MRI scan results

A week ago I had another MRI scan to see how my brain bleed is repairing.  Today I had to go back to get the results. I was extremely relieved to hear all is repaired, my boys will not inherit the problem and all is well.

My relief was visible. This had been a real worry to my wife and I.  I dreaded further brain surgery, fearing some long-term damage might be done.   I have now been "signed off" by the neurosurgeons and should not need to see them in their clinic again.

My main problems remaining are swallow of some liquids, giddiness when walking, some stomach discomfort and profound fatigue: most days the least physical exertion totally exhausts me. I find it hard to describe just how tired I feel most of my waking day.  All these remaining issues should improve, but this could be a long time. Apparently the neurosurgeon told the DLVA in June that I am fit to drive, although their OK could take months to reach me.  A few months ago there was no way I could have driven, but now I feel ready to do so. It will be good to drive the car again.

Today has been an emotional day. I am profoundly grateful it is drawing to a close.

Health update (stroke)

You may (or may not!) remember that last September I was very ill and needed an operation on my brain for a bleed. I was discharged from hospital Jan 3rd 2014 and have been recovering at home, albeit slowly.

Today I had to attend a neuro clinic at Addenbrookes Hospital as an out-patient. They seem very pleased with my recovery, which is good news.  I may be driving again in the next few months.

They are doing a further MRI scan June 30th to see if my remaining giddiness when walking/turning can be helped. In all, it was a good outcome - nothing dramatic to report. Giddiness should continue to improve given time - just be patient - as the brain learns to cope and rewires itself.

Inside a QRPer's brain

G3XBM's brain!

Today I had my brain scanned for scientific research. For several years I've volunteered as a guinea pig at the Centre for Speech, Language and the Brain at Cambridge University.  It involves doing the occasional language test and about once a year having an fMRI scan whilst doing some task involving language. The university has its own MRI unit for medical research. The whole MRI thing is painless and is actually rather relaxing, especially when they are doing a full scan and the machine is vibrating which is like having a massage. If anything untoward is seen in the scans they inform your doctor, which is good. Let's hope that it looks OK. Certainly it looks much like the one I had done a few years ago.

The purpose of the research is to better understand how the brain functions and they hope this will help with people recovering from strokes.  It must be so rewarding to be working in this field either as a PhD student or as a post-doc researcher.

A QRPer's brain

Yesterday I went to get my brain MRI scanned as part of a Cambridge University research project on speech and language. The result is attached. I spent nearly 90 minutes being scanned whilst listening to various sentences.

Someone suggested the missing top part of the brain explains why I am a QRPer!