Personally, I find the memory effects must freakier than a little pain.

But I suspect you received excellent care and a thorough work up, so glad all went well.

Last February I went in for a routine eye check and they told me that my optic nerves were swollen. So? What could it mean?

First we did some tests to make sure they really were swollen and then they said “Early onset multiple sclerosis or brain tumor. Further tests will confirm which.”

I walked out to my car on numb legs and just sat there for a minute, and then I thought “What makes you so special? In a world of car bombs, AIDS, cancer, the mullahs, Hutus and Tutsis, why did you think you’d get out unscathed? Deal with it. Man up.”

So I decided that whatever happened, I’d just live it one day–or one minute–at a time and not let myself be bitter. I’d think of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and try to be like them.

Long story short, a spinal tap (They’re agony; don’t let them kid you about that) showed I had a condition called pseudotumor cerebri, in which my stupid brain pumps out more cerebrospinal fluid that I need, creating too much pressure and ruining my optic nerves.

I’ve been taking a nasty medication since April, which makes my lips, hands, and feet tingle, gives me crystals in my urine, makes me sleepy and depressed, gives me diarrhea, makes milk and soda taste like rubbing alcohol, and inhibits my concentration, and I’ll be on it for another few months, but I’m still here.

Hooah.

Get your eyes checked, folks. I’d never heard of this thing until I got it.