This has been one of the most challenging summers of my life.
Among the many events - from my youngest son's marriage, to hailstorm damage to our house - one is standing out as the most challenging, and it is going to be the ongoing event that will spill into the fall.
For the past 5 years I have been suffering from panic attacks, and for 4 years I lose consciousness if they are very severe. My doctor was very concerned, because panic attacks of themselves don't cause the sufferer to pass out. She ordered an MRI.
This MRI turned up a Ganglioglioma in front of the left temporal lobe of my brain - directly behind my left eye. The tumor is a non-cancerous knot of nerve cells, small (smaller than a garden pea) and slow-growing.
I was referred to a neurosurgeon or possible removal of the tumor (yes, brain surgery). Because of the location of this tumor, and that part of the brain's involvement in seizure activity, the surgeon felt that the Ganglioglioma was actually causing seizures which my brain was interpreting as panic attacks.
I was referred to a neurologist for pre-surgery tests, and in discussing my situation with the neurologist he felt it was best to take a step back and determine if this tumor was actually causing seizures, since its removal might impair my musical and artistic abilities.
Which is where we stand right now. This coming Monday, July 20, I go into the hospital for a 5-day videotaped EEG. They want to try and trigger a seizures and see if what I am having really is a seizure, or if it is a panic attack or something else entirely.
I covet your prayers, your love, and your friendship through this time.
You can follow my progress as I walk down this road on this website:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomashowieSubscribe to the Journal and you will be notified of any new entries. All progress will be noted on this site.
Thanks to all my MySpace friends! You have my love.
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