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May 2005
**IMPORTANT**
Beadopotamus will be closed from
December 6th - December 28th for the holidays.
Orders placed during this time will be processed December 29th.
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May 2005 |
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May 2005 May 6, 2005 - Monday evening I began to have what I'd call dizzy flashes. That feeling when you stand up too fast and get a head-rush although this was happening while I was sitting down and not moving. At first I tried to dismiss it as nothing more than just being tired, but eventually I had to admit it was very similar to the beginning of my last exacerbation Feb 2003. Tuesday I took it a bit easier - slept in, was fairly tired but significant changes. Wednesday, I felt much better, so much so that I unwisely opted to stay up late that night. Thursday started off very well. I attended a 3 hour morning class, headed home for an hour nap and then off to a 4pm meeting. By the end of the meeting, I was exhausted. I was having trouble concentrating and I was having the "dizzy" flashes again. That evening I had to admit the real possibility that I was having another relapse. First thing Friday, I called my neurologist and got an appointment to see him. After taking a verbal history and running me through some basic motor and coordination tests, he admitted I did seem slower and clumsier than normal. He did kindly scold me for waiting until a Friday to come in. I'm scheduled for an MRI with contrast tomorrow evening and I'm waiting to hear back from a home health care assistant regarding starting me on IV solu-medrol for 5 days (ugh!) I'm trying not to be stressed out about having another relapse especially since I'm now on DMT. I'm hoping for the best - that this relapse will be mild and leave no long term deficits. Ended up getting into the MRI late evening on Friday. Was able to get a peak at the scans and indeed I have a small active lesion. Will look forward to reading the complete radiologist's reading of the scan, but my impression of the cursory read is that the is activity but it's minor. May 7th, 2005 - Day 2 of IV solu-medrol. Yesterday in the evening I had a home health care nurse stop by to start and place an IV (got it on the second try) and show my how to run in the solu-medrol on my own. They use these cool little "omni-globes" - at least I think that's what they're called. They are these neat little round iv balls that work under positive pressure instead of gravity. The flow rate is automatic and you can put the IV fluid ball in your pocket and walk around while it's infusing. Really nifty. The rate was just perfect for me and I didn't get any headaches or sweating like I did the last time I did solu-medrol. This morning I was outside watering the garden and doing some light weeding (I know naughty nautghy - I should be resting!). When I washed off my hands afterwards I managed to get the IV tape wet and it began to peel off. I decided to change the tape myself and almost managed to do it safely, when I pulled the catheter out too far. I slowly tried to rethread it but I had managed to blow the vein. I asked a nurse (who's a neighbor) to try, but she had no luck on two sticks. So I called a friend who's a radiology resident. He got it on his second try. So in two days I've been stuck by IV catheters 6 times (yuck). This last time worked and I was able to infuse my solu-medrol dose for the day and to take a late nap :) Things are doing well - no worsening of symptoms. May 13th, 2005 - Finished the solu-medrol on Tuesday. Had to really coax the IV catheter to behave for the last infusion, but it's done and the catheter is out. I saw my neurologist on Thursday (his last day at work. He's moving out of state! ) and he's happy with the overall lack of lesions on the MRI scan. I'm set up to meet with his replacement in July (barring any complications). No new or worse symptoms - just very tired. Plus I'm not much of a conversationalist. The right words seem to have flown right out of my head. I feel like an idiot trying to make complete sentences, but I'm sure this will pass as well.
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