Day 22 11/6/08
I got 9 hours sleep last night, and I’m better then yesterday but I’m still beat. The doctors came at 8:30 and I was still half asleep. Dr. Frank, who speaks more English than some of them, asked why I wasn’t on Skype. They told me that spinals 2 days apart wasn’t possible. In fact, they balked at Friday-Monday-Friday at first, but when I pointed out that I’d had no ill effects from either the successful or abortive attempt, they agreed that if that was the case this time, they would do it.
PT was better than yesterday, but far from my best. Jason had Dr. Frank translate for him, and apparently I’m working too hard. So much for the football mentality. But now I get the message, and I won’t push it. I did exactly what Jason said, and no more.
After PT, I went to the Bank of China to cash some Traveler’s checks. Their idea of a disabled ramp was a 45 degree incline. You’d have to be Superman to wheel up there. I had trouble with it myself. I got in there only to find that they wouldn’t cash them! Seems that I had signed in the wrong place. But not to worry, they would be happy to hold them and cash them, in 45 days! They were even less helpful than American banks. If I hadn’t run into Lucy (translator) at the bank, I would still be there, trying to figure out what was going on.
After I got back, I found out that I could use my debit card at bank machines in the lobby of the hospital. Problem solved. Now I can get gifts for my wife and kids, and the doctors. It’s “advised” that you do so, especially if you plan on coming bsck.
Which leads me to my next point: if I do have to do this again, they’ve been very nice, but with the spinal problem, I’m not sure. There’s a program called Cell Medicine, that operates out of Costa Rica, that is doing autologous (from your fat, not your hip) and umbilical stem cells simultaneously, along with Physical Therapy. That’s intriguing, and better yet, it’s not 7,000 miles away from home. I had read about them before, but until recently, they’d had no experience with ataxia. I shall re-examine them. Because if the vitamin D therapy doesn’t work, I’ll be needing to do this again. Depending on how well the engraftment in 2-3 months goes, I may have to either way.
6 comments November 6th, 2008
