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.
November 6th, 2008
For the second night in a row, I got very little sleep, about 5 1/2 hours, and this time it hit me right between the eyes. I was staggering around today as if I had had no improvement at all. It’s amazing how much sleep, or lack thereof, affects ataxia. Tonight, I will get my beauty rest. Jason took one look at me in PT and tried to send me “home”. No way. I sweated it out. I didn’t do whatI I usually can, but I still busted my butt. I’m convinced that the harder you work in therapy, the better it is for the stems.
Jason felt so sorry for me that he sent his associate to my room for acupuncture and electrowave. I don’t know if it was the od.of voltage yesterday, or my belief that the more I take, the better, but today I noticed the skin on my legs where the pads go is peeling, like a bad sunburn. Maybe I ought to take it easy on that.
Jack took me to the computer store after that, and sure enough, they couldn’t fix it. But a new keyboard bypassed the problem. He said I paid too much and tried to talk the salesguy down. No deal. But the price was 40 RMB, about $6. When I told him it would cost 5 times that in the States, he was stunned. He told me that they even bargain with cabbies. I can just see trying that in NYC. My new keyboard seems to be supplying different fonts, but I don’t care. I get to write on my computer when I want, and not wait for the kids to stop playing games on the ones in the common room..
Tomorrow, my Canadian friends, Rena, Richard, Dawn and little Jacob are leaving, and I’m happy for them, but I’ll miss them. And Clint and his son Luke leave Friday. But I’ve made new friends, Dani and her beautiful daughter, Jessica, from New Zealand by way of Australia; and Debbie, her mom, and her beauiful daughter, Kitty, from London by way of South Africa. And Jim and his wife are still here, as well as Cindy and her son, Xavier, who calls me Uncle Mike, from Florida and my pretty Sophia and her folks from Venezuela by way of Canada.
Yesterday, I found out from Jon Hakim that Beike’s Bone Marrow Transplant Dr. is coming here Monday, and he’s excellent at spinals. Today, I e-mailed him and asked if I could have my 3 remaining treatments next week, with that Doctor. I know that that would be a little close together, but I hope they can do it.
Election day “today” at home,and Obama won! Great news for the USA.
Only 10 days to go, boy do I miss my wife and kids.
November 5th, 2008
