My personal MS symptoms

Index  updated  05-09-08

My SF1019 treatment    updated 05-09-08 

Candida the silent epidemic     updated 03-28-08 New interview  with Ann Boroch & neurologist, Dr. David Perlmutter.

My cellular exercise treatment

Dietary Changes for MS, it is vital!   updated 05-09-08   Great new link for MS diet recovery book & website!

Stress and MS. (it has always kicked my butt!) updated 03-28-08

Visualization updated 03-28-08  I just remembered this technique from seeing it on a news program years ago.

Quick Fitness & Performance  This is my big brother Brian's site, he is a certified personal trainer and is great & loves what he does!

10-04-06  Of course we do not all have the same exact symptoms, since we are all at different stages and live in different climates but for me I like to have at least some idea of the symptoms of other MS patients who are trying a treatment I have not yet tried, or a treatment I'd like to try.

Most MS patients seem to start out relapsing remitting, I am no different.  My parents divorced when I was 10, my first noticeable symptom of blindness in my right eye (I know there is a medical term for this, but I can't remember what it is, yet another symptom, forgetting words!) during summer at the age of 13.  That resolved on it's own with no treatment.  Over the years, I experienced double vision 2 times, those also resolved with no meds.  Then I broke my ankle in am aerobics class, which was the beginning of many more symptoms, vertigo, numbness in hands, legs, feet.  I was hospitalized for that one and put on ACTH IV therapy for about a week (1984), my body responded very well to the steroids, of course except for the bloating.

Blah, blah, blah, this is where I am now.  I still have some numbness from the chest down, it is not dead numb, but I can feel a pin prick with no problem, hands, chest, stomach, buttocks, legs, and feet.  I have insomnia nearly every night, that I hate the most.  

02-01-07   I have been having a "delightful" exacerbation off and on since about November, primarily using manual wheelchair and lots of prednisone.  It is better, have weaned off steroids, but still needing wheelchair most of the time for getting across the house.  I don't feel my legs are strong enough for using the cane for getting all the way across the house. (I am afraid of falling and delaying my trip!) Though I am now doing laundry and washing dishes, which is how I gauge the strength of my legs and just how much to push it.  I am very excited to be having the SF1019 vaccine in March! My hope is that I won't need steroids anymore with this treatment and that I will get strong enough to be able to start sewing and get my eBay store rolling again.  Only time will tell.  I am not going to be unrealistic and think after just a few shots I'll be all better and running around, I have not been able to run for decades! I think one day I will absolutely need stem cells to really help out, but that will have to wait for now.  I have noticed on Alan Osmond's site that because of the FDA phase 3 trial he is only allowed to say certain things so as not to jeopardize the trial.  I will presume this will apply to my website as well, so please be patient, it will all come to fruition soon! Cya

09-21-07    I keep forgetting that I even have this page...duh! I started the SF1019 treatment back in May and am doing quite well, I often find myself forgetting to use my cane when getting around in the house.  The weather is getting hot again, but I'm sure it won't last very long after all it is almost October, I love the cool, comfortable weather.  Go Cubs!!!

09-28-07    My balance has been crappy since I broke my ankle & had surgery in 1984, I cannot put my feet together and not fall over.  I still start my day going from the bed to my manual wheelchair until my brain and legs are in sync enough to walk around safely without stumbling usually takes a couple hours.  I have numbness in my toes and bottoms of my feet going up to my mid back, that has been like that also since '84.  I think I am noticing that my fingers on my right hand are getting more feeling back as well as my toes and bottom of left heel.  I am walking much more and more comfortably with the cane and sometimes I will forget my cane!  In '99 I was able to take my dog for a brief walk, maybe up to 2 blocks, it is my dream to be doing that again in the near future, maybe in the spring, only time will tell.  I can tell my short term memory is getting better, my son AJ can tell that as well.  My handwriting also is better, it is much more legible although my cursive writing is not so great.  My ability to fall and stay asleep is still not so great, it has been like that around 2000.  When I do not sleep enough I tend to get weepy, I hate that, so embarrassing! Since the weather is starting to become cooler I am hoping I will be able to exercise more so I can try to naturally make my brain and body tired enough to fall asleep at night.  Again, I guess only time will tell.  Go Bears Cubs!

10-12-07    I am now walking with my cane much more consistently.   I woke up this past Tuesday(9th) and just instinctually started walking with the cane instead of using the wheelchair! I have only been using the cane since then!  That is so exciting, my sleeping seems to be slowly improving as well.  In my opinion this could be from the consistent use of the SF1019 vaccine,  which is leading to my ability to walk more frequently which makes me more tired at night.  Everything takes time, patience is key.  Only time will tell, if this can help with my balance.  Go Bears & Blackhawks!

10-19-07    I am still using just the cane to get around, no wheelchair!  I have added doing laps around the interior of my home in the hall ways, my fabulous son AJ helped me in double checking my counting.  (98 steps) I am also doing ballet plie's which also helps my leg muscles.  To me the next progression will be not using the cane at all, but I know this will not happen overnight.  Patience is the key!   I think doing more laps with my cane will be very helpful.  Go Bears & Blackhawks!

