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Well, go figure.

My MS showed itself full blast a few month after I quit smoking (smoked for 17 years)

Well I came back on Nov. 24 after getting the CCSVI and the result... I feel exactly the same as I did before getting it done.

I know what you might be thinking “give it time you might feel better a little later”. I would agree but “I'M” someone who lives in the here and now given the present reality of today and not the maybes of tomorrow. So from my perspective, the $12,000 I spent on getting it done served only as being able to scratch an itch to do something. Of course this might change but for the here and now, it only scratched an itch.

hopefully you start to improve. at least you didn't come home with a new symptom. so, i would not throw in the towel yet. some they say improve slowly. hope you are one of them. the best.

blossom,

Yes I know some do improve slowly but again, I'm one to react to the here and now at the present time and right NOW, I feel that this procedure did scratch an itch I had to get it done... and that's IT. I don't see it as a good or bad thing since it is what it is and now, it is to me to react to this reality.

Did I throw in the towel yet? Well, again I would say that I am bummed out and will need much time to recover from this “échec” but I am not contemplating suicide or anything. I just need time to lick my hurt wounds.

I just read all of these posts. I am going for CCSVI treatment next week, and have been trying (and failing) to stop.I have been so full of self-hatred trying to quit. It was really nice to know I am not alone, and to read all of the humours and non-judgemental comments

mandamurr81 wrote:I just read all of these posts. I am going for CCSVI treatment next week, and have been trying (and failing) to stop.I have been so full of self-hatred trying to quit. It was really nice to know I am not alone, and to read all of the humours and non-judgemental comments

I am a smoking fiend. I have been trying to stop without much success. I managed to reduce drastically around the month of my procedure, but I am back to smoking about 20 a day along with 3-4 marijuana joints. Sigh. I just love smoking. Flame away me hearties!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B75qAZC1Bnk

tilt

The first question they ask you when you have a heart attack is do you smoke. I guess that's just the lowest-hanging fruit. Comedy may be hard, but dying ain't that easy. I just remember George Carlin: "Mind if I ...smoke?" "Mind if I ... fart?"

Don't hate yourself. When you're dead, it doesn't matter.

I have reduced over the past few months, in preparation for the procedure. At the end of last year my habit had creeped up to about a pack a day. I have had it down to about 6 cigs a day for months, but I seem to have hit a wall there. Sometimes I smoke less, but I just haven't been able to cut it out totally in time for the procedure. Well, I still have a couple of days to try. lol. I have no expectations about this procedure besides "we'll see if anything happens", but everything feels surreal anyway.....btw, if my posts are full of typos I apologize. I always end up writing on here after I take my Zopiclone, and it makes me a little loopy. lol

If it helps, smoking increases risk of thrombosis, especially around such a procedure. Is that really worth it?

(And before you ask, I used to be a chain smoker. It is definitely possible to quit, even if it might not last for forever.)

the_r wrote:If it helps, smoking increases risk of thrombosis, especially around such a procedure. Is that really worth it?

(And before you ask, I used to be a chain smoker. It is definitely possible to quit, even if it might not last for forever.)

It's tough to quantify the benefits of a known carcinogen. In fact it harkens back to the heady days of Heroin as the new wonder drug.

Obviously I am being facetious.

I nearly lost my wife to a brain stem hemorrhage in 2006, so I think it boils down to philosophical arguments: Is todays pleasure worth it if you could be gone tomorrow?

I don't know. But throw in addiction and it's a no-brainer. Who gives a shit if it causes thrombosis?(again, facetious) but using logical arguments in the face of the above two factors really doesn't hold much value to me personally.

Perhaps I will change my mind as time goes on. God knows Sal is going to give me a Brooklyn slap upside the head when I see him next.

tilt

tiltawhirl wrote:

the_r wrote:If it helps, smoking increases risk of thrombosis, especially around such a procedure. Is that really worth it?

(And before you ask, I used to be a chain smoker. It is definitely possible to quit, even if it might not last for forever.)

It's tough to quantify the benefits of a known carcinogen. In fact it harkens back to the heady days of Heroin as the new wonder drug.

Obviously I am being facetious.

I nearly lost my wife to a brain stem hemorrhage in 2006, so I think it boils down to philosophical arguments: Is todays pleasure worth it if you could be gone tomorrow?

I don't know. But throw in addiction and it's a no-brainer. Who gives a shit if it causes thrombosis?(again, facetious) but using logical arguments in the face of the above two factors really doesn't hold much value to me personally.

Perhaps I will change my mind as time goes on. God knows Sal is going to give me a Brooklyn slap upside the head when I see him next.

tilt

Addiction and its influence on thinking is clearly the thing, I'm with you there. However, for me there was a difference between a potential long term risk and a tangible short term risk. I was able to see that one despite my addiction, and really my original plan was to quit for just a couple weeks.

tiltawhirl wrote:I am a smoking fiend. I have been trying to stop without much success.

keep trying, it's hard, it's worth it. many other healthier pleasures out there.

Well, I had the procedure done. As much as swore to myself that I was keeping my expectations realistic, secretly I was hoping to to fall into the elusive less than 10% category like tiltawhirl. Instead, I seem to have had an experience like jphector. I am happy I went, since otherwise I would have wondered "what if" for ever. Also I seem to have noticed some very slightly increased energy, and slightly increased use of my right hand. Also....so far, no headaches with is great. Nevertheless, I would gladly trade all of this for the improved gate and foot drop. So for me, it was worth it to go but not life-altering by any means.....On the plus side, California is like the ant-smoking capital of the world, which made it really easy to smoke like 0-2 cigs a day....seriously, they fine you in the streets! lol.

mandamurr, give it time, it's a good sign if you had some early improvements, I think that means there is improved oxygenation which can allow for neurological healing. If rehab is an option, it could theoretically help too.