Massive HSA Cover-up, Kidney Function Good, and Back Yard Livable Again

11 students, that's what the state of Maryland is claiming to be the number that didn't graduate last year because of the HSA. I wonder if they really believe that? How many kids dropped out last year, I can't seem to find that number? Grasmick needs to retire, or find another personal crusade that doesn't involve destroying our children's education, and making them fodder for Leno bits on the street. It's not working, things never do when you MUST do it, OR do this in it's place. That scenario is written for failure. Time to go back to the 3 R's, teach them the things they taught in the old days, not this damn test.

Went to see the kidney dude today, waste of time #473! First of all went to the wrong place, they have multiple offices, I figured it was the one near my house, wrong. Got to the right office at 10:29 for 10:30 appointment to be told my appointment was at 12:30. Showed my appointment card, she said wow, I wonder how that happened? Saw the doctor dude, nice young guy, said I'm healthy as a horse. I asked him if they still shot horses, he didn't get it. Kidneys are functioning great, level are great, he is the vitamin D expert, his explanation was...are you ready... some people just have low vitamin D, keep up the good work, I'm doing great.

The guys did a beautiful job outside, I'm going to buy my bat house to attack the mosquitoes. Perfect nights for starting a fire in the chimenea and looking at the stars. I have to find one of those blankets with sleeves for the wife, she's cold already. Went to the funeral home last night, it was nice to be there for our friend. Had a lot a people tell me what a nice job my brother did on the landscaping, had to explain it wasn't my brother who did it, life goes on. The important thing is I have my yard back.

A Death, Possible Kidney Issues, and Paid is Easier

One of our neighbors passed away yesterday, she was 65. She was one the original owners when the development was new, and I used to cut their grass when I was about 14 or so. I was thinking of the time in my life that 65 was an ancient age. It doesn't seem as old, especially as I close in on 50. I feel so sorry for her husband, he was pitiful yesterday. He was so upset he didn't realize she was still upstairs, he thought the paramedics had taken her. Viewings Sunday, funeral on Monday. We have gone to way to many funerals lately.

I have an appointment with a kidney specialist on Monday, they want to figure out why my vitamin D level is still going down. I am so open to suggestion, the place where I think my kidneys are has hurt for a few days. I'll probably be on bed rest by Sunday, what a wuss! I can not put into words just how pissed I'm going to be if it turns out something is wrong with my kidneys. I will write a very strongly worded letter to someone, only one thing allowed, per person. Of course I would take anything if it protected the people around me, but it doesn't work that way.

We have a couple of guys coming tomorrow to do some work in the yard, it needs it! I have finally given in to the idea that I can no longer do the yard work. The boy is old enough, but I've never showed him how to do the fine things, like what's a weed, what's a flower. This is all part of my new if I can pay to have it done I will attitude. I had a family member coming to put the new screen door on, no show. Paying $700 to have the yard work done, no more begging. Can't wait to explain the yard sign with another landscaper's name on it, but such is life. I'm looking forward to being sit out there without getting depressed!

Africa Hot, Vitamin D Drops Again, and Eyes Not Working Right

It was Africa hot here today, I saw a couple lions chewing on a zebra, I tells ya, it was hot! This used to be primo pool weather, but it was too hot to even get out to the pool. The wife and girl are out there right now, I keep pushing my face up against the window, they didn't notice me. It was better for me to sit in the house, in front of the fan, with a 32 oz mug of iced tea. Next year I'm going to have and indoor portion added to the pool, just swim under the divider and you're outside, just like the playboy mansion.

A person would think that on 50,000 ml, twice a week, a guys vitamin D level wouldn't drop by half. Should I be worried about this? I'm supposed to go see another doctor, I think a neuphrologist? Do your kidneys control vitamin D? I think I already take too much medicine, so they can't fix this with a prescription. I'm hitting outside in the sun, but that isn't doing it this year. Are some people naturally D deficient? Does my family have D problems? Big noses run in my father's family! Haha, big noses run, somebody stop me! Does that calgon stuff work, because I need something to take me away.

How do you know when you're having MS problems, compared with just getting old? My eyes are driving crazy today! I feel like I'm looking through gauze, or milk, or, well you get the picture. It's like I should be able to wipe it away, but I can't. Do I need to have my eyes checked, or do I just chalk it up to my MS? I'm really sick of all this doctor crap. I wonder what would happen if I just stopped? Stopped all the medicine, canceled all my appointments, just quit? Sounds almost romantic, in theory, but in reality, you probably would have to pour me into the doctor's office to correct all the problems.