10-26-07    I am still only using the cane to get around, did not sleep great last night so I am cautious and know when to not push too much.  Listen to your body, you are the only one who knows it best.  Go Bears & Blackhawks!

11-09-07    Still using the cane only to get around the house, and sometimes I forget to use it!!!  I love when that happens, hopefully soon my ability to fall and stay asleep will return.  I'm patient, I'm certain that it will.  It has only been 6 months since I started this treatment so in my opinion I do have to be realistic on how quickly I will get better.  Go Blackhawks!

11-16-07    Tingling in my hands and feet seems to be getting lighter, sleeping is still not exactly great, I am going to try a new CD later today that is based on principals by Dr. Ivan Pavlov called Speed Sleep.  We will see, I have some Xanax left, it puts me to sleep but it takes me many hours to wake up my brain and body!  What the heck, I'll give the CD a try.  This is a slow treatment, but it has taken me decades to get this way I would think it will certainly take a considerable amount of time to have significant changes...I've waited this long I'll wait as long as I must!  My numbness happened back in 1984 I slowly became dead numb in my fingers, from my back down to my feet, it is not dead numb anymore but numbness still exists, my butt was so numb I fell off a chair when I was working and have not been able to use my rowing machine because I can't feel my butt enough to allow me to stay "seated".    Go Blackhawks!

12-07-07     My fingers & toes continue to awaken, my handwriting is much more legible, my memory is also improving.  AJ has brought over friends in the past and I would not be able to remember their names no matter how hard I would try, I'd feel so stupid but he has recently (10 days or so) introduced me to 3 new friends, I still remember their names!  So exciting!  My sleeping seems to be also be improving, slowly but surely.  I fall asleep about 2 - 3 hours at a time, I don't get up until I total about 8 hours of sleep, the better I sleep it seems my memory is a bit better too, makes sense to me.  I will soon be adding Yoga for MS to my exercise routine, I will be getting that tape this weekend.  My memory is definitely getting better, but if I'm doing more than one thing at a time I have to really think!  Have a great weekend! Go Blackhawks!

12-14-07     I'm realizing after looking at this page, that maybe I should simply have a list of my symptoms, even the embarrassing ones! Here we go...

      Current

1. Chronic insomnia (slowly seems to be getting better, I am noticing dreams & such)

2. Chronic fatigue  (of course this improves as I am sleeping better)

3. Brain fog  (ditto)

4. Urinary hesitancy 

5. Bowel urgency (this seems to be getting better too since I started the vaccine, I have not crapped my pants!)

6. Numbness in fingers, toes, back of legs and buttocks. This started in 1984 after breaking my ankle and I kept going to work, huge mistake! (the numbness is slowly getting better too since using the vaccine)

Have a great weekend! Go Blackhawks!

12-21-07     Back in mid June'07 it was extremely hot and I ended up having vertigo, and in July'07 I had spasms in my left ear drum, it made me very dizzy.  When I had these episodes I used the SF1019 vaccine and very quickly after those symptoms went away.  During both of these episodes I had also been using Candida Cleanse for treatment of the Candida Albicans.  It could be coincidental, but I feel those exacerbations could have been due to my taking the Candida Cleanse, from what I have read about taking these kind of products it has the same type effect as I had when I was using antibiotics to treat the MS.  During the antibiotic treatment I had many exacerbations, I remember reading those "exacerbations" were due to killing off the bacteria also called a Herxheimer reaction.  This time I am killing off Candida Albicans from my body.  According to what I have read about treating the Candida I also need to be consistent about removing gluten products, such as wheat, dairy and sugar to name just a few.  Since SSD is my primary income I do still use gluten products because they are more affordable than Gluten-free, so I will not be able to go completely Gluten-free at this time so I will continue to use the SF1019 vaccine since in my experience that treatment stops any exacerbation that I may have.  There are many different products used to treat Candida, you will need to decide for yourself which you feel is best for you. 

Below is a description I found from Dictionary.com.

Typically the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins occurs faster than the body can remove the toxins via the natural detoxification process performed by the kidneys and liver. It is manifested by fever, chills, headache, myalgias, and exacerbation of cutaneous lesions. Duration in syphilis is normally only a few hours but can be much longer in other diseases. The intensity of the reaction reflects the intensity of inflammation present.

The Herxheimer Reaction has shown an increase in inflammatory cytokines during the period of exacerbation, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8.

Both Adolf Jarisch, an Austrian dermatologist, and Karl Herxheimer, a German dermatologist, are credited with the discovery of the Herxheimer reaction."

I will continue with dietary changes and when I can afford to I will continue taking Candida Cleanse and Gluten-free foods.  I never believed diet had anything to do with this disease, but now after seeing more research especially from Ann Boroch's book, Curing Multiple Sclerosis, and further confirmation on that subject from Neurologist, Dr. David Perlmutter, I do believe diet is key, the sooner the better!  I wish I had known 32 years ago, but better late than never!

Have a great weekend! Go Blackhawks!

