A New Path Discovered - originally posted 12/30/2020

As 2020 comes to a close, I have some good news I want to share!

As many of you know, I have still been struggling with my brain injury recovery. I just can’t seem to find the right recipe for building tolerance to activity and recovery time, often resulting in pain, migraines, overstimulation, and overwhelm that slows my cognition. As my therapy successes dwindle and we have begun focusing on symptom management, I have been convinced that there are root causes I have not been able to accurately address or rehabilitate.

Just before Christmas, I took a leap and scheduled a consultation exam with a brain injury specialist, Dr. Nathan Keiser in Chelsea, Mi. He really knows his stuff - I’ve been following him for a while on Instagram and I’m so lucky someone of his prowess is located in Michigan!

Through precision diagnostic testing that I found fascinating, we discovered information on why many of these things are happening... to my understanding, this is the best I can describe the most notable parts:

 -The basal ganglia part of my brain is not interpreting sensory input correctly - many of my cells are working overtime to make simple connections that normally functioning brains have to spend very little energy on.

- My eyes are blinking SO often to aid my brain in filtering sensory information - sometimes twice per second whereas the normal person blinks once per 15 seconds!

- My autonomic nervous system is not regulating correctly (things you don’t have to think about like your heart beating) meaning I have POTS and Dysautonomia.

The best news is - Dr. Keiser thinks he can treat me!! So my leap of faith continues beginning January 4th with a two week intensive. I will be treated in multiple sessions a day (as my brain and pain allows) and I will be staying at a lovely Victorian Inn within walking distance of his office so I can rest in between.

After 2.5 years of this journey, worrying that I would have to live my life in extremely limited ways without a foreseeable end in sight and often being told to accept my limitations, this news is beyond exciting!! I move into 2021 with a renewed sense of hope. This may not be the final answer to my recovery, but I feel deeply that it is a big step in the right direction.

Sending heartfelt thanks to all of you for your prayers and support so far and wishing you all a wonderful new year with hope and love.

2021... here we come

PS - Check out Dr. Keiser on Instagram (@dockeiser)- he has some really informative videos!!