April 12th

April 12th
I woke up with Teagan’s arms wrapped around me. It was so good to be home. We snuggled in bed and then I got up with no pain. It is still a strange feeling to get up and have the pain gone. I don’t miss it but it was just there forever it seems.
I only had six hours of sleep but I wasn’t really tired. Adrenaline rush had me flying high. When I walked Teagan to school she began to skip and I joined in. We skipped down the sidewalk with Teagan smiling and saying “Mommy you are doing it, you can do it!” She was so excited. Then we came to a puddle and I jumped over it. She was thrilled again that I could jump over a puddle. Such simple things but I’ve been unable to do them for so long she couldn’t remember a mommy who was able to move these ways. And then we ran. My legs felt so free. They moved easily and there was not pain when they touched the ground. Then we slowed down and let Grandpa catch up to us. It was a moment so ordinary but yet so miraculous that I could move this way.
When I got back to the house, Mom and I headed to my doctors office. I was thrilled to be seeing her today. There was so much change in such a short time and she could measure the difference and record it. I had see Dr. Blench on April 1st so that she could record the pre-treatment state of my MS. Here is what she found.
On April 1st – My right foot has been numb for two years, spasticity in both calves, pain in right thigh. That added up to pain when walking and not being able to walk great distances. Even standing in the shower was too long and painful. I woke up every morning with pain in my hips and legs that was excruciating. The pain would ease when I walked around for while.
Balance – I could stand on my right foot for about 25 seconds and left 20 seconds. Balance was not too bad.
Most of the right side of my body had numbness, from head to toe.
Speech – trouble finding my words, halting speech.
Fatigue – always tired, never felt rested. I was sleeping at least 10 hours a night.

On April 12th – Spasticity has eased in the calf muscles. Pain in the legs is gone. Wake up and lie in bed with no pain in hips or legs, none!!
Balance – Can easily stand on either foot for minutes.
Feeling has returned to the right side of my body except for part of the right foot, it is slowly returning though.
Speech –Vaun noticed that it is no longer halting but free flowing.
Fatigue – I am tired from my trip to Albany but it is different than the overwhelming fatigue from before. Will know more in time when I’ve returned to my daily life longer. I do wake in the morning after 8 –9 hours of sleep and feel ready to get up.
My hands and feet have always been cold, I always have worn socks to bed but now I don’t need to. My feet and hands are warm again.
Another thing I noticed was the test where you put one hand in the other palm and turn it face up face down as fast as you can. Before I really had to concentrate to perform this task and now I can do it while carrying on a conversation. It is a simple thing but I feel the difference.

My mom told Dr. Blench how I had wore her out at the mall on Sunday and how that was unusual for me to be able to walk to much. My doctor was amazed at how much I had improved over such a short time. She will book an ultrasound for three months from now to see if there is any narrowing in the veins. She is excited to follow my progress and further document the changes. I am no longer taking the medication for my bladder and the neurologist at the MS clinic had prescribed two new medications that I will not even begin taking. One was for fatigue and the other for pain. After I have my MRI in June Dr. Blench will look at taking away another prescription for the spasticity in my legs. She is also going to look at the pictures from the procedure and then try to wait patiently for the report from Albany.
As for me, I will take it one day at a time. Vaun is going to put together some exercises to improve my mobility. I have the energy now to follow an exercise program and some motivation. I look forward to many more pain free days and gain some strength and stamina.