11 days post liberation

Hello everyone,

I wasn't sure what to write at this point, but thought I should make a better effort to start somewhere.  We went to Poland, everyone there was amazing from Kate and Chris to Dr. Kostecki.  Poland is a beautiful country and the people are honest, hard working, hospitable and caring.  The hospital was spotless and the nurses came immediately if they were called.

The procedure was effortless honestly.  I was afraid that because I had gone deaf in my left ear, it would hurt when it was ballooned, but no, it was....as one friend put it....more comfortable than most dentist appointments.  My doplar showed only a small stenosis on the left, but a faulty valve that seriously obstructed blood flow.  They tried to balloon it but it wouldn't stay open, so I opted for a stent.  I didn't feel any immediate effects as I had hoped I would.  I felt less disappointed in the progress and more worried that I had let all my supportive friends and family down.  Not to worry.

The next morning I was chatting with a friend back at the hotel, out on the patio.  We had a water, chatted, had a coffee and chatted some more.  About an hour and 1/2 later Mary looked at me and said, "you know, usually by know you've hobbled off to the bathroom about 3 times!"  Wow, I hadn't even noticed.  My first real improvement!  I was always aware of how much that ruled my life, living from washroom to washroom.  Planning shopping trips around their locations and how much energy I would have to make it there and back before it was too late.  Now that I'm not experiencing so much bladder urgency I have to say, it's a wonderful, freeing feeling!

Then I noticed that my right hand (both hands have been hopelessly numb for over 5 years now) felt less numb and I have better fine motor skills with it.  Slowly over the next few days my hearing improved quite a bit (still not perfect) and the room stopped spinning when I got up or rolled over in bed.  Hubby swears that my color is 'much pinker' and that my eyes are shinging more.  My leg only drags a bit when I've over done it and I'm over tired.  Believe it or not, I actually wore heals to church and then to a meeting with our minority leader MP!  I wore them to the meeting as a statement as to what a difference even the little pleasures in life mean to us, and how effective the procedure can be.

I believe the MP we met with is honestly sympathetic and outraged that we are having to leave Canada for such a promising and simple procedure.  I went through the procedure rather pragmatically, not expecting too much, just hoping to stop progression.  Seriously, the improvements I have had can't be 'placebo'!  so what....i don't want to pee all the time so I don't?  I wish, it never worked for me before!

I had read where others said they weren't used to feeling tired instead of fatigued.  I get it now....tired, hard to recognise.  I even yawn, I haven't done that in a long time.  We spent time with our grand children the other day and I actually felt TIRED!  Not that mind numbing, room spinning, every cell in the body hurting fatigue, but tired!

I will keep fighting for the procedure to be available for everyone with MS.  No more friends should be left to suffer hopelessly, or worse yet, die.  This is a serious violation of human rights and one that needs to be stopped.  Follow up care is now a concern.  I hope I won't have a problem with the one month doplar to check on stent placement and blood flow, but I guess I won't know until I try.

I'll up date again when I have more news.  I had such a magical time in Krakow and wanted to write about that too.  If I go back for a 3 month check up, I'm taking an extra suitcase to bring back shoes!!  Jet lag is the worst thing I've had to deal with physically.  Breaking the trip up more if possible is advisable.  I found the 9 plus hour flight tough mostly because I started to have a panic attack that I wasn't moving as much as I should and would develop blood clots.  Thank goodness for Guy calming me down and keeping me sane.  Oh did I mention, he spent his 55th b day taking care of me in the hospital, then going back to the hotel to phone and write to everyone that I was ok.

Look out world, here we come!