Part III 

The blog can be a lesson to show how individually different MS and CCSVI is for all of us.

The reality of my MS is that I can walk with wall/furniture aid.

But, if I am off my feet for a while, my legs get weak.

After surgery, I had been off my feet for over 10 hours.  My legs were shot.  No use for that long of conciousness makes the legs into celery sticks.  Any weight, the legs crumble.

The only food I ate all day was a turkey sandwich AFTER the procedure.  I am not a turkey person.  But I was desperate.  No eating all day.  One can’t eat through venoplasty.  My arms and legs were strapped down.  Eating with feet is hard enough, but I am not great at dining with needles in my arm.  Alfresco dining is wonderful, but dining with an IV bag during surgery can be a real issue when you want to cut a steak.

When was younger I rode my bicycle through the UK. I rode 40 miles one day and was beat.  I made I to the goal and collapsed.  Someone riding with me rolled a green apple to me. I was not an apple eater.  WAS NOT.  That green apple tasted wonderful.  So rich and deep I asked where the wonderful fruit came from.  “Spain” was the answer.  A Green apple from Spain.  Now I love apples.  And I am now a converted turkey eater from my hospital experience. 

Back to MS reality.

I have a wheelchair at home.  I left it.  I have rarely used it.  The hotel had a chair for me.  The only problem was getting up from the chair.  My arms are not that strong and post procedure; my legs were very weak from lack of use and food.  I had to be wheeled to everywhere.   This is embarrassing to me, but it was reality of the situation.

Upon returning to the room, I could not get out of my chair.  I climbed out of the chair into my bed.  And I slept.

I woke the next morning feeling ok and ready for breakfast.   I had trouble walking to the bathroom.  I started to worry, was all of this really worth it?  The hotel staff rolled me to breakfast.  It was a buffet and I could not select what I was going to eat! The complaint is small against others in my condition, but I wanted to select my food. 

After breakfast, we left.  The six-hour trip took longer due to frequent stops for trips to the water closet.  The change was that I did not need to stop.  I drank water.  I drank sprite.  No urgency.   What was happening?   I was concerned about an “accident.”

One day post CCSVI and I noticed my second improvement.  The second improvement nobody else could see. 

Upgrade 1.  Cog Fog much better.  I could tell everyone, but who could see this improvement?

Upgrade 2.  Wiggling toes and improved hands.   People would give the “Really.  That ‘s nice,” attitude.

Upgrade 3.  Bladder/Bowel improvement.  Bladder grew overnight and the urge to relieve myself went back to old normal. 

THREE UPGRADES.  NO BODY COULD REALLY SEE OR APPRECIATE THE POSITIVE CHANGE.   DID THEY WANT ME TO RUN A MARATHON TO RECOGNIZE IMPROVEMENT?

Sorry to yell.  I hope those reading this understand this little qualities of life upgrades make a major difference to how my MS played with my life. 

Driving home was routine.  No major issues.  I did get out of the car and walked without a cane, a subtle improvement.

Thank you all for reading.  I invite your comments.