“How Long Ago Was That?”

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Well, it has been Ten Years. Yes, as of today, it has been ten years since receiving the brain surgery. This brain surgery didn’t work for me as it should have, but I have heard this same surgery has worked well for others. I am currently living on disability money and full Medicare, which is nothing to complain about. When you walk into the courtroom to qualify for SS Disability, and you happen to have a hundred staples on the top of your head, things seem to work out kinda fast there… without saying too many words.

I know, there are different situations of brain damage and surgery that have worked out better. …I also know of plenty of others who have NOT worked out as well.

I’m still alive and functioning just fine. The fact that I am still capable to live just fine (alone) in my own house, is quite incredible. (At least it is to ME!)

Go ahead and take a stroll back to ten years ago.

I’ll keep in touch on this site and we’ll see where this small amount of “stuff between my ears” wants to take me next in my life…

I almost made it…

Darren Long1 Comment

Over a month ago, I had one of those “things” happen to me. You know, the situation where you wake up somewhere you wish you didn’t.

Yeah, that one…

So, in the last week of August, I was doing my “usual” daily bike riding. The ride where I go to an empty parking lot and basically ride in an oval. I’ve done this for YEARS and after a while anyone (like me) can just petal for hours and hours with no problem. This parking lot is cool (at least it is to ME) because it’s right next to train tracks that have the trains going by all day. It’s “comfortable”.

So, on the 29th (last Tuesday in August) I was riding for quite awhile and I began feeling somewhat dizzy. I’ve been through this before. It was the beginning… an aura before a seizure. 

When feeling this aura, I was on my bike and thought I could just ride home really fast and not worry about it! Well…. the first place I need to go, when going back home, is across train tracks. Not too hard, except there is a couple trains going by. So, I have to wait for the (what seems like at the time) longest train to go by. I cross the tracks, but now I have to cross the main road in town (right after a train, it gets very busy on the street) and my eyes are wobbling left-and-right. When I squint my eyes it’s easier to see, so I cross the 5 lanes of traffic and get back into my neighborhood.

I do make it past the traffic and I STILL think I can make it all the way home! 

Well, the next thing I know is that I’m opening my eyes in an ambulance. CRAP!! 

First thing I ask:
“So, did I make it back to my house?” 
“Uh, no….”
“How close was I?”

Well, THAT is dumb question to ask while in the back of an ambulance. 

I spent a few days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) in the hospital. (Thankfully, my mom was there too.) I could have gotten out of the hospital on Wednesday. But, it was agreed that I should have the EEG and MRI tests while I was there just to see how much was still between my ears. Basically, enough… 

When I’m writing this, it’s been over a month since waking up in an ambulance. Thankfully, I’m feeling much better and back to “normal”.

Handicap

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Like others here in the USA, I got my drivers license when I was 16… (1990).

Twenty-some years ago, I sprained a wrist or finger or thumb or foot or something, and I visited a local clinic to get it looked at. When I was there, I told the doctor my entire story of my “falling (a pretty-good distance) out of a tree” when I was 10, spending a month on a coma and leaving my brain with a permanent bruise on the left-frontal lobe. The doctor at the clinic (after telling my “impressive story”) gave me a sheet to take to the DMV and I’ll get handicap parking. Went there to turn the paper in and I received a handicap hang-tag that had the word PERMANENT on it. I asked the lady…

“Why does this say ‘Permanent’? How long is it good for?”
“You can park in handicap spots for the rest of your life.”

I laughed!

So, after having the hang-tag in my car for some years, I thought…

“If I have a ‘permanent’ hang-tag, does it mean I could just go and get a handicap license plate?”

Well…. YES… Yes I can!

That is what I did. That is what I still have today.

See? Being handicap is cool… 😉

Drivers License

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It has been quite the process of healing after receiving the brain surgery (2014), but the day has come for me to finally transport myself from the house to Walmart. I have successfully taken the driving test and got myself a freaking Drivers License. The day-after doing that, I got myself a car. Wow! This is incredible! Something I haven’t done for 10+ years, and the test was pretty straight forward.

I mean, I’d previously drove a car for over 20 years before getting the surgery, so taking the test to drive again wasn’t too new…

What’s next?

Six Months…

Darren LongLeave a comment

Visited the Neurologist today. The doctor asked how I was feeling, since being on this new med.

“I’m feeling good. It’s taken time to have my body and brain get used to this newest medication.”

When changing to a new seizure medication, it takes my brain and body time to get completely off the old and completely on to the new. At this time, I can easily say it’s taken me nearly a year to get through the change. But it has been worth it…

Next thing the doc was able to help me with, is filling out the paperwork to say it’s “okay” for me to finally (after nearly 12 years) get a drivers license. I’m not running out to get this tomorrow, or anything like that. I’m certainly not in any rush. I’ll need to have this doctor fill out these papers every year to say that I’m well enough to drive.

If this is what I have to do from now on, I’ll do it. At least I can get a license.

Now, taking the Drivers License test…. THAT is something that I haven’t done (what seems like) forever.