The Gooey Center

This morning Jenne & I go and see Dr. Jon Weingart at John's Hopkins for my ACM consultation. We'll be reviewing my MRIs, which do show that I have a brain inside my head you bunch of smart asses. What we’ll be looking at is how far the lower part of the cerebellum protrudes down into the spinal column (a measurement given in millimeters) and how much compression there is of the brain tissue. We’ll also look to see if there’s any disruption to the flow of spinal fluids and conducting a thorough neurological exam. Yes, part of my brain is being squeezed and it’s not for the purpose of making fresh juice. The brain squeeze is what’s causing all the headaches, neck pain and a host of other fun and exciting symptoms. This morning we delve into the gooey center of my head and see what’s really going on. We’ll also be discussing what Jenne and I can do to relieve my symptoms, changes we can make in our home and at work to reduce symptom occurrence, if it’s operable at this time and if surgery is even recommended. As some of you know from talking with me and reading the online information about ACM it’s not just going to go away on its own. It’s a structural defect and it may require physical repair. It could get worse and my current symptoms could intensify and new ones develop. The symptoms I am most scared of are the neurological ones (drop attacks, black outs, loss of sensation in extremities, etc). I don’t have these at present and I am thankful to God for that. I am also thankful that ACM is not related to cancer and is also not fatal. Painful, most definitely and sometimes extremely so. So, in essence I have two basic options. 1) Not to have surgery and apply all the symptom alleviation I can and see what comes, or 2) have surgery and relieve the current symptoms and halt possible progression. Maybe I’m simplifying this a little for the sake of keeping this entry short, but everything I have read tells me those are my options. Rest assured I’m not going downtown to schedule surgery. This is a fact-finding mission and a serious discussion with a preeminent ACM specialist. One of many such meetings and tests and exams. Dr. Weingart is one of the best in the world from all that I have read and Jenne & I intend to pick his brain and find its gooey center too.