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Well, today I saw my VA neurologist.

To sum up a long conversation with Dr. Benjamin, she could not believe that I could sit up, walk, touch her finger or really anything because it requires some coordination. Since I no longer have a cerebellum (or very little of one) that SHOULD be IMPOSSIBLE. Not just difficult, but not possible. I guess I could sum it up by saying that I had a great visit with her.

There was a surgical resident in the room with us. She knew nothing about me, but she also said that I should not be able to do anything. (Not that Dr. Benjamin did not know what she was talking about, but the resident did not have any reason to think anything out of the ordinary about me.) Dr. Benjamin also let the resident (and me) see the CT scans from before my surgery. She showed me where the cerebellum was infarcting (stroking). Basically, I would have to agree with her assessment that I no longer have an operating cerebellum left. She also showed me where the CT scan showed my brain swelling, putting pressure on my brain stem.

As a side note, I also found out that I should NOT have had a spinal tap while I was having a stroke. Apparently the local hospital thought I was having spinal meningitis (which was a logical assumption) but they never explored the option of a stroke. They assumed I was having spinal meningitis from the first second I walked into the ER.

Dr. Benjamin was AMAZED that I could walk anywhere without a cerebellum. Now, if I was being transparent for a minute, it is a humbling thing to hear a Dr. say that it should be IMPOSSIBLE for me to do what I am doing without a cerebellum. It can be a very humbling experience to hear them talk about you like you are some sort of FREAK. Now, it may be difficult to hear, but I will take it over the alternative any time.

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