Friday, July 16, 2010

5 weeks post angioplasty

I can't believe it's been 5 weeks since I was in Poland having an angioplasty. In some ways it feels like a life time ago, in others, like yesterday.

I did hit the ground running when I returned, and stress issues popped up as they always do when you have a big family. I had some back slide days, but the past 3 days I've notice I regained what little I lost and then some. It just goes to show that it takes time to heal.

And....heal we will! The fight for others still waiting for the procedure will go further, and faster with many of us tapping into new found energy and mental clarity. I'm so pleased to see more and more places opening to treat persons with CCSVI. But, we still have to fight to make this available in our home areas, and insist on proper training for those who will be treating people.

I agree with Joan that many Interventional Radiologists are just waiting, anxiously to help us with our vascular issues, it is after all their area of expertise. Unfortunately we have to do battle on their behalf as well, to be allowed to practice their profession to the fullest.

Some new changes I noticed:

my 'bad' hand is slowly improving.

I sleep better

My ability to focus clearly on things I'm reading or talking about has greatly improved

My ability to make decisions, quickly and with confidence has returned (I swear I had too many days this past year where I couldn't even decide what to wear for the day)

I think my eyes have improved, my glasses are driving me nuts! need to go to the eye doc to have that checked very soon.

I feel 'happier' in general, and handle stressors and conflicts much better than I have in years.

It seems i have to take stock once in a while, really sit and think and then I notice there are more things coming to the surface. My husband will also mention things I hadn't noticed, so how can anyone attribute that to 'placebo'?

Saturday, July 10, 2010

One month Birthday

So, today is my one month birthday since having a stent put in my jugular in Poland.  I'm still doing WAY better than I was pre procedure, but I've had some backslide days.  I still have clearer congnition, speaking, almost no fatigue to deal with.   But, I've over done it, kind of hit the ground running with meetings (3 in just over a week) to try and further the cause for treatment in Canada.  That has brought it's own frustration.  After going to a meeting with one minister, I was told I would be asked to go to another, with his 'expert advising doctors' within 2 weeks.  Well Tuesday is 2 weeks and I have a feeling it isn't going to happen.  I've been enjoying my grand babies so much, I babysat, over night....twice!  So, I've snuck away up north for a bit to try and catch up on some rest and let my body heal some more.

Oh, yes, I can't forget to mention, the hearing continues to improve which is good most of the time....hubby's doing renos need I say more?  There were times when being deaf in one ear, partially in the other came in handy with some head phones  My sense of direction for where sound is coming from is improving but not perfect yet.   I also think my eyes may have improved (really need an eye appointment) since my glasses are driving me nuts and I've had some low grade head aches at the back of my head.  Since I noticed these improvements, someone sent me a study saying that ballooning the jugular has been an accepted treatment for hearing and vision problems....so much for 'new'!

Crutches continue to stare at me from the corner, gathering dust....poor things.....they can stay lonely!  My balance is so much better, but is off a bit the past couple of days.  I haven't had lyrmett's sign at all since I returned home, and my right had is about 60% better although my left is the same.  Dr. Kostecki said that made sense since the left jugular affects the right hand.  Still, it would be great to get the feeling and dexterity back in my hands.

MS hug continues to be an issue.  Someone told me once, or I read somewhere (the past few months have been the normal MS blur) that the dreaded hug is connected to azygos involvement.  When i was on the table, I did ask the doctor performing the angio, if he ballooned my azygos.  His reply was "there was a physiological abnormality, we can get the wire in but not the balloon, but we think the blood flow is adequate".  hmmmmm, yup I said hmmmmm, I'm not convinced that I don't have an issue with the Azygos at all.  It seems that most who have had this ballooned have had function and feeling returned to their hands, and the MS hug go away.  So, I'm waiting for a follow up, preferably by someone who knows what to look for of course (NOT where I went for my first scan), and then perhaps go somewhere to have this dealt with.  I'm wondering if because I was part of a study, if they only dealt with Jugular blood flow issues.  I haven't heard from anyone who went to the same clinic, having their azygos ballooned.  There were 25 patients in the past 2 weeks that were treated, which is way more than they had been doing, but not one has gotten back to me about azygos ballooning.  I did have a good look finally at my scan disks, making copies for another clinic.  I of course am not a radiologist, but if what I saw is the azygos, there are 3 significantly narrowed, flat spots.

My legs remain strong most of the time, but when I over did it babysitting, I did wake up to rubbery legs which scared the @#$ out of me.  They seemed to return to 'normal' with a bit of rest.  so....lesson to be learned....don't over do it!!  I understand it takes time to heal and that changes can keep slowly happening from 3 months to a year after procedure, but of course I'm impatient.  The MonSter has stolen enough of my time and quality of life!