ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Inquiries => Topic started by: Palace on January 10, 2012, 02:46:32 pm
-
What books do you own about the brain that might help new Acoustic Neuroma patients?
Here is my small library about our brain which has helped me understand the use of my own brain.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Betty Edwards
The Mind's Eye: Oliver Sacks
The Paradoxical Brain: Edited by Narinder Kapur (Foreword by Oliver Sacks)
The Tell-Tale Brain: V.S. Ramachandran ("Ramachandran at his best. ---Oliver Sacks)
-
Musicophilia: Oliver Sacks
Left Neglected: Lisa Genova
The Scalpel and the Soul: Allan J. Hamilton
Living Well with a Hidden Disability: Stacy Taylor
...... to name a few.
Clarice
-
Clarice:
I do own Musicophilia and got it after I was diagnosed with the AN---very informative and interesting read.
The other books you have recommended are good topics.
This should be interesting and helpful.
Thanks so much for your input and I hope other patients have some good ideas for reading.
Much appreciation,
Palace
-
Living Well with a Hidden Disability: Stacy Taylor
Agree with this one. I have recommended it to many here on the forums over the years. Was given to me by my sister back in early 2000's when I was diagnosed with a different "hidden" disability (not AN related) and made a world of difference as to how the world views me... and how I view the world and how to contend with what I deal with on a daily basis. Great read!
Phyl
-
I'd recommend, "I had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse?" by Suzy Becker. It the story of a woman's journey from diagnosis through recovery. It's funny and poignant and full of all kinds of pointers. (The author did NOT have an AN, but many of her experiences are similar.)
staypoz
-
"The Brain That Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge, MD. My daughter gave me this book after I had a stroke. I was having problems saying what I was thinking, and my short term memory was pretty bad. Still have problems with both, but life goes on.
First chapter in the book is "A Woman Perpetually Falling". It is about a woman with a damaged vestibular system. Little did I know when I got this book, that my vestibular system was already under attack.
This book is about how your brain can adapt to changes.
James
-
I read Keith Black's book "Brain Surgeon" It was OK. He describes the AN surgery he performed for T-boz (? spelling) the singer/dancer from the group TLC. If anyone wants it I can mail it to you (free). I am done with it.
-
I will take it. I like T-Boz and would be interested. I can PM you my address..... ;D ;D
-
Sure!
-
Actually I'm not sure I should it might freak me out. ???
-
Hi Everyone:
I wrote in private early yesterday saying I'd read the book if she "New girl" would pass it on to me. I sent my address, too. We could pass it around, if need be. Having an online book-club might work. (just an idea) I have nerve to read the book. I read all the others I could find. Thanks everyone for the recommendations and keep them coming. It's interesting.
Regards,
Palace
-
Palace,
If its ok with New girl you can have it. I'm not sure I am mentally ready to read it. I will take it after my surgery if that is ok? Are you having surgery? I see that you had CK too?
Thanks
Mindy
-
The Paradoxical Brain book:
Refusing a helping hand - constraint-induced therapy in rehabilitation......
It is natural to try to compensate for disability using any means, including making the most of one's residual abilities. Given that rehabilitation is ultimately about working with patients to help them achieve functional goals as easily and independently as possible, artifically hindering people by deterring the use of the intact functions appears paradoxical and perverse. That, however, is the essence of various forms of 'constraint-induced therapy'. The idea in its original manifestation in motor recovery is simple: if we do not use a limb, prolonged non-use will compound the initial damage and the full potential for recovery many not be realized.
-
Mindy:
I wrote to you privately as not to hijack my very own thread.
Here is just an interesting short quip from TPB book:
Despite being tested on their comprehension of the rules before and after a test, and their above average IQ scores, the patients with frontal lesions showed a strong tendency to get caught up in one or other of the tasks to the detriment of the overall goal.
*Since having an AN, I'm distracted or forget my original focused intention of a daily task as I blast through my grueling schedule whether in my home office or house chores. I work hard on focusing.
My best,
Palace
-
Palace
I am right there with ya. I have to concentrate harder on things than I believe a non AN person has to. I don't like to blame everything on the AN but I do find myself wondering....
-
Phyl:
I will get this one for my Kindle reading while traveling on the plane. I just got back from seeing my AN boyfriend in New England, over the holiday season. I like the Kindle for easy reading and some books I want to keep in hardback for my library. Thanks so much and do you have any special sections in this book you might highlight for us patients? Happy New Year, Phyl!
RE: Living Well with a Hidden Disability: Stacy Taylor
-
Staypoz:
RE:
"I had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse?"
*I use Amazon to ship items up into the redwood area; I'm a couple hours below San Francisco. I'll research that book. Do you have anymore input regarding this intriguing
book? Thanks for the new insight and help.
