Saturday, 31 January 04
The dexamethasone has eliminated the headaches. It feels great not to have a headache.
Dr. Finn checks out: several medical professionals who live in our area speak well of him and his work. We visited with a neurologist to get a second opinion. Her view is that the tumor must be removed immediately, and that the tumor should be easy to extract, since it lies basically at the top of the right temporal lobe. Her advice is to go with Finn and get the procedure done as soon as possible. Finding another neurosurgeon could take some time, as most of them have a waiting list of people who need to schedule an appointment. Dr. Finn can do this surgery with no problem - he is one of the best, we are told.
Friday, 30 January 04
Dr. Wang's review of the MRI films, and the report from the radiologist from the imaging facility indicates a brain tumor in the right temperal lobe. She sends me to see neurosurgeon Dr. S. Sam Finn in an office located about 30 miles South of her office. Hearing the words "I'm sorry Mr. Kline, but you have a brain tumor" was like hitting a brick wall traveling 90 miles an hour. My mind is numb as I drive to Dr. Finn's office. I am praying and stunned. Dazed and confused I arrive at Finn's office.
Dr. Finn projects confidence and knows exactly what must be done. "Your tumor is eminently operable", he says, "and we are going to remove it next Thursday. There is no time to lose. Do you see how the tumor has pushed you brain over, partially blocking your right ventrical?", he asks, pointing to one of the MRI shots. This inhibits the flow of spinal fluid and easily explains the headaches you have been having. I am going to start you on 32 mg/day of the steriod dexamethasone to reduce this swelling in preparation for surgery. I want to see you on Monday at my office at Baylor Medical for pre-operation testing and to answer any questions you may have. Bring your wife and anyone else you would like to ask me questions."
I appreciate Dr. Finn's aggressive approach, but I also need to do some research on him to find out what reputation he has in the medical community and if he really is the right guy to do this procedure. Still, my first impression of him is favorable.
Wednesday, 28 January 04
Met with neurologist Dr. Lynn Wang. Her examination shows that everything is normal. Then I had a headache in her office at the end of the visit and she ordered a MRI. "You are too young to have a brain tumor, she remarked, but we'll do a MRI just to be sure," as I left her office. The MRI is scheduled for the next day.
Monday, 26 January 04
The headaches continue, something is not right, so I seek out an ENT (Eye, Nose and Throat) doctor. He orders a CT of my sinuses and the resulting films show no problems. When asked what he thinks is going on, the ENT doctor replies that in his 20 years of medical experience, he has had only one other person who had the severe, short duration headaches that I describe. This person had a brain tumor, he said.
I am referred to a neurologist.
Friday, 23 January 04
After 10 days of Ceftin, I continue to have headaches as I visit the doctor for a follow up appointment. I tell her I think I have a brain tumor - what else could it be? Would the doctor like to do a CT? She said no, she did not think I had a tumor. I should continue taking Allegra-D and Advil because I am probably just having sinus headaches.
Tuesday, 13 January 04
After five days of severe, but intermittent and short duration headaches, I visit our family primary health care provider. This is my first visit to a doctor in five years. She thinks I have a sinus infection, based upon the elevated white blood count in the blood sample that she took. She therefore prescribes Ceftin and gives me Allegra-A samples. I am also told to take Advil for the headaches.
Thursday, 08 January 04
My story begins on this date, when I experienced my first severe headache. I had experienced lesser headaches in December and perhaps even in November of 2003, but these were nothing that Advil could not handle. So I did not think anything of these headaches at first. Besides, everyone gets headaches now and then. These lower magnitude headaches did not seem unusual in any way. But the headaches that started on January 8th were a different matter. They came on suddenly and stopped just as quicky as they started - lasting only two or three minutes. My head felt like a clamp was around it. After a headache, sweat would appear on my forehead, neck and arms. The headaches were sometimes initiated by looking up or down, or when I got out of my car after driving for 20 miles or so - but not always.
