This is merely phase one. The first stage is taking all of these suppliments to get my body stable enough to undergo the second stage which is hooking me to the same style machine that Jacks vet used on him.

Got my call today. I go next Tuesday at 1pm. Its been a long haul, but in the end, I do have MS, it is very hot round here, and I have been up to my neck in alligators.

I do find that I have more energy. I do find that my tummy is behaving ( a big deal for a gastro paresis girl) I have seen a nice relief in migraines. I used to get 10 or so a day! now I get one or two. My inflammation is clearing and you can see it in my face. my psoriasis is clearing up too. my bloat in my tummy is dramatically less, and while I know I have whined about this, it really seems to be helping.

Week 4 Day 3

Slept like a champion! Whoo! deeply and restorative. My goodness I needed that.

I am finding that lessening the stress on me by allowing our bad neighbors to simply go away has helped tremendously. We used to get 4 to 6 phone calls per day and hear about how awful their lives are. or ask us to dog sit for the day or help them haul, lift, tug, wash...whatever it is they are doing. They are both really bad gossips, very nosy, I have found this past week without the ringing telephone and whiny neighbors is starting to feel nice.

Had company all day yesterday it was really nice to see DD and her friend but I was happy when it was time for them to leave. I guess I am not used to sitting in a hard chair most of the day. She made some weird dish that I refused to eat, and while DH will eat rocks, I am more picky. So, I had the energy to visit without saying "sorry im going to bed." which i have done the last several times I saw them.

my skin is much less red today. I am starting to refind my old creamy complexion. I am less puffy as well. my under arms are less swollen, my neck glands have almost come back to normal and my belly bloat seems to have calmed quite a bit. I had a quick visual migraine yesterday, but since I was pushing myself i wasnt surprised.

Funny thing, I have had a liver spot on the back of my hand for ten years now. I have done nothing about it. just left it. I have found its about half its darkness.

I am reaching the tail end of phase one. I am excited that each day I run dry on yet another bottle of meds. Each day I am one step closer to being able to get the "jack treatment" instead of just being supplemented. She was quite worried that to push me on the machine without stabilizing me would throw me into an MS attack and leave me blind or something equally disastrous.

DD who is really smart about nutrition, suppliments and so forth as reading each bottle and announcing what was in it. I told her I didnt want to know, but she would scream it out anyway.

So, on Week 4. do I feel I have made progress? yes! I do feel like I am taking 3 steps forward and 1 step back. I have more energy, I am less wobbly, I dont feel I need my cane, my feet are not buzzy, I am able to stay up long enough to visit with friends or go out to dinner, even on a hot day. I am able to walk even in the heat. my tummy has calmed greatly and I feel so much less hungry. I was told that even tho I was eating, my tummy was so twisted I was not absorbing my nutrients from my food and was malnourished, even on a good diet. I eat a small dish now and I am happy 3 hours later. I used to eat and one hour later I was starving.

Went grocery shopping. That always wears me out but...i did GREAT! I wasnt rushed, confused, tipsy overwhelmed or feeling crowded by the screaming kids, and misbehaving adults. The loud music, the shiny floors or the to do list that I had forgotten on the kitchen counter didnt phase me! I was about half way thru the store and DH said "you ok?" I said "yeah, im good why?" he said "normally by now I am thinking about dragging you back to the car to let you rest while i finish up in here. Today...you seem to be breezing thru the isles and havent stood to remember things we need. Good job honey!"

Mind you, we had stopped at the meat store, the fish store, the consignment store, and then ate lunch out before going to the grocery store. I didnt fall thru the door ready to launch myself into bed. HUGE! just HUGE! This is what I call an improvement. Wahoo!

That's awesome Dejibo! I'm so happy for you, for it seems that your goal of better digestion and increased energy are becoming a reality.
It's so good that you recognize the improvements, but it is also good that you are noting (even if only to self) when and what symptoms are present. That info might help your therapist when she works with you during the next visit.