Pal
-
james e:
"The Brain That Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge, MD sounds like it is directed closely for AN patients and I will certainly look into this information/read.
I used to be very good at spelling and with the spell-checker on the computer, I'm falling short. It's like the gadgets for math.
We all need to go back to "thinking."
Thanks again for participating in this helpful thread,
Palace
-
Here is a good link/read;
http://www.neuroskills.com/brain-injury/brain-function.php
-
Palace, regarding the "I had Brain Surgery..." book. My sister gave it to me pre-surgery. For me, it was a comfort to read about someone else's journey -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- and emergence on the other side. It's been seven years since I read it, so I don't remember many details, but I do remember one very concrete suggestion the author made about needing clothes that button down, as opposed to pull over, post surgery. That's what I packed for the hospital and I'm so glad I did, what with the dressings from the AN surgery and CSF leak repair.
staypoz
-
Hi Everyone:
This is interesting any suggestions especially for new patients. It's pertinent to know as much as possible on your own as, we don't get all clear answers from the medical team---at least in the beginning. People who are experienced can certainly help the most in the first-hand up-to-date information which they have gone through and hopefully, continued with a new view of quality life, appreciating more what we/they do have. True, it's a "high price to pay" but, maybe we come out better people!
I went one step further and I'm now reading "Lab 257" by Michael Christopher Carroll. True, this isn't exactly a brain book yet, I always wonder where I got the AN. (will never really know) There are so many germs, hidden government experiments and the environment we now live in isn't so pure. The skies, the ground, the electronics we use, the dangerous toxic polluted work-place are all considerations regarding our brain function reaction (possible deterioration) and health play a role in the quality and longevity of our existence.
This is a bit "off-topic read" yet, perhaps those of you who are interested in research to keep our brain "intact," what is left of if <grin> or those of you looking for an interesting read post-surgery, that is another book of my choice.
If you want a funny read after surgery I might suggest one that a former AN patient recommended to me: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe. I then since read, Hippie Dictionary. If you want to get away from your brain then travel with the book, Hand To Mouth To India or the old book (got the 50 anniversary edition) On the Road. (all these are easily found on Amazon as you all know by now)
Happy reading and keep the brain books happening.
Thanks for you help,
Palace
-
Hello Fellow Patients:
Here are a couple more books I haven't read yet-
The Human Brain Book by Rita Carter, Susan Aldridge, Martyn Page and Steve Parker (Hardcover - Aug 31, 2009)
The Brain Book, Know Your Own Mind and How To Use It by Peter Russell (2010)
Thanks for your support,
Palace
-
Palace ~
Interesting thread with lots of useful reading suggestions.
This comment (post#20) motivated me to offer the observation that ANs were were first observed well over 100 years ago, long before most of the things you mentioned existed although sanitary conditions, generally, were far worse in 1912 than today. I might also mention that medical researchers have suggested defects in tumor suppressor genes as a possible cause of ANs.
I went one step further and I'm now reading "Lab 257" by Michael Christopher Carroll. True, this isn't exactly a brain book yet, I always wonder where I got the AN. (will never really know) There are so many germs, hidden government experiments and the environment we now live in isn't so pure. The skies, the ground, the electronics we use, the dangerous toxic polluted work-place are all considerations regarding our brain function reaction (possible deterioration) and health play a role in the quality and longevity of our existence.
Jim
-
Jim:
Good to see you and a sincere "Happy New Year to you, your people close to you and animals."
First Jim, I want you to know I realize how true this is and how much I appreciate all information from you:
You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them.
Yes, I believe this and tumors throughout the body seem to accompany AN patients or so I read; here is part of your post: medical researchers have suggested defects in tumor suppressor genes as a possible cause of ANs.
Regards,
Palace
-
Let us not forget to order this one for our own Valentine's Day:
Book of the Mind: Key Writings on the Mind from Plato and the Buddha Through Shakespeare, Descartes, and Freud to the Latest Discoveries.
Pal
-
I'd be interested in any books about the brain that are being passed along. Thanks for this info!
Best,
Lisa M
-
Palace, great to see you here again!! ;D
Left Neglected was a wonderful book and very interesting, but it didn't have anything to do with ANs or the symptoms/side-effects.
I also really loved "I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse?"
Some very good suggestions in this thread; I'll have to check them out.
Best "books" I know regarding ANs are actually the informational brochures published by the ANA - and free for the asking. They are invaluable resources for anyone with an AN.
Hope to see you here on a regular basis; you've been missed.
