As many of you know, I was initially involved (enthusiastically) back in November 2009.  I stayed awake almost all night the evening I had read the article online about CCSVI.  It made medical sense to me - being the medical nerd that I am.  

I was one of the quiet ones on TIMS.  I got lost in the madness there. LOL.  But I paid attention and I did what I could on my end to network with the right people and try and do the right things to help myself.  I made up my mind that I would be having treatment for this within one year of my hearing about it. 

A trip to Michigan to meet Dr. Haacke, some friends here and friends there and before you knew it I was in Albany, NY with Dr. Siskin.  I think I was patient #84 or right around that number for him.  

I left NY and in the car coming back to my home state of Virginia - it was amazing.  The first thing I noticed was that the ringing/buzzing in my ears was gone.  I could hear really well.  I had two stents in my azygous and I was a bit nervous about that, to be honest.  I felt great, except for my postprocedure discomfort from having two stents ramrodded into me. :)   I just felt weirdly different.  I felt normal again and I hadn't felt "normal" in so long that I had apparently forgotten what it felt like.  Then, a few weeks later, something very strange happened.  The euphoric feeling so well fleeted.  I can't explain it exactly.  I was worried. Had I restenosed?  Was something wrong?  I didn't feel bad - I just didn't feel "great" like I had been feeling for a week or two now.  

My friends would then ask me about how I felt - and I didn't know what to say.  My once so enthusiastic attitude seemed subdued.  I would shrug my shoulders.  I didn't know what to say.  Again - I didn't feel bad...I just didn't feel like I had the days after my procedure.  

After a month or so of this wishy-washy, did it help me or what plight that I had on my hands, I finally figured out what was going on with a little help of a friend of mine.  We sat and talked.  We talked about my expectations and how wonderful I felt immediately afterwards.   Then we talked about how I just felt - normal again.  She said this to me and it all made sense as to what happened.  "When someone gets really hot from being outdoors and they go into an air conditioned room, the feeling is fantastic .  They enjoy the great feeling of the AC for a good while.  Then, they get used to it and it no longer feels as good as it did the minute they walked in the door.  They get accustomed to the room temp and forget about how miserably hot it is outside.   Before you know it - they are inside and just taking the AC for granted.  

So yes..we made an analogy of comparing pre/post CCSVI treatment to that of a hot summer day and Air Conditioning.  My friend is right.  That is exactly what happened.  

On top of it - I was fearful of relapsing with my MS.  I would go into full crisis mode about every 3-4 months.  I am happy to report that on January 21, 2011 I will be six months out from my CCSVI procedure and I am relapse free.  Nothing.  I have minimal symptoms left from my MS.  My fatigue is gone. My headaches are rare.  

I am living proof that Normal is more than just a cycle on the washing machine. :)