Stem cell update 3 months 6 March 2012
For those just joining us, I was dx RRMS 1997, now SPMS. I had CCSVI venoplasty 3x July 2010 great benefit but only lasted a week or two, Aug 2010 great benefit for 6 months but then symptoms returned, March 2011 no benefit, veins still open despite symptoms. Yikes. Continuing progression despite many supplements and diets and protocols—though never MS drugs. I went from a cane to a wheelchair outside the house and holding onto the walls and furniture within. I took a chance on stem cells. I had stem cell treatment 6 December 2011 in Mexico www.dromargonzales.com There was immediate benefit (for specifics see my last few blogs and the youtube before and after video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeRBE69CcKg ).
As of my 6 Feb update I was pretty happy. I was juicing to follow the Terry Wahls protocol. And doing my exercising daily. I had improvement. Not back to normal or anything but improved from the nadir it had reached. My mental state was cheerful.
Then as February continued I started to feel weaker and weaker on the right side. And then numbness and tingling on my good left side as well as the right. My right hand got so weak I couldn't hook my bra. My right leg was continually cold. My right shoulder was very sore and twice woke me up from pain. My mood was very depressed. I stopped taking all supplements, adding them back one by one to see if they were causing it. All my regular ones seemed okay. I thought I must be having an attack. I'd been trying colostrum, I stopped taking it, thinking it might have revved up the immune system too much—I had a problem with echinacea that way and had to stop taking it years ago. Also no more melatonin, I'd been taking more and more to sleep but it seemed to no longer help.
Then, March 1st, at night, I suddenly began to walk well. I hardly limped. I didn't have to swing my foot out to the side to climb the stairs. I could easily raise my leg and foot and they were warm. My hand was stronger. My balance was good. It was pretty miraculous. This had happened a few times before in 2010 though not since. I hoped it would still be there in the morning, but I enjoyed it while I could. And I made note of what I had done and ingested that day, in case I could recreate it.
In the morning it wasn't quite like it had been, but still better than before. I had tried exercising twice that day, so I kept that up. I theorized that if I had had a reaction to the colostrum, maybe I should go off dairy for 5 days and add it back in to see. So I'm off whey protein for now.
Exercising twice a day for me means on the stationary bike for 15 minutes with my other exercises I got from the physical therapist in January, then at least 4 hours later riding the bike another 10 minutes. Wow, my legs have been feeling it. They are sore all day. But I can walk better, and sometimes at night now at night my gait improves. Just in time for bed! But it's worth it. And I'm hoping the leg soreness goes away over time. It's almost like heavy legs, but not exactly. I might try 10 minutes and 10 minutes to see if that's better.
It's only been a few days. But so far, so good. Change in a positive direction is so much better than the progression I experienced last year. Also I have been researching stem cells more and it can take up to a year to get the full benefit. Onward!
Note: if people are interested I will blog more often than once a month. If you would like that let me know.