Where have I been?? Finding Feathers LI is not done yet!

Hello everyone… I hope there are still a few of you out there reading! I apologize for my very extended disappearance these past few months but sadly the best-laid plans don’t always work out. As I mentioned in my previous article I have been struggling with some health issues this past year. Unfortunately, the struggle continues still. After quite a bit of thought on the subject, I have decided to fill you all in on what has been happening. Partly because I want to make it clear to anyone reading that I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU! But also because I think it will be helpful to myself to finally just lay it all out on the table.

I have suffered from headaches my entire life, I was diagnosed with migraines at the age of 10 after an ER visit (no MRI was performed at the time). Regardless of this, I was able to live a pretty normal life other than when I would have an attack, which were always very routine and predictable- though excruciating. However, about two years ago now I noticed my migraines beginning to occur far more regularly and strange symptoms beginning to take over my life. Six months later my husband finally convinced me to see my doctor who ran a series of tests and thought it best to refer me to a neurologist. Within the week (and symptoms continuing to evolve) I was seeing the specialist who ran a brand new set of tests and sent me out for my first MRI. I was soon diagnosed with a significant Chiari Malformation and referred to a neurosurgeon for more information and advice on how to proceed. After a lot of research, testing and education from the team it was recommended that I proceed with Chiari Decompression Surgery.

In early September I left my job on short term disability and went into surgery, one of the most frightening and painful experiences I believe I will ever know. But, despite the surgical pain, within a day I could clearly see that things were greatly improved. In fact, I would go so far as to say I was feeling better than I had in years. It was overwhelming, It felt as though I had awoken in a new body and I was so excited to finish the recovery process so I could get back outside and enjoy this new life! However, only a month and a half into recovery the good feelings were gone and I was beginning to feel as though I had never gone through the surgery at all, if not worse.

Towards the end of November, I was heading back into surgery. A large amount of spinal fluid had begun collecting and pressing against the base of my brain. The plan now, remove the fluid, find and correct where the fluid was escaping from and revise the original surgery. When my surgeon got inside he discovered that the patch he had used to close the dura on the first surgery had completely broken apart. The team spent hours fishing out all the broken pieces of the patch and cleaning the area, requiring more skull to be removed in the process. They then redid the original surgery using a thicker, stronger patch that is a slightly “older model” hoping I would react better to this different material. Recovery the second time around went similarly to the first. Lots of surgical pain and soreness but symptom improvement as well, although not quite as dramatically as the first time. But, again, about a month into recovery here I am feeling sick again. I was sent for another MRI and low and behold a large amount of spinal fluid had again begun collecting against the base of the brain and spine but this time it seems to be putting pressure against the brain stem.

My doctors have found that I am unable to properly regulate CSF and therefore have a high amount of pressure within my head. Which brings us to the newest plan, try to get the pressure and spinal fluid controlled. Surgery number three consisted of going into a new part of the brain (bye-bye hair, you were a loyal friend) through the upper right part of the skull to insert a shunt deep into the brain that runs down the neck and all the way down to the belly where it will reroute the fluid from now on.

Before all of this started and I first heard I was having the initial surgery I had a few months to get used to the idea. Naturally, I ran out and got in as much birding as I could manage figuring I could work on identifications and articles during my downtime recovering. Well, it was a good thought. Between follow up visits, sleeping, developing multiple blood clots from surgery that needed to be treated as well and often feeling very ill as symptoms began to return from new problems I just couldn’t do it- no matter how much I wanted to. But, I am truly hopeful that things are going to start to get better now after this last surgery. I still have a long recovery ahead of me and will likely not be out birding very soon (I pray by spring!) but I have so many backlogged trips to tell you all about! So, if you are all willing to be a little patient with me I am going to try to start getting them out to you over the next few months. I will be sure to put dates on the articles so you know when the trip was actually taken and not just when it was published, since those will be very different.

I have missed you all and hope I have not lost any of you due to my abrupt absence. Please stay close by because more articles are on their way! I hope you have all been well and until next time my friends, Happy Birding!

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