My Year In A Nutshell

I have been going a little crazy as of lately and been too busy to really keep up with this blog or Photoshop Phun. I would throw up a couple comical video clips I would come across but other than that... NADA! So let's go back a little over a year..........
WAIT! First we need to go back even further.
When I was a wee lad my mother dear thought it would be a good idea to buy me a journal to jot down my thoughts. I think she primary did it do that she could try and find it and screen it for any unacceptable behavior I may admit to within its pages. No matter her intent, she bought me The Jedi Journal. It was awesome! I coveted it along with My Star Wars Trivia book that that kid wrote and which I could answer NONE of the god damn questions! Sorry about that. So every night I wrote in my little journal with Yoda's picture printed on every lower outside corner. Each entry did not start with "Dear Diary" like some little girl. Nor did it start with "Dear Journal" as possible a normal kid would. Oh No. I began each written piece of preteen angst and love lorn with "Dear Jedi Master." So in honor of my geeky, past I start this entry with...
Dear Jedi Master,
In April, right around when I started this blog, my fiancé and I bought a house. In July, my fiancé became my wife, and though I promised lots of pictures they have still been minimal. At the end of August, I noticed a slight tremor in left leg. That tremor moved to my right leg in September. October brought about a pain in my middle back, leading me to think possibly a pinched nerve. November brought with it rib pain which prompted my first of many trips to the doctor. My primary doctor, decided to treat rib pain as another sign of acid problems I had been experiencing. And suggested a trip to the neurologist for the back pain / tremors. In December, I started my testing barrage with the neurologist, including a EMG (which tends to hurt like hell). I started PT for the back pain and noticed in January that the tremors had moved to my left hand. By February, my left hand was cramping up and had lost its dexterity. Also I noticed a slight drag in my left foot. These new symptoms prompted another neurologist to order a MRI of my brain. In March, I got the results of the MRI, which found no reasons for the tremor but discovered macroadenoma in my pituatary gland. Then we got to go to Yale to meet with a neurosurgeon, who told us it was benign and would be treated with meds by an endocrinologist. More blood work revealed it was prolactin producing tumor and I started taking cabergoline. My prolactin levels went down. Symptoms related to tumor started to go away. Tremors got worse moving into my right hand by the middle of April. I met with a third neurologist, a movement specialist, who said that I was symptomatic of early onset Parkinson's Disease, but wanted to be sure by trying to get me enrolled in a research study.I was excepted into the study in June and had a beta Spect scan to measure Dopomine levels in my brain. The end of July neared and the result of the scan were opened. My brain was functioning as an early onset Parkinsonian brain. Five weeks ago I stared treatment with the recently FDA approved Neupro patch. So far the Parkinsonian symptoms have not lessened but I am hopeful. The pain in my back and ribs continues. Two months of physical therapy didn't seem to do much except drain the wallet. A recent CTscan of my abdomen showed thickening in the walls of the small intestines. Hopes are it is just inflammation. More blood work and tests to follow.
Needless to say, I am tired. I feel bad for my wife, who married a healthy 33 year old who turned into a sickly 34 year old. All that being said, I remain jovial and positive. Poking fun at my condition. I am OK with my diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. It is not life threatening, just life annoying. The medical field has made great discoveries recently and more will come.
What a frickin' year, though!
Until tomorrow Jedi Journal. May the force be with you!