Tag: surgery

Why I haven’t been posting

Shit happens. I’m in an “up cycle” right now. That’s why I have the energy and motivation to post. Bipolar disorder is far more than just mood swings. So, here what is happening this week: I’ll have phenol injections. Ow. I had a seizure during the last phenol session. This should be fun! Then I’ll […]

ellie

March 10, 2020

ataxia, The Sixth Year, Updates

#DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, ABI, ACA, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, ataxia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, DBS, deep brain stimulation, diagnosis, disability, Dr. Albert Fenoy, Dr. Mya Scheiss, handicap, hemiparesis, ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, Medtronic DBS, Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, operation, Recovery, seizure, seizures, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, The Stroke Story, Tremor, tremor disorder, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
#sorrynotsorry

Our Father Who art in heaven Seriously? What the actual fuck. Sincerely, Tired-and-so-done-with-being-a-patient/room-number

ellie

July 28, 2019

Ramblings, Random Posts, The Fifth Year

#DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, ABI, ACA, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, asphyxiation, ataxia, awake brain surgery, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, bradycardia, bradycardic, brain injury, brain stem tremor, brain surgery, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, cerebral palsy, Claire Wineland, Cystic fibrosis, D&C, DBS, deep brain stimulation, depression, diagnosis, disability, FA, Friedreich’s Ataxia, GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, handicap, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, human trafficking, hurricane, hurricane Harvey, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, In Memory, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, LGBTQ, life is beautiful, major depressive disorder, MDD, Medtronic DBS, miscarriage, MRI, neuropsychiatrist, neuropsychiatry, operation, perspective, pneumonia, rape, Recovery, seizure, seizures, sexual abuse, slave trade, slavery, social issue, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, stigma, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, TBI, The Stroke Story, trauma, Tremor, tremor disorder, visual field cut, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor
#LifeIsBeautiful

We have no control over it, but what we do have control over is whether we can be proud of our own lives. I mean, that’s something we have complete say over – it’s kind of hard to even describe – I think I’m just as confused as everyone else on how to make our lives a piece of art, but I think that’s part of the joy – simply trying. I can stand up here and genuinely tell you that I am genuinely proud of my life…

ellie

May 17, 2018

Random Posts, Videos

#LifeIsBeautiful, ABI, ACA, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, bradycardia, bradycardic, brain injury, brain surgery, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiac arrest, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, cerebral palsy, Claire Wineland, Cystic fibrosis, DBS, deep brain stimulation, depression, diagnosis, disability, FA, Friedreich’s Ataxia, GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, handicap, HandiQueers, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, human trafficking, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, In Memory, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, LGBTQ, life is beautiful, major depressive disorder, MDD, miscarriage, NAF, National Ataxia Foundation, neuropsychiatry, operation, perspective, pneumonia, pregnancy, rape, Recovery, seizure, seizures, sexual abuse, slave trade, slavery, social issue, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, stigma, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, TBI, The Stroke Story, trauma, Tremor, tremor disorder, visual field cut, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
Misremembering is better than forgetting

Remembering Grace, again. And again. This year, I thought it would be 9 years within the hour. Nope. It’ll be 9 years in 48 hours and 38 minutes. Memory difficulties suck. She’d be 8 this July. There’s too much to write. I’ll sleep on it. Thinking of you, Gracie. Always am. ❤

ellie

February 11, 2018

In Memory, The Fourth Year, The Stroke Story, Updates

ABI, ACA, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, asphyxiation, ataxia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, D&C, depression, diagnosis, disability, GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, handicap, hardship, hemiplegia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, left hemisphere ischemia, major depressive disorder, MDD, miscarriage, neuropsychiatry, operation, perspective, pregnancy, rape, Recovery, sexual abuse, stigma, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, TBI, The Stroke Story, trauma, tremor disorder, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
New batteries make my brain go ’round

I squealed after setting my cell phone on the kitchen counter and excitedly bounced on my toes – while holding onto the counter, of course – for a moment, then turned to place my medicine bottles back in the cupboard above my head. It must seen strange, my looking forward to another surgery. Let me […]

ellie

January 26, 2018

ataxia, Ramblings, The Fourth Year, The Stroke Story, Uncategorized, Updates

ABI, ACA, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, awake brain surgery, bradycardia, bradycardic, brain injury, brain stem tremor, brain surgery, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, DBS, deep brain stimulation, disability, Dr. Albert Fenoy, Dr. Mya Scheiss, handicap, hemiparesis, Houston Medical Center, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, Medtronic DBS, Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, operation, Recovery, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, The Stroke Story, Tremor, tremor disorder, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
Journal entry #1

