May 10, 2011
Yesterday I had my annual visit to the neurologist to get the results of my MRI. The results are, "Stable appearance of a patient with minimal demyelinating disease which has not advanced in the last year." Basically, my MRI has not changed in a year, therefore I am not getting worse, and do not need drugs. This is a very good thing. So, I guess I am in remission, which is also very good.
You may ask, "Will I get better?" The answer is no. There is no medicatation that can undo the damage done, only to prevent further damage. Since I am not getting worse, then there is no need to give myself a shot every day for the rest of my life. Again, a good thing. Not only would I hate the shots, but they are about $1200 per month - with insurance... that is my understanding anyway....
So, for now, I am done posting unless I have new systems that would justify me calling my doc. I see him again next year, but do not have to have another MRI for two years, unless I have new systems or get really worse.
All, is good, and I thank our Lord for the good news and answered prayers.
Debra Glenn
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Update
January 27, 2011
I got a text from one of my "fans".... so this is for you, Jean.
Since my last post, I've had a few changes. Still all on my right side. I continue to have the same symptoms, but some are constant with different degrees, and some are intermittent. Sometimes my muscles feel like mush. Sometimes my arm hurts so bad I cannot sleep. Randy rubs it for me, which relieves some of the pain, but as soon as he stops it starts hurting bad again. It feels like the whole arm from shoulder to fingertips are one giant muscle cramp that does not let up.
Sometimes my leg feels the same cramping pain, but in spots. I have not experience my whole entire leg in that much pain yet. I hope I never do. It is bad enough when it is just my arm.
I have also fallen or stumbled three times since my last post. My leg just forgets to work right. I put my left leg out and then my right doesn't follow, but my habit my left leg thinks it is its turn again and that is when I fall. I have not fallen at work, which is a very good thing. When I did fall, I just got bruised knees (mostly my right knee that I had surgery on), and palms. Nothing to worry about. I also cannot stop the car with just my right leg. My left leg has now been trained to help the right, since I cannot untrain my right leg to not do what it has been doing for 35 years. Basically, I use my left leg to brake, but my right leg is automatic. It is okay because it does not get in the way.
In the same manner, I have learned to grab things with my left hand. For example, when a waitress hands me a glass of tea - I mean water (Randy and I have pledged to drink only water at restaurants), I take it with my left just in case my right is not behaving. I have almost dropped drinks, as well as other objects, that have been placed in my right hand. I also eat left-handed when my arm is hurting.
My most embarrassing symptom to admit is I have lost control of my urgencies (yes, I just made this word up...got a problem with it....) and bowel movements - not always, but only about three times. The first time was on August 3, 2010 - the day Phoenix was born. I was waiting in the lobby for mom (we had come in separate cars from my house) and I was suddenly wet. No urgency or nothing, just one minute I am fine and dry and the next minute it was "where did that come from?". The same day while we were at Lubys, I felt my bowels move and fortunately we were very close to the restroom because I barely made it in time. But I had no control to stop it, nor start it. It had a mind of its own. Now, I go to the bathroom often so I do not have many mistakes. It does not happen often - maybe once a month or less, but I try to avoid it. At least I can feel when the bowels are moving and get to where I need to be before it is to late. So, when I say excuse me and leave in the middle of some one's sentence, don't take it personal.
Some of you know I graduated from the University of Phoenix October 17, 2010 with a AAFB. I was scheduled to start my BAB November 2, 2010, but did not. It was to hard for me to work all day and do school work every day for several hours. I get fatigued to the point my mind shuts down and I have no option but to sleep. The physical pain is also hard to bear when I have to type an essay, or other homework. I feel some relief that I do not have another two years of constant studies, but miss learning and wish I could have completed my goal of obtaining the degree I set out to get.
Okay, there you have it. Nothing held back. I will probably be silent again until I go to the doctor in May. If I get a whole lot worse, I may let you know, but if no other changes occur, then I will see you again in May, or June, or when I get around to it... :) Just kidding!
I love you all - All of my four fans!
I got a text from one of my "fans".... so this is for you, Jean.
Since my last post, I've had a few changes. Still all on my right side. I continue to have the same symptoms, but some are constant with different degrees, and some are intermittent. Sometimes my muscles feel like mush. Sometimes my arm hurts so bad I cannot sleep. Randy rubs it for me, which relieves some of the pain, but as soon as he stops it starts hurting bad again. It feels like the whole arm from shoulder to fingertips are one giant muscle cramp that does not let up.
