January 5
I thought I would be bursting with energy today after my stem cells through an IV, but I’m not. I found therapy this morning very frustrating. My body won’t obey my brain.
Dr Wang throws a ball to me every day, most days I can throw and catch it pretty well unless I try to use only my left hand. I am of course sitting down mostly.
Walking the stairs is very frustrating too. The back of my feet kept clipping the stairs and pushing me off balance. I was getting so angry the other day I kicked the stairs which was not a good idea as I hurt my left foot, the really painfull one.
I’ve noticed that I can brush my teeth a little easier with a manual toothbrush since being here. I usually have to use an electric toothbrush.
My arthritis feels a little better today – here’s hoping! I’ve organised a few extra treatments so next week I will have another IV stem cell then Friday a spinal. I hate the spinal, not moving for 6 hours is really hard. This is what the doctor has rechommended as my last reaction was not to favourable.
I talked today to a 33 year old man who is practically wheelchair bound, he has Type 3 Ataxia, Josephs Machado Disease. He has trouble like I do with balance plus swallowing, speech is diffiult and when his eyes close on him for no reason he cannot open them again until the spasm passes. He is obviously not driving anymore. It will be interesting to see how much the stem cells improve his quality of life.
Last night when the stem cells were hooked up to me I was most upset about the size of the bag. They took about 20 minutes to go through – it was the quickest 3300 Australian dollars I’ve ever spent. And I couln’t even make myself feel any better with my sister’s saying “It’s not what you spend, it’s what you save”. I’m going to try and ring the boys again for the fourth time today. Communicfation really sux over here. 
7 comments January 5th, 2007
