My arm the next day I seem to be a bad blood draw, so had that and therapy in the same place once one was found.
Did I raise 100 percent of what I needed? Not exactly, not yet anyway. No matter. It was enough to tempt me to go already. The bills may be challenging to manage the next few months. And perhaps I'll attract a little help. In any case, I had to take my shot now. I am barely mobile now (I had significant help during various parts of the trip) and who knows if I could do this if I get worse.
That is, I scheduled an appointment with a doctor administering a type of stem cell therapy that could address the demylination issue I have. He had no problem discussing my issue as MS. The therapy label for categorizing me in the study doesn't matter to me. I didn’t respond to CIDP treatment so I understand it. In any case, I kept in mind a simple goal: maximize the potential for the therapy to work.
I had physical therapy (though it doesn't make me independent); indeed, I am running out of sessions and wanted some afterward, too. I couldn't wait for airfares to drop in the fall. I have gone to a Lyme practitioner who has me taking a protocol of herbs and supplements. I see a chiropractor, energy healer and kenesiologist. I performed detox sessions in a FIR sauna. I eat no dairy, little sugar, no gluten (modified Paleo).
All of it sounds good, like I'm putting ducks in a row. Then days before (no details, to spare TMI here), I essentially give myself a UTI. This is a pattered problem and my plans can't be moved. I have to hope I caught it early and getting in three doses of Levaquin helps enough.
So I negotiate the travel, the rental car drive, the hotel (blocks from my destination) and get there. I am given lots of info on the study and how it’s supposed to work and some of the issues like how many cells are needed to work. I’ve heard enough before to have a decent idea. I’m just nervous of the self-harvesting of fat cells that are processed into being usable stem cells. It’s similar to liposuction, if not harvesting as much fat. I definitely have fat cells. I think my midsection had a small soft flab to it since I was a teenager. Perhaps that’s why they were rated as highly usable.
Having learned EFT some years ago and having used it for blood draws as well IVIg sessions, I try to keep myself calm and motionless. I guess the problems finding a usable vein in my arm were worse than the harvesting – at least to them. When they found a “good one” they didn’t want me to move and kept the vein open so the IV could enter the same spot, quite an unusual item. I had some nurses using my hands for such things; I guess they didn’t prefer or like doing that. Some doctors/nurses greatly dislike doing that. The technician who administered my contrast dye for the qualifying MRIs used them, though. He actually was quite skilled with it, as was one infusion nurse where I got IVIg therapy.
To keep my mind preoccupied, the staff put on some music for me. I guess owing to some things I’ve watched on YouTube, I asked for “70s classic rock.” Here’s the great coincidence. I found my rental car was tuned to a classic rock radio station. On the drive back to the airport, I heard some of the same songs or the same artists. I had mentioned something called “The Wizard of Floyd” to a nurse in the doctor’s office while “Money” played and heard Floyd’s “Breathe” on the drive back . Both times I actually heard Blue Oyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and thought “More cowbell!” Right place, right time? Right outcome?
Obviously, it’s way too early to tell. I haven’t even seen the radiology bills yet, though I will need to have another set taken in about six months to see what the therapy shows. Meantime, I press on. Keep your fingers crossed that I can #DitchTheCrutches.
www.gofundme.com/lisakazmier
