Rainy day update

Hi everyone, a wee update from telephone information...Alison is doing well, having had her lab and medical appointments yesterday, and the news is good. Her labs look good (within the expected range) and the problem with the low sodium level has resolved; this means that the mechanism that was out of whack in terms of water regulation is now re-set (as in: less thirsty = a billion less trips to the bathroom!). White cell counts and all that still in good range. AND, she gets to decrease her mega-steroid dose one more time. This means that the steroid (decadron)-induced side effects like insomnia, gigantic appetite, mood swings, should all continue to improve. And she says that so far, no change in headache, memory, etc, so the decadron taper is going well at this point. Since decadron is on board to control brain swelling, you can see how the green light to taper this means that her system is doing well, her swelling is less.

She told me a few days ago that all the strobing of lights that she had for so long on the right side are gone - we think it means there is less pressure in that part of the occipital lobe of the brain. The right-sided vision that she lost (right side out of both eyes is affected because the area that controls integration of right vision is in the occipital lobe) is a permanent loss, but she is adapting to that quite well.

She is still super-tired, but I think her rest periods are more productive, in that she can actually sleep. They are riding out the storm (as is the whole northern California area, I guess) and planning to stay snug and warm in their lair while the storm passes over. We wish her lovely naps and continued healing!
Love to all, - Deborah