to do physical therapy.