Where to begin? How about my (benign) brain tumor?

As the title indicates, this blog is mostly about my diagnosis, surgery, and recovery from an ascending aortic aneurysm. This first post is written exactly two weeks before my scheduled surgery at Stanford Hospital. The purpose is to explain how I got here. So where do I begin? With an unrelated health problem.

June 2008
One day at my office I became dizzy and nauseous. I ended up vomiting in the bathroom and unable to stand. After about an hour of turning down help from my concerned co-workers, a nurse from the Capitol was called, and later an ambulance took me to the emergency room. There I was given anti-nausea medication and a series of tests. A head CT showed a small mass just inside my left ear. I was released with some anti-nausea medication and told to follow-up on the unknown mass with neurology. I saw my own personal physician that day and an MRI was scheduled. I felt fine the next two days. However, on Friday of the same week, I had the same thing happen all over again. Dizziness, unable to walk, vomiting, yuck. I had forgotten to bring my medication, darn!!

My wife was very concerned and pressed my physician to move up my MRI to the very next day. I had another similar episode the following Tuesday but this time the medication limited the spell to dizziness and nausea with no vomiting. Following the MRI, I had an assessment with Dr. C. (a neurosurgeon). He concluded that the mass was benign, most likely an epidermoid cyst or a fatty lipoma. It may or may not have contributed to the dizziness. Absent any more symptoms, his recommendation was do nothing and have another MRI a year later. I did have a hearing test which documented some hearing loss in my left ear.

June 2009
After the three episodes in June 2008, I had no recurrence. In July 2008, I completed the Vineman 70.3 half-iron distance triathlon in 6 hours and 20 minutes. As suggested, I had another MRI in June 2009 and met again with Dr. C. He concluded that the cyst had not grown or moved and he was not at all concerned about it. He did suggest another follow-up MRI in 1 more year. Before leaving he did a very brief physical exam. Just before finishing he put his stethoscope on my chest and said "anyone ever talk to you about that heart murmur?" I replied "no." He then said in a somewhat self-deprecating manner, "Well if the brain doctor can hear it, anyone could." This marked the beginning of my time as a heart patient.