Multiple Sclerosis, No Celiac Decease, Tooth Trouble, and So Ends the Music

Good news, I don't have Celiac decease! Bad news is we still don't know why I am pumping vitamin D out faster then I take it in. The physicians assistant told me she wasn't worried about it, she must not know how much I hate that one? For now I will take my 100,000 iu of vitamin D and see what happens. It's bad when the prospect of having another decease isn't that bad, if it means getting some answers.

The boy has his last concert with the honors symphonic winds tonight. He doesn't graduate until next year, but he will be doing work release next year, or is it work study? I need to learn that, one of them isn't good. We will be sad to see it go, but we enjoy it more than he does. He should love it, without a seconds work at home, not one minute of practice, he has cruised through it with A's, and can play anything with a reed. Maybe someday he will appreciate the talent he has, for now, he is just glad it's over.

I have to schedule going to the dentist, something I hate to do, not because it hurts, but rather because it takes so long. My parents paid for the dentists vacation home when I was a kid, not because I didn't take of my teeth, I had issues. I still have issues, I know, but we are talking teeth people! I was anemic when I was little, and they gave me iron on a spoon. That evidently ruined the enamel on my teeth, and I have had nothing but trouble since. I have a few broken fillings, a couple of cracked teeth, and pain in about 5 or 6 spots. Looks like my dentist will be able to afford vacation this summer!

Celiac Disease and Multiple Sclerosis

So here I am, rolling along, albeit at a slow pace, king and master of my universe, secure in knowing I have MS, but that's cool, you don't get more on your plate than you can handle. By the way, what is Celiac disease? I need to know since I'm having a blood test this week to see if I have that too! WHAAAAA? Give me a break, another incurable? I wonder if this could explain why I'm not absorbing the vitamin D? Wait, they aren't going to tell me I'm a 300 lb. CD sufferer, I thought they all got extremely thin? I better not be the one in a million that gets fat!

I was looking over the signs, and I have quite a few of them.

* Recurring bloating, gas, or abdominal pain
* Chronic diarrhea or constipation or both
* Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
* Pale, foul-smelling stool
* Unexplained anemia
* Bone or joint pain
* Behavior changes/depression/irritability
* Vitamin K Deficiency
* Fatigue, weakness or lack of energy
* Delayed growth or onset of puberty
* Failure to thrive (in infants)
* Missed menstrual periods
* Infertility male & female
* Spontaneous miscarriages
* Canker sores inside the mouth
* Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel

Man I can go right down the list, bloating, gas, swelling, and my menstrual cycle, I don't even want to talk about that! I seem to remember someone asking if gluten was something that someone like me should avoid, and how they were pretty sure diet was at the bottom of all of this. Now I'm remembering, it was me! I am going to wait for the blood test to find out what's what, but I'm curious now if this is something that isn't all bundled up in bad tidings?

Since I brought it up before, I had better find out what a gluten free diet actually is. Do I still get to eat meat, vegetables, and fruit? I can handle anything as long as cookies are still on the list, because a world without cookies is just wrong! I've been wanting to eat better, but haven't gotten around to it, is this my nudge? I sure wish my nudges weren't trains coming head on.

Multiple Sclerosis, Lawn Work, MS Walk, and Slight Personality Flaw

What a beautiful day here in Baltimore, I actually got some sun, or as I like to call it, free vitamin D. I went bright and early this morning to IKEA, 8:30 AM is early for me, got in line for an Earth Machine backyard composter. They had a great showing, must have been 300 people in line. It's good to see people are trying to do things like that.

I came home and got to work! I made 5 platforms for my idiot garden boxes, figured out how to make my trellis system too. I figured 8 feet high, and almost 3 feet wide should be good. I also plan on placing my boxes in a good order, one that doesn't have 2 boxes that vine next to each other. My brother is coming tomorrow to move a couple of bushes for me, I guess I have to be nice to him now?

I did a nice job not overdoing things today, kinda sorta? I had a plan, and I stuck to it, in a way? OK, it's hard, I start out with good intentions, but then I get caught up in the moment and forget to stop! It's not until I realize I'm taking more break time then work time, and I start trying to figure out how I'm going to get everything put away that I realize I've done it again.

