healthy1

Well, it is official, folks. I have been stricken with the flu. I feel as though I have been hit by a mack truck - twice. Surely anyone who has ever had the flu knows this awful feeling all too well.

I literally all but crawled to my computer to let my fellow bloggers/readers be aware of my current health status. Dedicated? Psycho is more like it, I think. Anyway, I will be absent from blogging for a few days.

In my absence, should anything miraculous happen, I will be sure to let you all know when I have recovered; semi or fully. Hopefully, it will be the latter…

I am reading this great book, “Multiple Sclerosis for Dummies”. Yes, you know the books. It seems there is a “dummies” book to cover just about every subject matter and I, for one, am glad. Besides being written in a very friendly, sensitive manner, it also includes a sense of humor, a much needed plus for books of this particular subject. Another bonus - it’s printed in large print. Although I do not have any issues with my vision due to CIS/MS, as many people do, the large print is a welcomed relief for those of us whose vision ain’t what it used to be, due to aging.

I am especially interested in the current chapter I’m reading, “Considering Complementary and Alternative Medicine”. This is right up my alley, as I am a big fan of holistic and alternative therapies and treatments. I will keep you posted on any new and/or interesting findings.

There seems to be a slew of ongoing trial studies available for possible, new MS medications. Up until now, I had not seen too many promising oral medications. Although I have chosen not to take any meds for my CIS/MS (mainly in part because they are only injectables currently available), this piqued my interest nonetheless:

“Oral Drug Study Shows Promising Results”

Results of a clinical trial of oral BG00012 show that the highest-tested doses led to a 69% reduction in active inflammation on MRI scans. Further clinical and safety data from the Phase 3 studies will help determine if this oral therapy can be used effectively and safely in people with MS.

For the Phase 2 study, 257 people with relapsing-remitting MS were assigned to receive a low, medium or high dose of daily oral BG0012, or inactive placebo, for 24 weeks. Although its exact mechanism of action is not known, BG00012, an oral fumarate, is thought to inhibit immune cells and molecules and could be protective against damage to the central nervous system.

Adverse reactions included abdominal pain, flushing, headache, fatigue and feeling hot. Oh well. Not too bad…but back to the drawing board I say. Who wants side effects on top of dealing with a disease?

I read these fundraising tips and thought I would share some of the various ways you can try to reach your team/individual goals if you are part of the annual MS Walk - or any walk for that matter:

- Start a Facebook or MySpace page, or use the Walk MS Web site.
- Create team “business cards” with your Web site address and hand them out.
- Try submitting your personal MS story, and information about the walk to a local newspaper as a letter to the editor.
- Ask your employer, companies you do business with or your congregation to sponsor your team.
- Send e-mails, or snail mail to friends, relatives, co-workers…everyone. Follow-up as the walk date nears.
- See if local restaurants that you frequent are willing to dedicate a percentage of their sales over the course of one day to your team. Encourage your team members, friends and family to eat there.

I’ve been having a pity-party of sorts lately. Between the never-ending health issues, doctors’ appointments, hospital tests, bloodwork, etc., it takes a toll on your state of mind. Positive as I try to be, sometimes it gets the better of us when we’re not looking.

All that changed today when I received an email from National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Apparently, I am now a member of the “2008 Gold Soles Club”. If you were a first-time “walker” in the MS Walk 2008, and raised more than $500.00, you are officially a member. I was absolutely thrilled and honored. My outlook changed completely from being bummed out to being very happy.

I realized at that moment I had been a part of something good, done something for a good cause, and hopefully contributed to help find a cure - soon - for MS. And now I was being acknowledged for it. What could be better than that? Anything that had been bothering me seemed petty now. What was I thinking?

Hey…progress! I am now sitting in the actual exam room. Wonder how long I will be here? After fifteen minutes have passed, I seriously give some thought to taking off my shoes and lying down on the examination table for a nap. As soon as I start counting sheep, in walks my doctor.

