Ree’s MS Blog

Wednesday 13th August

August 13th, 2008

Well, it has been some time since I written in my blog…thanks to my friends who reminded me not to be so remiss! I must admit that I was very apprehensive about my BMH but needlessly so. I went down to the 3rd floor operating suite, got positioned on the table, had my IV injection and woke up as I was ready to get off the table. I was a little sore but that was all. Then I had to spend 24 hours in bed…that was a nightmare. I was not even supposed to get up to use the toilet but as I could not use a bed pan I did. I was very uncomfortable…between my recovering shingles on my right sciatic nerve (good excuse not to have your butt shaved tho’!), my lumbar puncture sites-and my aspiration puncture wound, I could not find a comfortable position. Needless to say, I survived. The next day I had the usual treatment but my physio was not too good as I was tired and sore. And the next day I had another lumbar puncture; so I felt the same at PT the following day. I wonder what I look like…the Chinese are so small and here I am, heavens knows how much heavier, crawling on my hands and knees with my big butt in full view (covered tastefully in black sports pants, of course).

Friday was a special day here as it was the opening of the Olympics. So the floor had an Opening ceremony party on the 8th hour of the 08/08/08. It was a fun night and nearly everyone went to bed too late.

Saturday was a free day, and we went to Wushan Square. It is an old shopping village. They sell everything from food to 100 year old ginseng. It was a fabulous experience.That evening we took in a show about the history of Hangzhou (The night of West Lake). It was very impressive a little like ‘cirque du soliel’ in parts. We had dinner with a very nice father and daughter from the Netherlands who we met there (they were heading off to the Olympics the following morning.

Sunday we went to Leifung Pagoda. It overlooks West Lake. It was literally a pile of rubble until 1998 (I think), when the government decided to rebuild it around the remains. So you enter the temple and in the centre are the old stones in a protective casing. It is about 5 stories high and has wonderful views of the lake and the Hangzhou sky-line. We then walked along Ba Di, a path over part of the west Lake and enjoyed the Lotus blossoms and the gardens. I had to be back here early as I was having my own stem cells, that had been cultured for 7 days reinserted. I received about 240 million neural and mesenchymal cells back. One of the men here said that was the pivotal moment for him but I cant say it was for me. He has only been ill for 3 years compared to my 14; so maybe that makes a difference. The doctors think that I have made progress; the colour and warmth of my legs; the ability to straighten my left hand (I can-curl my fingers and straighten them about 10 times before they tire and when my hand is straight separate and close my fingers); and with a lot of effort I can lift my left leg a couple of centimetres off the floor when I  sitting. They think that I will see some changes gradually as the stem cells start to grow in my body. No alcohol for at least six month! The three things that are very much against stem cell growth are alcohol, cigarettes and drugs! So I shall be abstinent and of course I have to keep up my acupuncture, PT gym etc. I have another IVI on Friday and then my last lumbar puncture next week.

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