After a long day like today, I get a little down, and a little moody. I think a lot of people attribute that to the MS, but I think I may just get moody and down, not to mention the potential to be a real pain in the ass!

Tomorrow is the MS walk in Towson, my plan is to go there and see the group of friends off in the morning. I may offer them a laurel, and hardy handshake to them as they head out? I appreciate it guys, thanks!

Multiple Sclerosis, Vitamin D Still Dropping, and The Stimulator Held Steady

The neuro called tonight, yes, he called about 9 PM on a Friday night, to give me my vitamin D results. He was rather surprised that for the 2nd straight month my level has gone down while on 50,000 iu a week. Is that something I should be encouraged by, or scared to death about? I'm hoping they increase the dose and I'm cured! OK, how about I feel a little better?

Tomorrow morning I'm going to pick up a couple of compost bins the County is selling for $35 a piece, first come, first serve, no limit to how many you can get. I'm going to be there bright and early, they better not sell out to the guy in front of me in line! The idiot garden is up and running, soon to have compost bins too.

The girl stayed at school, some big party. Ah to be young again, and feel young too. We just ask her to be smart, put herself in good positions, and call from time to time. She is a good kid, when she is rich someday my plan is to suck her dry!

The stim did great today, did a lot of walking at the daughters college. Handled it all well, didn't need to stop for a break, just not at break neck speed yet. It was nice to not have a cane, people didn't automatically give me that aww, to bad look. Makes me feel better about it too.

Multiple Sclerosis, Tea Bagging, Blogger's As Sources of Information, MS Walk Towson

Tax day, what a fun time every year. Protest what you backed last year. Governors like Perry in Texas were all for succession from the union, enough is enough, after you send help for the fires, and after money for the floods, but then, we don;t need your help! They wanted to lynch certain members of Congress, all black, so that was a nice touch. Take special interest, and the Cayman Islands out of the game, 3 months to run, x amount of money from the feds, and that's it. To use the term tea bagging says it all about the group of people we are talking about.

I took Cranky's bird poison medicine to my apothecary today, she told me is is a very viable solution to fatigue felt by by Chronic Progressive, and secondary progressive MS. OK, so say it works, why am I finding out about it from a blogger and not any of my 5 specialist? I will read more, just interesting.

My right eye is in and out whenever it wants to, I've always hated that one. The group of people I went to high school with are doing the MS Walk in my name, pretty cool. I'd love to do the walk again, but that ship has sailed. My legs are trying to get the strength beneath them to go to the mailbox, so no walk this year, but thanks gang, I appreciate it.

Had my blood work today, it was red, so the first test passed. I am interested to see if the D went up or down. I hope the oil therapy wipes out the need for all of this, we shall see, I'm calling tomorrow to see what the process is, wish me luck!

Multiple Sclerosis, Vitamin D, Garden Club, and a House Full of People

I did a great job today, even if I do say so myself. Worked out in the yard like a field general! I had the boy all to myself, no cell phone, no video games, just me and him. He's the one that did the great job, got everything cleaned up for the club meeting tomorrow, looks great outback. I did great in that I let him do it, and I wore the brace, the leg isn't strong enough yet to go it with the Stim.

I need to go have blood work Monday to have my vitamin D level checked, I want to see where I am with it. The last time it was checked, the level actually dropped, so if that happens again I imagine the neuro will want to up the dosage from 50,000 iu a week. I wonder if it's normal to have a drop taking it at that amount?

It looks like 7 people are coming tomorrow for the garden club meeting. I got the rest of my supplies tonight, the pond filter baskets, and we will be ready to rock tomorrow. The plan is to make one of the idiot planters, then if anyone brought their supplies, let them make theirs. I'm really looking forward to it. I also got 2 trays of vinca to plant in the various flower pots. The kid rang them up and did it wrong, he only charged me for one pack, not one tray. I told him I thought it was wrong and informed me it wasn't, did I want to see a manager? Nope, I must have been wrong, $24 worth of flowers for $3.75, I wish I had more!

The girls friend is here, she is a super nice girl, and I am trying to be on my best behavior. They both have the same name, so I may call them K1 and K2. She told us her parents are very happy she isn't at school on a holiday weekend, and we are happy to have her, feels like we are doing a good deed when we are doing nothing.