Jan
-
For those with AN post-op head pain, there is a book, The Pain Chronicles, by Melanie Thernstrom. In it she interviews an AN patient.
staypoz
-
Staypoz:
I can use this book, The Pain Chronicles as, I was bit in the face a few days ago (Monday @ noon) by a Great Dane. I went a long distance to Urgent Care. (got a current tetanus shot and given Vicodin when the pain began to worsen) The Vicodin did no good and I was sent to ER waiting for a plastic-surgeon to be called in. I got out around midnight after being sutured. (at least 50+ stitches and I'm allergic to Vicryl sutures so, other material was used) I went to an all-night-pharmacy, then back up in the mountains and in the house nearly one in the morning, the next day/night. I get the threads removed next week. I'm dealing with the owners of the dogs' homeowner's insurance since it happened at their house. Thanks for the latest book suggestion, "Staypoz."
Vicryl (polyglactin 910) is an absorbable, synthetic, braided suture, manufactured by Ethicon Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson. [1] It is indicated for soft tissue approximation and ligation. The suture holds its tensile strength for approximately three to four weeks in tissue, and is completely absorbed by hydrolysis within 60 days. Vicryl and other polyglycolic acid sutures may also be treated for more rapid breakdown in rapidly healing tissues such as mucous membrane, or impregnated with triclosan to provide antimicrobial protection of the suture line.
Although the name "Vicryl" is a trademark of Ethicon, the term "vicryl" has been used generically referring to any synthetic absorbable suture made primarily of polyglycolic acid. Other brands of polyglycolic acid suture include Surgicryl, Biovek, Visorb, Polysorb and Dexon, all of which are manufactured by different companies.
I hope you get tested first for any suture material used before brain surgery.
I'm on Oxycodin for a short time during this latest trauma. I'll be fine---takes time, like most injuries.
We can get most brain books on Amazon and keep them for ourselves. It's difficult to rely on other people. Stay as independent as possible.
Be well all of you.......
Palace
-
http://www.ccrcal.org/PDF/BrainTumor2.pdf
-
On Amazon for example, Brain Surgeon by Keith Black, MD (with Arnold Mann and a foreword by, Forest Whitaker) the benefits of this book are astronomical although there are two basic AN sections. (estimated pages with AN data of about 35-40)
Formats Price New Used Collectible
Hardcover
Only 8 left in stock - order soon.
$24.99 $16.65 $4.89 $0.01 $9.99
Kindle Edition Auto-delivered wirelessly $9.99
-
Hello Family Village,
SAMe (not to be offtrack) shows by studies that it helps support a positive outlook, cross the blood-brain barrier, where it affects the synthesis and activation of various proteins, such as neurotransmitters. I take "this over-the-counter" drug which plays a roll in transmethylation. Transmethylation reactions affect the synthesis activation, and metabolism of various biological molecules. The compounds that SAMe methylates are phospholipids. This is a fundamental step in the mediation of cell-to-cell communication. Levels of SAMEe tend to decline with age.
This drug not only helps me sleep--- it aids in concentrating fully on reading very detailed brain books and other educational books. SAMe helps support joint comfort, function and mobility in the spine, hips, and knees. This OTC medicine might help with balance for those of you with the AN stages and fear. Please do ask your doctor about this drug before taking it even though you may easily purchase SAMe at any health-related store.
I'm not pushing this OTC drug, just enlightening the help I've noticed experimenting as do most of us, during "our own blind alley" feeling our way alone through the walls of our AN path.
Blueberries seem to help the brain and I do notice a difference eating copious amounts of fresh blueberries when I try and retain most, if not all the information I read with these brain books. It helps when I read these books to gain a positive outlook and stimulate my brain at the same time.
I read The Tell-Tale Brain by V.S. Ramachandran about a year or so, ago. This is an excellent book, as is The Pain Chronicles by Melanie Thernstrom, The Brain Book by Peter Russell and the Paradoxical Brain. edited by Narinder Kapur however, I just want to mention the one book that I didn't find a contents section which I read lately is, The Brain Surgeon by Keith Black, MD.
I'm a patient (pardon the pun) person and usually plod my way through books I'm not even interested in although in brain books, I try to find the Acoustic Neuroma data (if there is any) first, in a book regarding the brain.
Thanks again and keep the suggestions with "brain books" coming around this thread.
Regards,
Palace
-
Leapyrtwins:
Would you like to give us some details about the book, "I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse?" What impressed you the most about that book?
Thank-you,
Palace
-
Palace -
it's been a few years since I read it. But what stuck with me the most was the author's sense of humor - something that I thrive on and couldn't have made it through my AN Journey without. I even got my neurotologist, a low-key serious-type of guy to get on my humor bandwagon and by the time I had my BAHA implant surgery he and I were cracking jokes in the midst of his drilling ;D
The author's brain tumor is more of a "brain tumor" than an AN is - by that I mean there was a question of whether her tumor was malignant or benign. And I also remember that her recovery was somewhat different than those of us with an AN.