I wake rather late, but cheerful nonetheless. I don’t feel entirely cheerful; it’s a chilly, rainy morning and I know that I might get low if I don’t urge myself not to. I wobble into the kitchen. Make tea. Start the monotonous routine I’ve come to know since the “lows” made their appearance known a […]

ellie

December 7, 2017

Ramblings, The Fourth Year, Uncategorized, Updates

ABI, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, depression, diagnosis, disability, GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, handicap, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, major depressive disorder, MDD, NAF, National Ataxia Foundation, neuropsychiatrist, neuropsychiatry, perspective, Recovery, stigma, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, The Stroke Story, trauma, Tremor, tremor disorder, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
-364 days

1 year ago – Monday, May 16 2016 I waited, excited and nervous. Tomorrow. A burr hole will expose the surface of my brain for the very first time… tomorrow. Less than 24 hours. I don’t remember what I did that morning, or the days leading up to it. I know that I watched videos […]

ellie

May 16, 2017

ataxia, Memories, Photos, The Stroke Story, The Third Year, Updates, Videos

ABI, acquired brain injury, ataxia, awake brain surgery, brain injury, brain stem tremor, brain surgery, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, DBS, deep brain stimulation, disability, Dr. Albert Fenoy, Dr. Mya Scheiss, FA, FARA, Friedreich’s Ataxia, handicap, hemiparesis, Houston Medical Center, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, Medtronic DBS, Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, MRI, NAF, National Ataxia Foundation, operation, Recovery, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, The Stroke Story, TIRR, Tremor, tremor disorder, Videos, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
The Quitter

Just have one more try. It’s dead easy to die, It’s the living on that’s hard. “The Quitter” by Robert Williams Service

ellie

May 10, 2017

Poetry, Random Posts, The Third Year

ABI, acquired brain injury, anomia, aphasia, asphyxiation, ataxia, awake brain surgery, bradycardia, bradycardic, brain injury, brain stem tremor, brain surgery, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, cerebral palsy, DBS, deep brain stimulation, depression, disability, FA, FARA, Friedreich’s Ataxia, handicap, HandiQueers, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, Houston Chevron Marathon, Houston Medical Center, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, LGBTQ, Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, Mount Kilimanjaro, NAF, National Ataxia Foundation, operation, pneumonia, Recovery, seizure, seizures, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, TBI, The Stroke Story, TIRR, trauma, Tremor, tremor disorder, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
Better Than New

After my last post, my friend, Elizabeth, wrote this to me: ‘Ellie if you are feeling broken, please remember the Japanese process of Kintsugi. Pottery that is broken is repaired with gold. It highlights that the mended repair is beautiful. It emphasizes beauty in the imperfect. Perfection is overrated. Your brain is wonderful just the […]

ellie

March 31, 2017

The Third Year, Tips

ABI, acquired brain injury, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, awake brain surgery, bradycardia, bradycardic, brain injury, brain stem tremor, brain surgery, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, cerebral palsy, DBS, deep brain stimulation, depression, disability, FA, Friedreich’s Ataxia, handicap, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, LGBTQ, miscarriage, MRI, operation, pneumonia, pregnancy, rape, Recovery, seizure, seizures, sexual abuse, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, TBI, The Stroke Story, trauma, Tremor, tremor disorder, visual field cut, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
Seizures suck.

A very quick recap of yesterday: I began having seizures just before 11am CT yesterday. I don’t remember much and was pretty confused for a while. Anyway, I’m home now and am getting scheduled for tests this week. Jeffrey’s DBS surgery is early tomorrow morning; I’m hoping that I can still go to that. The […]

ellie

September 12, 2016

The Second Year, The Stroke Story, Updates

ABI, acquired brain injury, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, bradycardia, bradycardic, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem tremor, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, disability, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, Houston Medical Center, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, operation, Recovery, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, The Stroke Story, TIRR, Tremor, tremor disorder, visual field cut, young adult stroke, Young stroke, YSS