Multiple Sclerosis, New Side Porch, and Vitamin D Success

The next door neighbor and his son are here putting a new side porch on, didn't figure on the neighbor working when we hired the son! The are almost finished already, the steps and the railing are all that are left, and if need be at some point, access can be added at the back in the form of a ramp. The old metal porch was our early warning system, you could not walk on it without making noise! Nice wide wooden steps, hidden behind the Acuba bush, times like this I wish I still smoked! It will be nice to have it done, one less thing on my list.

The daughter and I went to one of the cousins surprise 40th birthday parties last night. It was nice to see everyone, her parents included, I thought they had possibly been taken hostage some years ago, hadn't seen them in forever! Talked with a man there that was curious about the stimulator, he being in the exclusive MS club, having been diagnosed late last century, and having had 2 exacerbation's, and then total remission. This fellow is convinced his success has to do with not only his intake of oral vitamin D, but also his daily exposure to the sunlight form too. I was happy to hear that some people are able to have this be only a minor inconvenience, but also reminded me that some people with MS aren't as lucky as I have been.

Multiple Sclerosis, Madoff Goes to Jail, Craptastic Dinner, and the Stim is In

So let me see, they revoked Bernie Madoff's bail today, who doesn't think that it was about time? How about this one, his wife left the courthouse and went back to their rather pricey penthouse apartment. Why hasn't that been seized? Oh, worried about innocent until proven guilty? Yeah, right! People without $100G an hour attorneys would have been out day one and if proven not guilty would have had to sue to get back what was taken from them. What about his investment company, the one they claim is legit? Yoik! Take it and tell his family you will be back for them next.

I made what may have been the worst dinner in history tonight? I usually do fairly well, but not tonight. I made it the other day and it was great, I had it 2 days in a row for lunch. Real simple, tofu and broccoli in a peanut sauce, nothing to it. The wife likes a lot of sauce with this kind dish, and I like to make her happy. What I didn't take into account was how overpowering the extra sauce would be. The wife went out to get my vitamin D, and to pick up a little nosh. That's only fair, dinner was her fault!

Guess what the delivery dude brought me today? That's right, the stim came today! I opened everything up, read all the literature 5 or 6 times. Plugged everything in to charge all the batteries, then read the directions a couple of more times. The hardest part of the day for me was keeping myself from putting the whole rig on and juicin that baby up! I did try it on, fit just right. I told them at therapy today, we set up the regiment for that, and I told them the things I didn't like about the brace. We shall see how that works out, but the stim came today, so all is good!

Multiple Sclerosis, Electrical Therapy, Vitamin D, and The Parents Are in Town

The website I was talking about yesterday was one about Dr. Terry Wahls. It's an inspiring read, and proves that hope is a good thing. Dr. Wahls is going to have a clinical trial for the method she used to battle her MS. I'm curious how the introduction of electricity to the muscles will help someone like me who has lesions on both the brain and spinal cord. I thought the entire problem was in the nerves, not the muscles? I'm not doubting it, I just don't know how it works, I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express. I would volunteer in a heart beat for the trial.

I have to have blood work done soon, and I'm hoping I have the same results as Lisa Emrich did with her vitamin D level. Lisa started with her D level at 7.8ng/mL and was able to raise it to 44ng/mL I think in a few months. I don't remember how long I've been taking the D, so don't hold me to how long she has, I'm not a machine! I'm waiting to hear if Lisa has seen any difference since her level came up. I don't see much, if any difference in how I feel, but my level actually dropped at the last blood draw, I must be D resistant.

The parents are here for the weekend, it wasn't food poisoning, the father thinks it's only the flu! I may have to put him in a home if I get the flu from him. The father is playing poker, and the mother is entertaining us with stories of how she tamed the west! I have to put the slides I scanned onto DVD's for the folks, I tried to do it with a flash drive, that didn't do it. The father is totally useless when it comes to the computer, if you asked him to turn one off he would have to use a brick! The mother does great, but lacks the confidence to do a lot of things, so I will DVD them up for the them. It's just good to have them stay with us.

Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromuscular Stimulator, My Body Is Revolting, and Sleep Doesn't Come Easy

I go tomorrow for my evaluation for the neuro stimulator, and I'm a little more than just a little nervous. I'm not searching so much for a silver bullet as I am for a little more comfort, and just a bit more range. It would be so cool to be able to not have to wear the brace everyday. It's also my understanding that the stimulator is a good tool in the rehab of little used muscles, like my right leg. I really don't know what to expect tomorrow, how long it will take, or if I will get an answer tomorrow as to my candidacy for the stimulator.

My body is exhausted. My legs hurt, my arms are numb, and my torso is vibrating. Most people who read this would be concerned if that description applied to them, while I fully anticipated feeling this way. I had a long weekend, filled with activity, a lot of walking, and not much rest. I would have been shocked if I woke up this morning feeling great. This usually lasts about 3 or 4 days, depending on how much activity brought it on, and how much activity I have in the mean time. Any way you look at it, this is a small price to pay for the fun I had this past weekend.

I think it's time to have blood work drawn to check my vitamin D level, I need to check that. I also need to check with my health care provider to find out why they only authorize 60 doses of the sleep aid Ambien every 90 days. Curious, does that mean you aren't supposed to take it everyday? They say on their commercials that it is not habit forming, as long as you take as prescribed. OK, what if it is prescribed as needed? The website says it should only be taken for 7-10 days. Do I care as long as I can sleep? Is it dangerous? I need one of those mallets like the 3 Stooges used to knock people out.

Multiple Sclerosis, Rebif Injections, and Rude People Sucking the Life Out of Me

I had my eval for OT, occupational therapy, and it was cake, as in a piece of. The girl was very sweet, born the month after I got married, so she is a girl. She put me through the paces, hand dynamometor, finger games, asked me if I had problems forgetting things, I of course told her I didn't remember. I have 1/4 the strength with my right hand and arm that I have with the left. She asked what I was looking to gain with therapy and I told her I was looking to regain some strength, but more importantly some dexterity. She seemed surprised that I was functioning at such a "high level", made me chuckle.

Vitamin D night, as well as injection night, and the injection did not go well! I manually inject my legs, mainly because I don't have much padding there and the auto inject goes too deep. Tonight I did something wrong and it hurt like hell! I had to pull it out and start over again. Now I have got to tell you, I don't like the shots, but I've resigned myself they aren't going anywhere, so suck it up and just do it! That doesn't apply to days that you have to redo the stick. Those nights are like a get out of jail free card, I let myself have free run of a good whine. I made more of a fuss than Lincoln at Fords theater, and the entire house knew it. It made me feel better.

I've never smacked an old lady, wanted to, but never have. I was tempted to give it to this old bat at Panera bread this morning. Picture this, I go in through the first set of double doors, open the second set, and there stands this woman and her friend. They are 25 feet away from the register, there is only one person at the register, and they have the entrance blocked with their rather ample girth. I politely asked if they were in line, and she informed they were, but they didn't feel the need to crowd the people in front of them, unlike me. Whaaaaaa? As she turns to to be rude to me, the guy that ran the stop sign and almost hit me went past her to the front of the line. I'm not a huge fan of people, today was no exception.

Multiple Sclerosis, A New AFO Brace, and Gas Leak Fixed

It took me a couple of days to recover watching the city and county workers putting my money to good use. Just when you think it's safe to go back in the water, bang, BGE comes to fix a gas leak! I didn't know what to expect after the orgy of ineptitude I had witnessed earlier in the week, but I was ready for them. They rang the bell about 11 in the morning, a very polite young guy and his partner were here to fix the problem. Partner? How were they going to fix this massive gas leak with just 2 guys? I looked out as his partner took the shovel out of the back of the truck, I guess I didn't rate a backhoe twice in one week.

The guy assured me they would be quick, and they would make it look like they had never been here, right I thought. I closed the door and went into the kitchen, looked out the window and the guy was already up to his shoulders in the hole! I'm not kidding, and 5 city water workers were asleep in his truck! I'm telling you, BGE must be running that place like a business? I shook my head and went into the living room when the doorbell rang again? The BGE guy said they were finished and needed to come in and restart out appliances. I looked around him and the hole was gone, grass was growing, and they had planted flowers! BGE beat the water department hands down, but they were more fun to watch!