Jan
-
Hello Friends:
When I have time the latest books I have waiting for me are, "The Emotional Life Of Your Brain" Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D. with Sharon Begley (best selling author of 'Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain') recommended on this thread, "Living Well with a Hidden Disability" Stacy Taylor, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. with Robert Epstein, Ph.D. and lastly for now---"The Human Brain Rita Carter." (an illustrated guide to it's structure, function, and disorders) This book includes a DVD.
I'm extremely busy with work so, I don't know when I'll read these. I've got some lighter reading material right now and need a break from "brain books."
Thank-you for all your ideas for books and insight material on AN and brain-related data.
Keep posting any new books for review, if you like. I've learned so much already.
Palace
-
Thank-you: Another brain book but this time it's by someone on our forum!
http://www.amazon.com/Hell-Head-Brain-Tumor-Things/dp/0615642012/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344755218&sr=1-1&keywords=hell+in+the+head+david+shannon
-
Hello AN Friends:
The Hell in the Head by David Douglas Shannon is excellent and I enjoyed reading his book. Thanks to David for his much-needed contribution for all of us.
The forum here is great for new people and now very well organized.
I found it heart-warming that David was able to meet other AN patients.
From all I've read on this forum and in brain books, I had very unusual and severe/serious symptoms which I don't see as common. I'm pleased to see this book so quickly published since David really got going writing, considering all the other activities he has with his personal life.
I'm hoping other people from this forum will (or have already) read and appreciated his work.
Thank-you so much, David!
Palace
-
An Acoustic What? One patient's Acoustic Neuroma journey
__________________________________________________________________________________________
An Acoustic What? One patient's Acoustic Neuroma journey [Paperback]
Yvonne Tommis (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review) | Like (0)
Price: $14.50 Eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime.
Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $3.99 -- --
Paperback $14.50 $8.49 $7.66
-
I want to say "amen" concerning David Shannon's new book, Hell in the Head.. it is an easy , excellent read and has some VERY helpful resources and info especially for the newly diagnosed,, in easy to read language. Very timely indeed. Thanks,, David!! Jane
Amazon.com... $14.95
-
Thanks Palace. Hope all is well with you.
-
I just read "An Acoustic What? One patient's Acoustic Neuroma journey" by Yvonne Tommis. It was a good read. The focus of this book was more on the struggle to find doctors and make a treatment decision whereas LA David's "Hell in my Head" book focused on post treatment issues. She refers to the IAC as an "anatomical Spaghetti Junction." I thought that was clever. Thanks Palace for the recommendation.
-
Doing a search in the Barnes and Noble online bookstore, with the keywords "acoustic neuroma", I came across a book that was just published on October 30th called "Diagnosis Brain Tumor" by C. Michael Miller. It's available as a NookBook for $3.99. I am going to check it out!
-
How many of you find that to process info and actually do what you meant to do is an issue? I am not sure if it the AN or? But this past yr or so I think to act on something but it takes so long or I never do. I was such a doer multi tasker and although I have just been diagnosed a 11/23/12 I am putting the pieces together and better understanding them. My hearing has been lost partially for over 6 months. my research has gone from they want to remove it very soon to another MD who's done over 1000 of AN removal said there are not stats on if we watch and wait or not (= do surgery or radiation)the research is the same those who wait or those who get it out seem to not get rid of AN - it is a lifetime b/c they can grow back... this was a real blow yet I thanked him for his honesty since I being in the med/dental profession realize how it has all become such a business. Although I believe that brain tumors would never be in that category I am aware of how I was ready to get it out with the chance of loosing full hearing or whatever can happen even w/CK at low doses. I have been on overload w/ over 150 hrs of research on AN and over 7 expert MD's giving me their expert opinions.... Not one matched the other.... so sad we still do not have = standards or protocols... I am depressed I think over this ...those who I tell say fix it and move on - b/c everyone wants it over with - from what info I see this is a lifetime - so ACCEPTANCE is in order fro me. After 7 long years of suffering other major events this was a real blow... esp the hearing and balance that is never predictable.. Hope everyone really does their research as Dr. Tward who works at Boston General was gracious enough to call me after I sent all to him and be honest and extremely informative... God Bless you all and have us all be supportive for each other as each one of us is our thumbprint.. and cannot go thru anything unless it is to serve us to our highest good.... Grace Gentle Healing
-
Just finished reading Suzy Becker's "I had brain surgery, what's your excuse?". It was a WONDERFUL book! Very honest book filled with great humor. We live in the same area so I also appreciated a lot of the local references. I am looking into getting some of her other books.
-
Hi New Girl and Friends:
There will be more books out regarding the brain since techs probably can tell what we are thinking during an MRI scan.
You might be interested in how pain is measured from scans these days and new details.
http://news.yahoo.com/doctors-brain-scans-see-measure-pain-210707739.html
Regards,
Palace