Rachel’s Ataxia Treatment Blog

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I am writing this blog with an IV in my hand which contains special Chinese Medicine. I am supposed to have one every day after the first stem cell injection. We didn’t know this so when they went to give me one yesterday I tried to tell them they had the wrong person (a few translation problems that we managed to sort out).

I had pictures taken of my eyes on Saturday, a solution was put into my eyes to enlarge the pupils ( I think). I had to sit with my eyes shut for a while, when I was allowed to open them I looked at my watch to see what time it was and I couldn’t read it. Everything was blurry, I have some eyesight issues due to the Ataxia but this was very scary. They then put a piece of paper in front of my eyes and asked if this was my name (which they do before they do anything to you) and all I could say was I don’t know, I can’t read a thing. When I think about it, it is amazing how much trust I put into these people. All the doctors, nurses and Beike staff seem very genuine and caring but I have faith in their medicine too, perhaps it is because they haven’t given up on Ataxic patients as they have done in Australia. Even the constant, repetitive exercises are something doctors in Australia could have encouraged but instead they pretty much said, there isn’t anything we can do for you, so deal with you symptoms yourself.

On a lighter note we had dinner last night with a few of the patients, Jon, Sunny, Vivienne, Andrea, Joe and Marion (these are all Chinese Beike staff except Jon who is an American). We had a great night and some wonderful Chinese food. Walking to the restaurant we saw a skinned dog in another restaurant window (this of course made Garry’s day, he took lots of photos whilst I refused to look).

When the headache and the backache eased (the beds here do not help with back ache) after the first stem cell injection I realised that there wasn’t the usual throbbing pain associated with my arthritis, it has returned but I had the injection three days ago. Apparently when I have the stem cells through the IV I will feel even better and the constant fatigue may leave me for a while (Garry is looking forward to seeing if this eventuates). My IV is finished better call the nurse.

3 comments January 1st, 2007

garry2

Rachel is down in rehab having some electrified acupuncture, she suggested that I have a go, I said I would be happy to shove some needles into anyone who wanted them (that is not what she meant).

Thankfully rach is a bit better today after a bad day yesterday where she spent most of the day in bed. She will be up for a full day of rehab today. One benefit to come from the waiting at certain times is that I have read a novel from start to finish (rare for me) in 2 days (and yes it was 4x as long as a western). Un fortunately there is no english news on the TV, although there is Bloomberg of a morning which if nothing else keeps us up to date with the world markets (not sure what benefit that is rachel).

Coming back from Walmart in a Taxi the other night was interesting. First he was driving a manual but not using the clutch (now has welll rounded gears i’m sure). I went to pay him and we got into a blue over the money I gave him. His english was non-existent and my Italian background had gestures were not getting me anywhere. Anyway I handed him a $100 RMB (chinese currency where 5.8 rmb:A$1) and he gave me the change. I realised the next morning why he was going nuts when i presented the same notes (what I thought were $1 notes) to the shop downstairs and the young lass (who I think fancies me) explained that my $1 notes were 10 cent notes (trust the chinese to come up with a 10 cent note). I see now why the cabbies was going nuts and in the end ripped me off for 10rmb.

Enough stories for now (more tomorrow) as I need to go and pick Rach up from down stairs.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

NOTE: You can buy a long neck of beer for approx 40 cents on special. Their wine is not so good so far (will keep looking ).

1 comment January 1st, 2007