Mike’s Musings: Messing with your brain to fix tremors, my week in a fog

It’s been a week.
Struggling with the cold and snow has been one thing, but last Tuesday I had an appointment for focus ultrasound on the brain and since then I have literally been in a fog.
Now some readers might point out that messing with my brain might knock sense into me- sense that is much needed. But sorry, that wasn’t the reason for the state-of-the-art procedure.
I have struggled with essential tremor most if not all of my life. It is a malady that makes my dominant hand- my left shake constantly, sometimes uncontrollably, thus drinking, eating or writing my own name is difficult. It is hereditary. My father had it, my sister has it, and my son has had it since birth. It can be embarrassing. You can’t eat from a buffet. You get teased by classmates. People think you’re an alcoholic.
One of the reasons I had doubt about this procedure was my full head of hair. I had always worn it long and was not looking forward to a shaved head. I was told it was cool to be bald. I’m not sure if I bought into “its cool to be bald mantra” but I was convinced to go for it, which I did, and can’t wait for the day when I have lots of hair again.
The new procedure pinpoints exactly the area of the brain that causes the tremors and then zaps it with laser beams to stop the shaking. It is very similar to an MRI, except you are in the machine for about an hour. The final minute of that hour is very intense. The pain and pressure is unbearable.
I was going to slide out from under the machine when that final minute hit me. I couldn’t take the pressure. Then I remember the doctor telling me it will only be a minute. I figure I can withstand any pain for a minute. And I did.
I wasn’t prepared, however, for the following days. The doctor, nurses and literature all told me I would have headaches, brain fog and dizziness for two weeks. Well, I’m writing this on Day 6, and I’m struggling to write and remember what I was told 5 minutes ago. I wasn’t supposed to drive for 2 weeks, but I broke that rule on day three.
It will be a miracle if this column makes sense. It’s surreal. I feel stoned without the marijuana. I can’t hit the right keys and everything is so slow, even my speech. I have to be careful how I walk because I might tip over. I actually did on day four, pulling a muscle and scraping up my left side substantially.
I’m told, and I’m confident that by the time you read this the brain fog and dizziness will be gone. I will almost be back to normal except now I can use my left hand.
My fiancé is amazed. My son was flabbergasted. Immediately after the procedure the left hand was fully functional. I could drink a glass of water immediately. I could write my name without using my right hand to steady my left.
I’m asked constantly if you would do it again. I wouldn’t hesitate. In fact, I might ask them to do my right hand in a few months.
And my apology to those readers who would like to see me in a permanent state of brain fog. Ha ha, it ain’t gonna happen.