Three Month Visit

On November 13th I saw Dr. Balabanov. He is happy with my progress. I also had blood drawn for a DNA thing I'm participating in. That's it. Not much more to say. He wants to see me again in 3 months but I can't afford it. I'm going to see if I can see my local neurologist. That trip cost us about $1100. We had a great weekend though. We went to the Chicago Institute of Art. I was able to walk around for a few hours without trouble. I also walked through 3 airports on the way there, again, with no trouble.

A couple of days after we got back I started feeling sick. Sore throat, coughing etc. I was so ill on Wednesday morning that I couldn't even make it to the bathroom when I got up without having an accident. Andy had to dress me. I wasn't much better on Thursday morning. I finally decided to go see my doctor Thursday. She didn't test me but concluded that I had the flu. I remember having the flu about 10 years ago and I thought I was gonna die so I have my doubts about having it this time around. But, the point is, it kicked my butt. My temp never even got above 101. I'm feeling good now though!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween and Other Stuff

On the day before Halloween my 5 y/o came home from school with a temp of 102.2. He seemed to get over it pretty well and we made it out the next day for trick or treating for a short time. I started feeling a little yucky that afternoon and I had some walking trouble Halloween night. I made it though and I didn't fall. It seems like one of us is always sick lately.

I've really been pushing myself. I'm back to using the Velcro foot lifter apparatus and it helps me move faster. I've gotten mighty bored in the house so I decided it was time to try to go back to work. I had been cleaning houses before we had kids and I was doing two a day. It was hard work and I've been nervous about getting back into it but had to try. My butt isn't getting any smaller sitting around the house.

I'm no where near as strong or fast as I used to be but it feels good to be back at it. I only have two small jobs and I think I'll get a couple more so I have two a week and I'll stick with that for a while. I was originally planning to wait until after the new year. I'm exhausted when I get home but it's a good kind of physical exhausted!

Andy and I are flying to Chicago on Friday. I had my blood work last week. My hair is getting longer all the time. I still have loads of energy. I'll report about my visit with Dr. Balabanov next week.

Menopause?

I saw my Ob/Gyn this morning. I told her about having to go on the Pill while I was in Chicago and how I had a period a month later. I haven't had one, however, since September. She said I could be experiencing early menopause but we wont know for at least a few months. If I am having early menopause then I will need to go on hormone replacement therapy. She said I'm too young to go through it at this point. So, I guess it's hurry up and wait on this issue.

I'm feeling as good as ever and my walking continues to improve. Last weekend I noticed that walking down hill has become MUCH easier for me. I had been feeling that it might be but finally decided that this is the case when I had to walk down a ramp at a local school. I'm very happy about it, obviously!

On Sunday I attended a 'neighborhood re-union' party. I was one of 4 people there that has MS. The neighborhood that I grew up in is very small. There are at least 7 (that I can think of) people in the neighborhood with MS but 3 of them didn't grow up there. I've heard of cancer clusters but MS clusters?? I don't think it's anything more than a co-incidence to be honest but I find it interesting just the same!

Just an Update

This morning my 5 y/o said "Mom, your walking is almost normal." I said "yeah, pretty good, huh?" I'm feeling good and have had some really good walking days. I've been very busy around the house and over do it some days. Last Friday I spent the day cleaning carpets. My machine is bulky and heavy and it did a job on me. By the end of the day it was time to head upstairs with it but I had to wait for Andy to get home and haul it up for me. Then I did the upstairs. I ended up doing our room a couple of times because the dog had a major accident on our rug Saturday night. (that's never happened before and it figures she waited until after I cleaned the carpet!)

With the cool weather I've been eating like there's no tomorrow. I am getting myself psyched up to go to the gym this morning. I've really packed on the weight. Over the weekend we went apple picking and I walked through the orchard fairly well. It was grassy and that is usually a problem for me but I didn't even trip.

My hair is really looking good. Well, I don't know about good but it's growing like crazy. I have to wear a hat most of the time with the cool weather. I don't know how bald people stand it. Maybe I'm a wuss from not having had to ever deal with it before.

I received a slip from Dr. Balabanov's office last week for blood work that I need to have before I see him. I'll wait until about a week before I go so he can have accurate results. I'm still taking the 50,000 IU of vitamin D a week with no problem.

OK, apple pie is calling from the fridge. I need to get out of here!

Back to Chicago

A few days ago Cory, from Dr. Balabanov's office, called to remind me that I need to be taking Vitamin D and that I need to see the doctor again in late October or early November. I told her that I've been having trouble with the OTC Vitamin D. I didn't tell her that it had been weeks since I've taken any. She said I could go from 5000 units a day to 3000. I tried it and it still made me feel kind of sick. This morning I called the pharmacy and refilled my script for the Vitamin D. It's for 50,000 units a week but I figure that I'd rather take a little more than none at all. I've taken it at 50,000 units weekly in the past with no problems.

She set up an appointment for November 13th for me to see the doctor. He usually doesn't see patients on Friday but made an exception which I greatly appreciate. Andy's birthday is November 10th so we will make a weekend of it. I'm very much looking forward to hearing all of the positive things he has to say!

My hair is growing back like crazy. Not only is it getting longer but it's really filling in. I think that by the end of November my head will be covered. I'm still finding projects around the house that need doing. Yesterday I was moving furniture. One of the kids came home sick from school last week with a mild stomach bug. I remained unscathed. I did take him in to be seen by the pediatrician just to safe though.

I received a call from someone who is interested in this treatment today. I welcome the calls! I think it is important to get the word out about this so if anyone reading this would like to talk to me or email me directly or know of anyone that would please let me know. I believe in this 100%.

More Improvements

Today I went to BJ's Wholesale to do some shopping. I got up to the register and realized I didn't have my debit card to pay for the things I was getting. I had to walk out to the car to get my wallet and then walk back in. I didn't push a carriage for stability when I walked out. I felt totally confident. I never felt like I would trip or even worried about it. I paid for the items, left the store, loaded everything into the car etc. without a problem. When I got home I brought everything into the house and into the cellar. I usually leave everything, except the refrigerated items, in the car for Andy to deal with.

When I got everything inside I decided to wash down the shelving units in the cellar before I put everything away. This took over three hours. I had no trouble with this. I still feel great. This treatment has been amazing for me. I can't say enough positive things about it!!

Walking

I'm very excited about my walking lately. I just got back from the bus stop and, beside a little jerkiness in my left knee, I'm walking almost normally. This morning as I was putting my jeans on I bent down to pick up my left foot to put it into my pant leg but I didn't need to. It was already there! That was amazing to me! I yelled to Andy to look and those few seconds of holding my foot there blew my mind. Then I got up and stood on my tip toes without almost falling over. Wow, am I going to improve faster than I've been thinking I will? Have I rounded some sort of recovery corner? Time will tell.