This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I see Dr. Kerr on August 6th and Dr. Brodsky on August 12th. If all goes well and I feel comfortable and non-scared-shitless, then I'm looking at HiCy in Summer 2009.

I would have liked to have seen the Dr.s earlier (example: in July), but unfortunately I have to testify in a court case (I'm a witness) that begins on July 7th, so...

Still: I am excited to be going this summer.

Chillax lol

I learned that killing yourself doesn't make time go faster. Just makes you feel worse.

We will all be looking to read about your experience

Why are you waiting a year to get the actual treatment is that how far out they are nowadays?

Red,

I have noticed that. You should try to chill (as Chris says!). Stress is no good for you.

Everything will work out. Just be patient and preferably calm.

Regards,
V.

MrHodes,

Thank you for your kind reply.

As far as I know, no---that's not how long the wait is nowadays. My decision to wait a year is really a personal choice. I am a 28-year-old doctoral student right now, and I still have another 9 credits of coursework to complete---plus my General Examination to take---before I will be "ABD" (="all but dissertation"). In the meantime, my entire life (i.e. - jobs, and therefore income; health insurance, because it's tied into both my status as a full-time grad student *and* my employment as a Research Assistant within my program, etc.) is dependent upon my continued participation within my program.

I am single and do not have family that would support me financially while I recovered.

Therefore I had a choice:

1. Gte HiCY THIS summer, and go back to school in September---unlikely, given the time needed to get appointments, coordinate a trip to Baltimore, get approved, undergo treatment, and recover....plus July is out because I have to testify in the aforementioned trial

or

2. Get HiCy next summer, probably in June, thus allowing myself 2-3 months to recover before I begin writing my dissertation.

Obviously #2 was both the more logical and the more feasible option.

HiCy is not going anywhere, and I haven't even had MS for a year yet.

No need to rush.

AHhh, yes life must be ordered and it makes perfect sense to me.
I wish for you a beautiful year of good research findings
marie

Keri,

You may or may not even be a good candidate for the procedure. If you are cleared medically and recommended for HiCy, great. But mentally preparing yourself for a possible: "Sorry, but you are not a good candidate for this treatment" might be a good idea, too. I think you mentioned that you were having a bunch of your friends write letters to the JH team (or I could possibly be confusing you with someone else on here---correct me if I am wrong). Whether or not you get approved for HiCy has nothing to do with what a great person you are or how gung-ho you happen to be, but whether or not, medically speaking, you are an appropriate candidate for this treatment.

I don't think that a letter-writing campaign or 80,000 phone calls are necessary.

You are clearly all set and on your way to meet the Doctors, and that is wonderful news.

But seriously, chill out.

~V.

Man oh man!! LOL When I still had the crap my fatigue never would have let me write that much!

If you are meeting you are in. Haven't heard otherwise.

Keri,

Yeah...your anxiety level (or: "energy level"---whichever term you prefer) is really just a bit much for me (personally) right now.

I started this "topic" to let people in the forum----some of whom I have been communicating with for over a month now----know that I got my appointments set up, and ended up being...for lack of a better word..."bombarded" by your entire life story in this thread.

I am sure you're a cool person, but this is just a bit much for me right now. There are a lot of people in the forum; this isn't just about any one of us. Really, I just wanted to share some good news with some people I had been talking to on here...

Take care

-V.