Sometimes my leg feels the same cramping pain, but in spots. I have not experience my whole entire leg in that much pain yet. I hope I never do. It is bad enough when it is just my arm.
I have also fallen or stumbled three times since my last post. My leg just forgets to work right. I put my left leg out and then my right doesn't follow, but my habit my left leg thinks it is its turn again and that is when I fall. I have not fallen at work, which is a very good thing. When I did fall, I just got bruised knees (mostly my right knee that I had surgery on), and palms. Nothing to worry about. I also cannot stop the car with just my right leg. My left leg has now been trained to help the right, since I cannot untrain my right leg to not do what it has been doing for 35 years. Basically, I use my left leg to brake, but my right leg is automatic. It is okay because it does not get in the way.
In the same manner, I have learned to grab things with my left hand. For example, when a waitress hands me a glass of tea - I mean water (Randy and I have pledged to drink only water at restaurants), I take it with my left just in case my right is not behaving. I have almost dropped drinks, as well as other objects, that have been placed in my right hand. I also eat left-handed when my arm is hurting.
My most embarrassing symptom to admit is I have lost control of my urgencies (yes, I just made this word up...got a problem with it....) and bowel movements - not always, but only about three times. The first time was on August 3, 2010 - the day Phoenix was born. I was waiting in the lobby for mom (we had come in separate cars from my house) and I was suddenly wet. No urgency or nothing, just one minute I am fine and dry and the next minute it was "where did that come from?". The same day while we were at Lubys, I felt my bowels move and fortunately we were very close to the restroom because I barely made it in time. But I had no control to stop it, nor start it. It had a mind of its own. Now, I go to the bathroom often so I do not have many mistakes. It does not happen often - maybe once a month or less, but I try to avoid it. At least I can feel when the bowels are moving and get to where I need to be before it is to late. So, when I say excuse me and leave in the middle of some one's sentence, don't take it personal.
Some of you know I graduated from the University of Phoenix October 17, 2010 with a AAFB. I was scheduled to start my BAB November 2, 2010, but did not. It was to hard for me to work all day and do school work every day for several hours. I get fatigued to the point my mind shuts down and I have no option but to sleep. The physical pain is also hard to bear when I have to type an essay, or other homework. I feel some relief that I do not have another two years of constant studies, but miss learning and wish I could have completed my goal of obtaining the degree I set out to get.
Okay, there you have it. Nothing held back. I will probably be silent again until I go to the doctor in May. If I get a whole lot worse, I may let you know, but if no other changes occur, then I will see you again in May, or June, or when I get around to it... :) Just kidding!
I love you all - All of my four fans!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Doctor
Today is September 25, 2010.
I know it has been a long time. I had a granddaughter, went to the doctor, had MRIs, Mom had a birthday, my laptop crashed, two weeks ago,.. it rained all week and flooded, yesterday I got a new laptop, so here I am... back to writing.
I did go to the doctor, finally... He talked to me and my husband and told me I was getting worse... you think? He wanted to do test to see which medicine to start me on. He sent me to get four MRIs of my spine. It literally took all day. Then a week later, I spoke to the doctor on the phone and he told me I did not have any lesions on my spine. There is nothing to do but wait until next May and do more MRIs. He said if I start seeing double or something major like that to call him. The doctor also mentioned that by next summer a pill will be approved that has already been approved by FDA (I think that is what he said), anyway, if I wait for the pill, I won't have to take shots everyday. He explained to my husband that the shots that you take daily are the ones he would prescribe because they do the most good for my type of MS, with the least amount of side effects.
At any rate, I am glad my spine is clear and I do not have to take shots yet. I have good days and bad. On the worse days, my entire right side (and sometimes part of my left) are numb, my right arm is weak and sometimes hurts pretty bad, I have short term memory lost (I call STML), have trouble concentrating, have to go to the restroom a lot to prevent accidents, get very dizzy (I almost fell just standing in my boss' office one day), and I see blurry. On my good days, my right arm and sometimes my face are numb. I hold my youngest granddaughter, who is six weeks old, with my left arm, so I do not drop her. I do not hold her on my bad days, just in case.