12-28-07   At this point I am still having problems falling and staying asleep, that I feel is my worst symptom.  Once I receive my Ambien I a hoping I will be able to sleep better on a regular basis.  I know that will make a big difference so that I will not shuffle around like a 90 year old, there are days I feel 90.  I would like to get back into a regular exercise regimen so my arms, legs and such can become stronger.  In my youth I actually enjoyed doing lots of ab work, weight lifting, and going for daily 3 mile walks, that is a big dream of mine.  I'll keep trying!  I have renewed hope for 2008!

Happy New Year! Go Blackhawks!

01-04-08      I am hoping that today my Ambien will arrive, it will not be considered late for another 10 days, so hopefully it will get here today.  Even though I am still sleeping badly I am noticing that the numbness in my hands and feet is getting better.  I can tell especially in my hands because my handwriting is much more legible especially writing in cursive which I have had such a problem coordinating my brain with my hand!  I can also see the difference when I use the crossword puzzles, my brain is remembering better and I can see my printing ability changing as well.  The brain fog of course feels better on the days that I sleep well, which unfortunately is few and far between...oh well.  I have been drinking generic Nyquil the past couple days, taking more than the usual dosage, it is helping me sleep a bit better, though my brain takes a bit longer to wake up.  In the past 2 days I have also  noticed that the bowel urgency in much less which is really great!  That can be a very embarrassing symptom.  So much for modesty & humility...bummer...oh well. Go Blackhawks!

01-11-08   My Ambien has still not arrived but I was experimenting with generic Nyquil and found if I drink 4TB I will sleep 4 hours in a row and when I get up to go to the bathroom I actually fall back to sleep for about 4 more hours! That works for me for the moment! It takes my brain a long time to wake up once I get up, but I'll take what I can get.  I have been under a lot of stress lately I'm sure that does not help with my ability to sleep.  I am noticing a really good thing, I have been able to make it to the bathroom so much easier, no crapping in my pants! My handwriting is still looking much better and I have been using the Neuro Gym short term memory exercises from my index page to work my brain, yesterday I was doing the "remembering faces" exercise, sounds easy but my short term memory definitely needs work!!! I can logically see my recovery is going to take a long time, though I do believe it is being helped by this vaccine that I am fortunate to be able to use on a regular basis.  I know for a fact it has helped me during summer heat because I had no exacerbations during this past summer'07, in the past I would always need Prednisone to make it through the summer, and also I would need Prednisone when under excessive stress, I'm so happy to not have needed the steroids! With the SF1019 vaccine there is no Prednisone Bloat, just relief of inflammatory symptoms!   I know I have a lot of brain scarring to recover from so I need to be patient which is often difficult to do, but I know I must try my hardest! Cya!  Go Blackhawks!

01-19-08   I have been mostly relying on generic Nyquil for sleeping, it still works pretty good.  I'm walking better with longer strides I can often walk with no cane at all.  Though when I push the caneless walking my legs will let me know that I am overdoing it! My memory seems to me doing well, especially when my sleep is good.  My bowel problems seem to be under control too.  Have a great weekend!

Go Blackhawks!

03-07-08   I have crossed that "invisible line" of over doing it which has led to my legs feeing quite weak and I have found it necessary to start using Prednisone for a period of time. I was walking around too much, so I also started using my manual wheelchair when I first wake up and let my Daisey dog out and I use the cane sparingly throughout the day. But during this time I have noticed that the palm of my left hand is not numb anymore, though the tops of fingers on the left hand do still feel slightly numb. My Right hand all of it still feels slightly numb, no change there. During the time of crossing that invisible line I noticed the muscles in my feet and tops of my feet were sore I found that exciting that these muscles were coming to life, but I overdid it! Then I needed to take prednisone for a short time, I also took Xanax every other day so I could get a better night's sleep, insomnia is still a problem for me. I am learning to try very hard to not overdo it. Go Blackhawks!

03-21-08    I am done with the Prednisone, I know I am beyond fortunate that steroids have always helped me to at least get back somewhat to where I started before an exacerbation. I am back to using Xanax to help me sleep, I should have not tried any other sleep aide I will never make that mistake again.  I am using the wheelchair a bit more, but I do walk either with the cane or holding onto the walls I just don't overdo it. I need to exercise on a more regular basis and now that I'm able to sleep I feel I can get back to a better exercise regime. Regardless I feel I need to be realistic and know that since I've had the symptoms for more than 30 years, the likelihood of my getting better overnight is not likely. I remember years ago when I could just lay down at night and fall asleep, I think that could happen again one day I will just have to be patient! Go Blackhawks!  

03-28-08     I am still sticking to using the WC first thing in the morning and not over doing it with using the cane or wall walking too much. But I did take too much Candida Cleanse which I feel led me to having a short exacerbation of vertigo! A J-H reaction where symptoms return for a short time because too much Candida was being released too fast for my body to handle, this link has a more concise explanation: J-H reaction  I'm feeling better now, I will not make that mistake again! This is a slow process, but I am so sick of not being able to go to see my son play his bass in his band when it is hot out! I don't know exactly how long this will take, I only know from Ann Boroch's book that it did take her several years, heck I've had this crappy disease for nearly 33 years I will gladly wait it out! My son wants to take me to a Blackhawk game when I'm better!   Go Blackhawks!