Far out youngin :
I need a shrink bad, ha ha ha, lol....I am very impressed with what you are doing and what you have done. I am so sorry to hear of the MS and MSA. I know that you'll never give up, and the medical world gives us new medicines and new procedures, everyday. Miracles are happening I tell you :). I have had 2 light strokes, 1 light heart attack (MI) and have small vessel disease (SVD) in my brain and heart. I was told by my neurologist that my kidneys should also be affected by SVD. Haven't so far, I don't think. My last mri showed lacunar (sp) infarcts, and white matter abnormalities due to SVD. I do know that MS involves abnormalities in the M. sheath (can't spell mylinium) of the white matter.
I am a tad off upstairs at times. I guess from brain damage. My 2nd stroke affected my understanding of speech, or the order in which the words that I hear, come to my head. That was ~9 months ago, and thank G-d it is better, or I can hear normally most of the time.
Yesterday was tough for me. The cath was no problem, but they didn't "fix" me yet. I have been viewing the video cd they made and gave to me, yesterday. Wow, I can see my heart beating as they inject the dye. The video is awesome. You can slow the frame rate, freeze it, or speed it up. It contains "patient notes", but I do not have M.S. Word! I have been looking for a free download, lol. I may buy it. I have to read those notes!
I have peripheral neuropathy in my legs and arms. I would like to ask you about something. My arms, from my shoulders to the tips of my hands are starting to go rigid, while the rest of my body is relaxed. I can of course still use them when this happens, but all the muscles and tendons are taught, and ache. Have you ever had anything like this? The neuro said the "holes in my white matter" can "cause anything".....So I assume that is what is causing this.
We have lots of warm hearts here :) and I would like to say good morning to all. Myself, I look forward to getting some relief next Thursday. I am a bit suspicious of their intentions though. I don't know if the "stent expert", in this large cardio group that I see, has ever inserted/installed one of these wierd stents. I have the feeling that during the procedure he will say, let's do the CABG, instead. I am paranoid. I may go to the UAB university medical hospital in Birmingham, Al. I see docs in Huntsville Al. I am having lots of angina, but I take nitroglycerine. This pain will be gone, when I get fixed!
Well, I guess that I have rambled enough for now.....It does help me to cope, just by posting here. I wanted to say that I am so glad you are here with us.....We have a shrink and a DocER, ha ha ha.. and maybe another chucklehead like myself... (haven't seen one yet, though :) )
RJ