7 months brings legitimate pigtails

I am excited about this!  Finally I can put my hair up (in pigs anyway) and not have the reverse mohawk in the back.  I would have actually guessed that would have taken just a few months to regrow that long, but i was wrong.  It has been SEVEN MONTHS.

Now the time is really flying.  It is almost time for me to get another MRI to check my progress since my last MRI which was 6 months ago.  I will call soon and get my appointment and of course keep my blog posted.

Thinking about how I feel 7 months out - i will declare some victories and defeats.

First, a victory.  My anxiety is much less then it used to be.  I used to just think about a trigger (mainly anything involving my kids and them getting hurt) and I could whip myself into a frenzy.  Realistic or not.  It seems my mind might navigate those thoughts a little better. (no meds needed) I have had multiple prescriptions for anxiety that I take 1 or 2 and then give up on them. Mainly because the side effects are... anxiety.  SO, i am glad that has eased a bit.

A current defeat is my memory.  It is MUCH worse.  I feel (and am) scatterbrained. I don't feel like I connect like I used to.  The best way to describe it is feeling a bit ADHD. It sometimes takes me 3 or 4 times of reminding myself to do something to actually get it done.  Mentally draining because I can feel the lack of focus.  I also don't seem to be able to recall simple things - did i send that Thank You card?  deliver that birthday invite?  Did i get anything for Mothers Day? (i can't remember)  THAT is odd for me.  I used to be able to recall the smallest details.  I would say the memories affected are the ones from just before my surgery to present.

And, on the mend, my hormones. I was having more then the normal girlie mood swings since my surgery.  I am using birth control pills to even things out.  I think I am almost back on track.

One more note worthy item.  I started Adult beginner tennis last week.  Something I couldn't have done last summer.  I am no good, but I am having fun learning.  I am not sure if I am medically cleared for tennis, but so far no injuries.  I am going with the advice of Dr. Oro (pre-surgery)  If it dosen't feel good - stop doing it.  Usually I would do something and pay for it later.  But, so far beginner tennis hasn't gotten the best of me.

It is a reminder that while it has been 7 months, it has also only been 7 months.  And I guess brain surgery is a big - life changing ordeal.  And mostly for the better.  I still really enjoy (post surgery) sneezing and bending over to grab something or tie a shoe without getting a headrush. I still feel so fortunate with how everything has turned out.  Next post, life changes.

On to 8 months.....

beginner tennis, left  and little hair wisps in my pigtail, right.