Judy my friend, I am so sorry for your pain and recent circumtances. I feel your pain and imbarrassment. I hate this miserable disease. You sat on the toilet from Fri till Sunday??? OMG!! I must remember never to forget my cell.

What in the world was causing your bleeding? I'm so glad you have help there now. I'm going to be saying special prayers for you to ask God to please give you back your strength to stand and pivot.

Thank you for your kind words, Sally. Yes, I was stuck in the bathroom just about the whole weekend. That's an experience I don't care to repeat. Had my grabber so was able to reach my glass and turn on the water to get a drink.....no food though. Tried not to fall asleep since I could have fallen off the toilet. Think I dozed off a few times.

After that, I found a little bag to hang on my chair that is just the right size for my phone. Just have to remember to keep it charged!

As for the bleeding.....I do have a fissure that was discovered around thirty years ago. Guess the coumadin (blood thinner) and Aleve were making it bleed more than usual. Wondered why I was always freezing! My Mom passed from rectal cancer, so if anything like that is going on, I really don't want to know since I've decided not to treat it agressively. I'm ready to meet the Lord and with this horrible, stinky, despicable, nasty disease, whenever my time comes, I'll be waiting.

Now I'm having some spasms and bleeding with the catheter. Always something. The nurse comes tomorrow and will check it out.

God bless, my dear friend....

I would purchase a couple of chargers for your pphone and have them in strategic places in your home. The bathroom being the first!

I'm so sorry that this disease is taking such a toll and making things so difficult Judy.
Many heartfelt prayers that relief, ease and comfort are yours straight away .

Stupid, cruel disease .

With love, Erika

Sorry to those of you who aren't doing so well. It's nice to have a space to vent about it so people in the real world don't get sick of our whinging!

I have just discovered that when the little warning label on the box of Lyrica says it increases the effects of alcohol, you should take it seriously! Three glasses of wine with dinner last night = horrible hangover today. Combined with the absolutely awful hayfever weather that's happening right now, I am ready to put my body in the bin.

Judy 2,

Thanks for taking the time to write about your ordeal(s). I learned a few lessons.
ANN

I've always suspected that my head wasn't on straight, and now there's proof .

C1, the first vertebra in the neck is shaped like a ring and C2, the second one is shaped like a spike; so the spike of C2 is supposed to sit upright in the center of the hole of C1. The X-rays taken last week revealed that my C2 spike is off center and is pressing on the spinal cord; and that the base of the skull is sitting at an angle on C1.

The treatment options were surgery, a traction halo or a therapy trial with a rehab-chiropractor specialist who only works with the upper cervical spine. I chose the latter and have had two treatment sessions so far.

After taking yet more X-rays at several different angles, he took measurements from the X-rays and performed what seem to be rather precise calculations with respect to vertebral angles; explaining that he would use those to determine how to realign the spine of the neck without putting further pressure on the spinal cord.
From the X-rays he detected osteoporosis of the spine, which the radiology report did not mention; and is keeping that in mind as well the effects of what he perceives to be a mild partial transverse myelitis.

He also evaluated musculature strength/flexibility, the rest of my spine, my gait and used a device that reveals the percentage of weight that I put on each foot; saying that those things needed to be considered in the treatment plan as well. The whole evaluation took over three hours but that as well as the 90 minute drive there and another 90 minutes back was well worth it.

I really appreciate that he is being extra careful and thoughtful with respect to how the effects of MS might influence treatment; as well as voicing his concern with respect to the spinal cord compression itself. This fellow's heart of compassion is genuine and he really uses his mind; taking the time to share his line of thinking with respect to the treatment plan as well as the precautions that he is remaining considerate of. He is truly interested in my opinion and what I can offer with respect to the sorts of reactions that have been experienced with previous types of therapy.

The treatment sessions are very different than anything I've experienced before with chiropractic treatment, in that there is no 'cracking' or force applied to manipulate the spine. He has chosen to use traction in conjunction with head and body positioning to encourage realignment. During the treatment he intermittently applies slight pressure to specific areas of the upper spine and then uses a plastic grid held over the head and neck to determine how then to further adjust head and neck position before reapplying the traction and carrying on .

I've only had two treatment sessions but that nasty headache became a thing of the past after the first one. My neck range of motion, balance and coordination in walking is also better; so this is all very encouraging.
He doesn't think that the hand/arm numbness is directly related to the upper spinal misalignment, but has said that by realigning the spine, that it might also improve as a secondary benefit .

Nice guy. I wish that there were more like him...and affordable to everyone who could benefit from this type of care.

With love, Erika

Wow Erika, that's just wonderful for you. I'm so glad that the Doc found something you could treat.

Hope everything continues to improve. Keep up the good work..

Love you back,

I'm doing well!..............

I wish I could say everything is going well. All the tests I have been
taking the past month have been put together.

I have had bad problems with swallowing, I have what they call
ACHALASIA 40% on the left side of my throat is not working. The muscles
have been affected by MS. My vision is more of a problem now. Thought that
had calmed down, but NO.

The other tests were for the Thyroid. Now I am asking all my friends to
say a prayer for me. This Monday, Dec. 3 I am going to have a Thyroid biopsy.
I am scared about it because of the other problems that I am having because oof it.

This disease is slowly taking away parts of me. But, I am going to put
my trust and faith in the Lord.

Jappy