The LDN seems to be going OK, nothing major to say in either direction. Like I said, I start therapy Monday, so I'm hopeful that will show a benefit. I was going to hold off getting the new brace, you know me and positive thinking, but I think the old one is wearing out, and it is a little uncomfortable, so I need to go see about that regardless of any progress I was hoping for. I have to locate my prescription in my file cabinet full of prescriptions! It's ridiculous how many prescriptions I've had this year, Dr Weil would not approve. Once my body starts to heal itself, no more medicine for me, but until then, pass the LDN, vitamin D, Lisinopril....

Multiple Sclerosis, Blood Work, and New Years Resolutions

I'm getting ready to tackle the new year with a new plan. The plan is to to have a much more positive outlook at life, and at my health concerns. Since it is still the old year I will tell you I don't think it will work, but come tomorrow, I'm kicking ass and taking names! I got Dr Andrew Weil's book "Spontaneous Healing" and I've decided to fix myself. It sure sounds like a good attitude and eating well can fix just about anything! Any way you look at it, I need to buck up and stop complaining, life gives you lemons, make Koolaid, take the bull by the horns and milk it! I will start all of the positive crap first thing tomorrow.

I had my blood work today, checking for liver function, kidney's too, an overall tuneup type thingy. I added my thyroid to the screening, just wrote the code on the prescription and will let the doctor take credit for it if there is an epiphany. Does the MS cause thyroid problems? I don't know that I have a problem with it, if it's a fixable thing that would make the MS better, I hope I do, if it's fixable. I'm curious to see what my D level is, I'm guessing it's going to be in the 35 range. I think the new year is a good time to start the LDN, see if it works. Vitamin D has had it's chance, I think if I was going to see an improvement, I would have seen it by now.

I can't say that I'm sorry to see 2008 go, it hasn't been an overly exciting year. The Orioles didn't win the world series, world peace wasn't achieved because of one of my ideas, and my physical health has taken a real downward turn. I highlight physical health, because my mental health has been driving me crazy for years! I think maybe I didn't give it enough effort this past year, no pain no gain type thing. My new year's resolution is to act on all the things I believe have potential, or importance. I can't say I should eat better and then eat a box of the Mothers fudge, which was delicious by the way! If I think I should exercise, I should exercise. No more excuses, unless it isn't my fault, then look out!

Multiple Sclerosis, Vitamin D, LDN, and Cane Dangers

So the doctor round robin was today, me with the PCP, the boy with the neuro. Both went as expected, which is a good thing. The pcp told me everything was good, told me I looked like I had lost weight! She reminded me I need to go get a new AFO brace for my right leg, another of those things I have been putting off for some reason. The brace I have now is about 2 years old,, probably older, I have no sense of time anymore. The doc wants me to go see an allergist to see if it's possible food is a problem. I'm up for all of it, what do I have to loose?

The boy had his semi annual visit to the neuro to have things checked out for the epilepsy. He is doing well, no changes in meds, won't attempt to ween those until after high school. His neuro happens to be my neuro, so we usually get a 2 for 1 deal when he goes! He wants me to start physical, and occupation therapy. Was that his way of telling me I should get a job? No respect! Anyway, he said the vitamin D was going great, I should have blood work after the dose this Thursday, being that will be week 12. The goal is to get my level up to 50 or so, and he thinks I should hold off on the LDN until I get to a maintenance dose of D, which should be around 10,000 iu a week.

I'm looking forward to seeing the allergist, I have been wondering about that part for a long time. I had allergy tests when I was a kid, so I kind of know what to expect, unless they just do it from a blood test. I also got a splinter in my chin today! Yes I said in my chin. I was sitting in the one docs office with my chin resting on the handle of my cane. I had noticed a rough spot, but didn't think anything of it. I was giving the wife and the boy the business with the cane, smacking them on the bottom of their feet, hooking it around their ankles, just normal me stuff. I was demonstrating how I could balance my rather substantial head on my cane, when I slid off of it, sending what must be a foot long barb into my chin! I can't see anything because of my beard, but I'm sure it is already infected. It's getting so I can't even do balancing tricks without getting hurt!