I will try to keep you posted... I am going to start noting if my bad days coincide with my stressful day, or what I eat, etc. I am very busy, so I am not good at documenting, but I think I will try to start so I see if that helps.
Bye for now. Love you all!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Getting Worse
Today is Monday, August 2, 2010
I have been feeling much better for the last couple of days, but for the last couple of weeks I have not been very well. About two weeks ago I was awakened by the pain in my right arm. It hurt for about a week, getting a little better each day. Aleve seemed to help some. For the past month my right arm has become weaker. Some days are better than others. Some days I have a hard time lifting things, such as a glass of water, a stapler, small things. And when I do lift the stapler, I cannot staple my paper. I have learned to pick up things with my left hand, and to use my left hand more. It seems stronger and more dominate these days, even though I have been right-handed for almost 50 years... Even on my good days, like today, my right arm is weak. Sometimes my right arm feels colder than my left arm. I asked others to verify it to make sure I just didn't feel it colder because of it being numb or something.
I called my doctor last Friday to make an appointment, but was told "Well you have an appointment next May... do you need one sooner? He is booked!". Well, I told her that he told me to call if I needed to, so she put me through to his nurse's voice mail to "state my case". I did, but the recording stated it will be at least 24 hours before I got a return phone call, so if it was an emergency to go to the emergency room - ... You think?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Asparagus/New symptoms?
Today is June 29, 2010
I have not had asparagus in weeks. I just cannot make myself drink 4 tablespoons twice a day for two weeks, so how could I do it for the rest of my life? When I was younger my doctor told me either start eating liver (not every day!) or get shot for my anemia. I learned to love liver. The problem is, the doctor did not tell me to eat asparagus or else. My husband read that it helped cancer patients. The days and weeks I did as requested I did not see improvement. It is like a placebo that I knew was only a sugar pill.... unless I believe it will work, it will not. Now I hate asparagus and it hurt my stomach to eat (or drink) that much.
My right arm is feeling more dead every day. Some days, like today, are worse than others. It is hard for me to lift things that are light, like a remote control. It is really hard for me to staple papers together - I have to use two hands (only because I do not know how to only use my left). My right leg tends to give out on me, especially when walking my dog, Lucky - a lab- because he is stronger than I am. The right side of my face is extremely numb today. I also was extremely tired. I almost fell asleep sitting up. At work this morning, we shut down production to prepare for Hurricane Alex. I do not think this extra physical work should exhaust me so much. It was not hard work, just different work. I have these days about five times a month and it does not seem to matter if I rested that day or worked out that day - just some days I am very tired.
Well, keep checking back for more details. Let me know your thoughts. Love you all.
I have not had asparagus in weeks. I just cannot make myself drink 4 tablespoons twice a day for two weeks, so how could I do it for the rest of my life? When I was younger my doctor told me either start eating liver (not every day!) or get shot for my anemia. I learned to love liver. The problem is, the doctor did not tell me to eat asparagus or else. My husband read that it helped cancer patients. The days and weeks I did as requested I did not see improvement. It is like a placebo that I knew was only a sugar pill.... unless I believe it will work, it will not. Now I hate asparagus and it hurt my stomach to eat (or drink) that much.
My right arm is feeling more dead every day. Some days, like today, are worse than others. It is hard for me to lift things that are light, like a remote control. It is really hard for me to staple papers together - I have to use two hands (only because I do not know how to only use my left). My right leg tends to give out on me, especially when walking my dog, Lucky - a lab- because he is stronger than I am. The right side of my face is extremely numb today. I also was extremely tired. I almost fell asleep sitting up. At work this morning, we shut down production to prepare for Hurricane Alex. I do not think this extra physical work should exhaust me so much. It was not hard work, just different work. I have these days about five times a month and it does not seem to matter if I rested that day or worked out that day - just some days I am very tired.
Well, keep checking back for more details. Let me know your thoughts. Love you all.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Current Symptoms
Today is June 13, 2010
I woke up this morning and my right arm was dead to the world. I could move it, but it was (and still is) very tingly and it hurt to move it. It was like that most of the day and still is not doing so well. My right cheek is extremely numb today. I want to add that my numbness is daily, so I do not note it unless it is unusually bad or good. Most of the time it is just my right arm and check. Sometimes it is also my neck and upper back. Sometimes it is also my upper thigh. When everything on my right side is numb, my left cheek and arm start going numb. So, today, my right cheek and right arm are worse than normal. I am also very tired today.