Glad that things have calmed down in your neighbour-good. You deserve some peace and quiet around home...we all do.

With love, Erika

Week 4 Day 4

another great night of sleep! I fell asleep quickly, and stayed asleep, and slept deeply and woke refreshed. Whooo!

I played a video game last night and was able to concentrate on what I was doing, without having to look stuff up, or refer to notes scribbled on a pad by my side to remember what the details of the mission were.

My underarms are less swollen. my neck glands are normal again, and my legs are no longer puffy. I felt like a dough boy for a while. all puffed up.

I am able to read my email with only my reading glasses for a short while instead of the magnifying screen. I cant keep that up, but it is nice to not have all the paraphernalia attached to the screen.

Walked 3 miles today. its much cooler outside and that makes me happy! I plan on doing some house work today to push myself.

Finally it appears as if I am moving forward. no buzz in my foot. its not dropped.

The hug continues to bug me if I lay down for a long time, or wear a bra. I almost feel like I went from the slow lane of MS to the travel lane and was progressing to the passing lane, and now I have moved back over to the slow lane. I am still on the highway of MS, but at least I am not rolling at break neck speed and texting while driving.

I forgot to mention that the pelvic floor issue I was having is all but gone. I no longer have a spastic bladder and I dont constantly feel like I have a bladder infection. I am not doing INvoluntary kegals and my pelvic floor is more more at peace. Now that was irritating!

Week 4 Day 5

Slept well, dreamed a lot, but still rested. my under arms are a bit swollen again today, but I was told to expect that as I continue to purge. I have done a lot of bad drugs in my day like chemo, and copaxone, and tons of antibiotics IV when I had breast cancer so I have some nasty stuff to get rid of that hides in your tissues.

Walked 3 miles today. its a nice day out.

Pelvic floor still behaving
Pooping normally
have more stamina
I seem to have more balance
I am starting to not feel so sick. before this all started I was really feeling quite sick, and wondering whether or not I should pick a new DMD or something. I felt like my MS was starting to wake up and progress. now I am starting to feel like its going back to sleep.

Each day another bottle runs dry on pills. Tuesday is the big day when I go see her.

How wonderful Dejibo,

Three miles? Wow! That in itself says a lot. Since your body has the room to do that even with the detox, which sounds like is pretty heavy duty with the supplements and the toxic load you're body has been subjected to, it does sound like everything is a "GO" for a session on the machine come Tuesday.

Just a thought...the lymphatics (under arm swelling) are probably a bit compromised, so maybe a little gentle self massage in the area might help to get things moving and reduce discomfort. Warm Epsom salt baths (2-4 Cups/bath) might help too.

You and your body have been through a lot over the years and especially in the last month. I celebrate your patience and perseverance through it all.

May you have a really good few days in the lead up to Tuesday so that you are well rested and at the top of your game.
You are often in my thoughts and prayers.

With love, Erika

Week 4 Day 5

I made the mistake of eating chili yesterday with my lunch. we went out and I didnt realize the menu was a soup and sandwich. I got a small bowl of chili because most soups are so salty that you can eat them anyway. It was about a half hour later my tummy said NO! it just sorta locked up into gastroparesis and decided that pain would be the word of the day. I took my special meds. I keep waking up last night feeling like my rib was broken. So, no more chili for me!

I am going to take a lay low day to give my tummy time to heal from my boo boo.

Walked about a mile today but whined the whole way, and just wanted to come home.

I will admit this backstep isnt nearly as bad as it normally gets. I have been known to go to the ER, but i am going to relax, kick back and let this calm.

Week 4 Day 6

Feel better today. I slept after spending most of my day horizontal and unmotivated. I ran out of two more bottles of pills today. Less and less to take in the am.

I walked 3 miles today. I felt like I could do more but DH said he was ready to go. He did a huge hike before I even joined him today.

I am not as blind on walks. is it the cooler temps? or is it the meds? dunno, but I will take it. I still have visual issues, but they are not as drastic or immediate.

im off to church, lets see how this goes.