Multiple Sclerosis, LDN, Vitamin D, and A One Stop Doctor

Tomorrow is a check up with my PCP, she wanted me to come back after 2 months on the LDN she agreed to give me. She made me sign a paper saying it was my idea to start it, that was cool with me. The problem is I am going to have to tell her that after 3 months of asking her every time we talked, which was frequently during that period, that I haven't started taking it yet! It wasn't an arbitrary, or a capricious decision not to take it, it was more of a scheduling problem between her, and the 2 neuros. I'm fairly confident she won't rake me over the coals too bad, but I will understand if she is confused.

I'm having a hard time keeping track with what direction I'm flaring off in, I can't expect someone else to stay up to date. It wouldn't be so hard to keep in step if I could get one doc to do all the things I want them to do. Here I decided not to start the LDN because the neuros wanted me to do vitamin D first. I dropped the ball on that one, I wasn't aware the D was more for people at risk to get MS, not for old pros like me that have been dancing the dance for over 20 years. I say that because the information from the neuros says so, not my opinion. I suppose I will ask her to do blood work for a drug the neuro gave me, nah!

I plan on asking her if she will take over it all tomorrow, tell her she won the contest and I choose her. I'm sure she will be impressed with that! My old doc did it that way, he took care of everything, then ran it past my current neuro, who happens to be my original neuro. I miss that doc, he was great, he passed away under curious circumstances, so he isn't an option. My current PCP is every bit as good as my old doc, maybe better, so I would love to work it all through her. She told me she was open to trying some of these things with me, that's all I'm looking for, a chance to try something new.

Atkins, Vitamin D, Multiple Sclerosis, Physical Therapy, and Skype

I was playing around this morning, using my Stumble button, and I came across something I had looked at once, but then forgot about almost immediately. Have you ever heard of Skype? It's a pretty cool site, reminds me of the old Netmeeting, minus the directories. You can do video chats with anyone who also has the program, and you call any ones land line for free. It's no MagicJack, but it has the video chat part, which is nice.

I think sometimes people are uneasy with the idea of others being able to see them while they talk? As you can see, I don't share those concerns! My mother lovingly looked at this picture and, what was her comment, oh yeah, she said I was disgusting! Thanks Maw, I'm sure you meant it with love. That was my leaf blowing outfit, I think it's a sporty look myself.

On the subject of leaf blowing, it did take its toll on my body. I am doing just what I thought I would be up for, sitting in my command center, doing this! The legs are shot, the right hand is little more then a paper weight! The Atkins type diet is going well, 275#s, and I'm feeling better with that type of energy, meaning not bogged down by eating a lot of crap. The vitamin D is doing it's thing I suppose, it hasn't killed me anyway!

I talked to friend from MN, she recharged me, reminding me not to give up. I don't think I am giving up, maybe my complaining looks like it? She is so right, now is time to kick it into high gear! Find the thing that gives me the most relief, and be thankful that it was available at all! I have decided it is time to check on the benefits of physical therapy for MS. I think some of the problems I'm having are stemming from the fact that I am so weak, the big difference being I can feel that now. I hope that makes sense, but I am coming off of 20 years of just feeling the buzz, maybe not being aware that the total lack of energy was actually weakness. I shall let you know.

$1 Crabs, Multiple Sclerosis, and Attitude

Do you know the best thing about eating crabs? They fit on almost every diet I have ever heard of, as long as you eat them in moderation that is. The other good things is you can still get them at $1 crab night prices! Oh how I love a bargain, but even better, whether Swank, Atkins, or just cutting back, I don't have to prepare anything! I called Bill's Seafood this morning at around 11 and got 18 of the last 21 male crabs in the $1 crab category. Swish! I'd rather be lucky then good.

The diet goes well, I even think my legs are catching on to what I'm trying to do, they seem to be waking up a little bit. That may sound better then it really is, because they hurt now that the slumber has ended. The right hand is doing better, feels a little stronger too. Now I don't know if this is diet related, or possibly the D therapy that caused it, or if it had anything to do with it at all. Of course between that last line and now, we ate the crabs, and the right hand is dead! So much for a good attitude.

MS is all about attitude, or so I think, or is it what I was told? Don't get me wrong, I can piss and moan with the best of them, but I do think it's important to be upbeat. I feel bad almost everyday, no, it is everyday actually. I complain here everyday, but I don't do it in person. In real time you would think I was the toughest guy in the world, not a care in the world! Here's the thing, this isn't real time, and I don't feel good! That was cleansing, I think I will go up Jerusalem Farms tomorrow and lay in the field and watch birds?