Delayed post...

I set this update to post when I am a few hours into a surgery I am having. It's been a while since I posted and with good reason. I had my epiphany and two great weeks of working out, and then I was so sick. Long story short, a few MRIs and several CT Scans found some pretty significant issues. They could be related to much of what I have complained about for years.

Starting in 2007, I have been going to the doctor every 4 months, complaining of many things. I basically had antibiotics every four months for a few years. Vitamin D was low, and many chest ex-rays from chest congestion and many other nuisance side effects. Well, in January, I was going blind in the left eye when I laid down, and it took a few minutes after I stood up before it cleared up and I could see clearly again. This progressively worsened, and in March, it was sometimes a 30-minute effort after a night's sleep before I could see in the morning. Many specialists have been trying to determine what was happening with this ongoing issue. I had an MRI on the head, which showed "the worst long-term sinus infection" the specialist has ever seen. It had spread to the eye socket, and a minor infection of the brain was suspected as well. He thought it should have been debilitating, but it was not and I did explain I have a tendency just to go through pain, otherwise how could a fat man run 50 plus mile races?

This untreated (99% closure of all sinuses closed and one fused together) resulted in an infection of the left eye socket from ethmoid sinusitis fused closed. The eyelid had become noticeably swollen and droopy. There is a growth behind the left eye socket, which is most likely caused by the infection. Almost thought I had a stroke? They also suspect my mild personality changes, headache, neck stiffness, and visual problems have all been part of the infection, which may have spread to the brain. I have been on high doses of antibiotics (including an IV), which seems to help keep the issues at bay but not improve.   My general physician apologized a few times for missing this all these years and getting to this point when I went to have the pre-op physical. I told him I had headaches and pain but learned to live with it... The biggest thing is even with this infection, they pressed on my face, and it was a nuisance, but no pain.

Anyway, at the time of this post, I should be deep into the surgery to remove the growth, grind some bone,  check the membrane behind the eye for any issues, clean out the sinuses,  and hope the eye works afterward... There will be weeks of recovery, and not sure when I will post next. Either way, I hope this is all part of the long-term issues I have had with weight, fatigue, stiffness, and many other things, which are clearly side effects of the problems the surgery is intended to resolve.

On a positive note, my son is here for the summer (well, he was here for a few days but will be in Germany for a month and then back here for 8 weeks before returning to Colorado). When I went to get him last Tuesday, there was a snowstorm in Denver. We had 70 degrees, and they had snow. We drove about 20 MPH on the highway because it was so bad!

Well, I wish I could end this by saying I have to go, but really, with the delay post option, that will not be true. But it is time to leave for the hospital, and I need to publish this post later.

Carry on!