As far as my asparagus treatment is going... it does not go so well on the weekends when my Honey comes home. He is gone Monday - Friday and I have a routine. Then my routine gets messed up over the weekend... I shall try again tomorrow. - or maybe in a minute. It is only 9:30 p.m.
I woke up this morning and my right arm was dead to the world. I could move it, but it was (and still is) very tingly and it hurt to move it. It was like that most of the day and still is not doing so well. My right cheek is extremely numb today. I want to add that my numbness is daily, so I do not note it unless it is unusually bad or good. Most of the time it is just my right arm and check. Sometimes it is also my neck and upper back. Sometimes it is also my upper thigh. When everything on my right side is numb, my left cheek and arm start going numb. So, today, my right cheek and right arm are worse than normal. I am also very tired today.
As far as my asparagus treatment is going... it does not go so well on the weekends when my Honey comes home. He is gone Monday - Friday and I have a routine. Then my routine gets messed up over the weekend... I shall try again tomorrow. - or maybe in a minute. It is only 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Symptoms
Today is still June 10, 2010.
I wanted to talk a little about my current symptoms. I want to keep up with my changes to be able to tell the doctor what is going on and to know when it is time to start his treatment - the shots - not the asparagus.
My eyes are getting more blurry. My numbness sometimes hurts in my right arm. Sometimes I try to lift something as light as a glass of tea, and my right arm feels like my muscles are not working properly; like the tea is very heavy. My left eye seems to water involuntarily - but it is not like tears, it seems a little thicker than tears. I get tired very easily. I sleep all night - about ten hours - and wake up tired. I started going to the gym on June 7 and so far I am only working on the stationary bike for 30 - 45 minutes. It takes more of an effort than it use to. My friend Rebeca wants me to go to a dance class with her next Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:00 each night. I told her I would try it, but I do not know if I can make it. I feel like if I did not have to go home and feed the dogs, and the six aquariums full of fish, and cook, and do a ton of homework, I would be able to exercise and be okay without getting so tired. But even last week when I was not exercising, I still get tired to the point that I cannot think straight or see straight. I have to rest before continuing with my assignments. For this reason, I attempt to be ahead in my work in case I have a bad day. Somehow I manage to keep a 3.88 GPA... I surprise myself. Another symptom is loss of concentration. I will be thinking something, and know what I want to say, but cannot spit it out. It makes me feel like others think I am stupid or something. It is in my head, just have a hard time processing it. I have learned that I need to slow down and make sure I had the thought correct in my head before talking or sending an e-mail. I found that I make "stupid" mistakes lately when I know I know better. I must slow down.
I wanted to talk a little about my current symptoms. I want to keep up with my changes to be able to tell the doctor what is going on and to know when it is time to start his treatment - the shots - not the asparagus.
My eyes are getting more blurry. My numbness sometimes hurts in my right arm. Sometimes I try to lift something as light as a glass of tea, and my right arm feels like my muscles are not working properly; like the tea is very heavy. My left eye seems to water involuntarily - but it is not like tears, it seems a little thicker than tears. I get tired very easily. I sleep all night - about ten hours - and wake up tired. I started going to the gym on June 7 and so far I am only working on the stationary bike for 30 - 45 minutes. It takes more of an effort than it use to. My friend Rebeca wants me to go to a dance class with her next Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:00 each night. I told her I would try it, but I do not know if I can make it. I feel like if I did not have to go home and feed the dogs, and the six aquariums full of fish, and cook, and do a ton of homework, I would be able to exercise and be okay without getting so tired. But even last week when I was not exercising, I still get tired to the point that I cannot think straight or see straight. I have to rest before continuing with my assignments. For this reason, I attempt to be ahead in my work in case I have a bad day. Somehow I manage to keep a 3.88 GPA... I surprise myself. Another symptom is loss of concentration. I will be thinking something, and know what I want to say, but cannot spit it out. It makes me feel like others think I am stupid or something. It is in my head, just have a hard time processing it. I have learned that I need to slow down and make sure I had the thought correct in my head before talking or sending an e-mail. I found that I make "stupid" mistakes lately when I know I know better. I must slow down.
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