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The Pranksters Strike Back (April 22, 2002)The Three Pranksters Of The Apocalypse, Loki, Til Eulenspiegl, and Kokopeli continue to confound the medical establishment on my behalf. The wonderful pain-free day following last week's epidural lasted exactly 24 hours. The pain began to return last Thursday. By weekend I was sleeping in ten minute stints. Went to see the neurosurgeon this morning. No diagnosis. Many verifiable symptoms pointing in different directions. The doctor is concerned that I am deteriorating much too quickly. What he normally sees takes months, if not years to get to this point. Probably NOT plain ol' "disk pinching sciatic nerve" type back trouble. My recent MRI is too clean for anything simple. The really BIG bummer is that the doctor determined that my right leg is also becoming weaker. OH SHIT! Meanwhile, I get to check out more miracles of modern medicine with a CAT scan on my head to look for strokes or tumors, another MRI on my cervical area, and a nerve conduction test. Then there is this other matter: I have a really BIG hard lump in my right breast. Not a tumor -- probably just an abscess. (It got really big, really quick.) I've been on a 14 day regimen of Tequin (Top-Gun antibiotic) since last Thursday. My original description of my malaise to my doctor was that an infection seemed to be camping out first in one spot, then in another around my body. Maybe that's really what it is and the Tequin will take care of it. Of course, maybe NPSA (National Porkanautics and Space Administration) will graduate a porcine astronaut. In the meanwhile, I DID get a prescription for REAL pain killers. Perhaps a good night's sleep tonight. And yes, your prayers are greatly appreciated. Love, K. W. and the Pranksters |