She immediately apologizes for the long wait, and softie that I am, all is forgiven. She tells me what I already know: that I am there because my MRI indicates I have several cysts on my thyroid that need to be checked out. She feels my throat, says she feels nothing, and starts to write up a slip for my ultrasound. I am surprised I haven’t been told I need to see an endocrinologist first. She says I will need to see one if the results of the ultrasound are of concern. Hmmm. Was today’s visit even necessary? Couldn’t she have called me on the phone and set this up? Talk about a huge waste of money - and time! I spent no more than five minutes with her. But I’ll bet insurance will happily pay for this visit, yet deny me some urgent test or procedure I will need down the road. Call me crazy, but I don’t get it.

An appointment is made for my ultrasound for two weeks from now. I will also be having a blood test to check to see if my thyroid is normal.

I am sitting in the waiting room of my primary care physician. Despite the fact that I am the only one here, I have been waiting for over forty minutes now and I am not a happy camper. Why is it that if the patient is ever late, we catch an earful…but if the doctor is late, well, then the doctor is late and that is that? If only the staff would call you and let you know the doctor is running, oh, say, forty minutes late. That would be nice, yes?

Knowing that I will be called soon, only to be brought to yet another room in which I will wait some more does not make me feel any better. I have memorized every tile on the ceiling. I have flipped through every, dated magazine. I have thought about how great it would be to not be here…over and over again.

I thought I was smart by making my appointment so late in the day, thinking the staff, doctor, et al would all go out of their way to get out the door by 5:00pm. I was mistaken once again.

This turning 50 thing is working out rather nicely for me so far. Besides the amazing day I had yesterday, complete with an unbelievable gift from my husband, today is special too. I went to a Birthday Brunch with family members, which was lovely. I truly cannot remember a time when I was more happy and connected to everyone.

But the bubble will burst and I will return back to reality tomorrow, as I have my appointment with my primary care physician. I’m sure she will perform a quickie examination of me, and then suggest a name or two of a specialist I will have to see for the cysts on my thyroid. From there, I will have my ultrasound and after that, who knows.

So after a brief respite from doctors and hospitals and tests, I am back in the grind first thing tomorrow. To be continued…

Well, today is my 50th birthday. I used to think turning 50 would bum me out, but now that it has happened, I feel quite the contrary.

My husband took me and my daughter out to dinner at my favorite restaurant. That would have been gift enough for me, but much to my surprise, he had something else up his sleeve. When we returned home, he handed me a large envelope that had clues in it. One of the clues was letters that were scrambled to make a sentence. I finally figured out the clue and it read “Will you marry me again?” I was so moved and my eyes immediately began to well.

As if that weren’t enough, my husband then said we were going to renew those vows on a cruise in June. After I picked myself up off the floor, I hugged, kissed and thanked him over and over again.

You know, a friend asked me the other day how I feel about turning 50. In spite of my health issues, I thought for a moment and said “Instead of saying ‘I am turning 50 - oh God!’ I am saying ‘I am turning 50 - thank God’”.

That about sums it up.

Several days later, my neurologist calls to give me the results of my MRI. I brace myself for bad news, as I always do. I figure this way, if the news is bad, I am at least somewhat prepared for it. If the news is good, well, then no need for preparation - just celebration.

Doc tells me after looking at my MRI, he sees no changes since last year. None. Everything looks the same. As I pick up my jaw, I ask if this confirms his belief that I did not have another attack, rather my symptoms flared up. He says yes. I am delighted. He tells me to continue with what I am doing, as it seems to be working. I will see him in six months. I am ready to say adios…not so fast.

He tells me they found something on my MRI that they were not looking for; it just showed up. Oh man. I came thisclose to a clean break. He says there are cysts on my thyroid. Cysts on my thyroid? Okay. I ask if he tends to see this with MS patients. He tells me yes, but with the patients who take the medication. I am not taking the medication, so once again, I am odd man out.

He tells me to call my PCP and my PCP will send me to a specialist to have an ultrasound. Does this never end?