Akaheather's One Year Checkup at Stanford and ....
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 8:53 pm
NO RELAPSES
NO NEW LESIONS
STENTS IN PLACE
BLOOD FLOWING
Woohoo!!
I KNOW, I KNOW !!! Lesion count is not every thing. But, after seeing several bright white enhancing lesions in the past couple of years, I was thrilled to receive a clear MRI.
In case you don't remember me, I was seen by Dr. Dake seen last year on October 8th and I received three stents, two in my left IJV and one in my right. When Dr. Dake's staff performed my MRV, in additon to stenosed jugular veins, they also found an actively enhancing lesion on my MRI. My EDSS, at that time, was somewhere between 1 to 1.5 and I had RRMS. I was first diagnosed with MS in 2004.
The morning after my procedure I felt like I had been hit in the base of my skull with a 2 by 4. I also had a lot of pain in my right shoulder. The lower skull pain cleared up pretty quickly, but the shoulder pain lasted for almost 8 months. In March, I also started having a daily headache just above my eyes which lasted for about 3 months. (I have no idea whether or not the headache was related to my procedure. I just thought I would add it as a disclaimer. ) Other than these "side effects", I have been feeling pretty well.
My symptoms upon arrival to Dr. Dake's office included fatigue, brain fog, tingling in hands and feet, intermitant tingling in legs after heat exposure and/or excercise.
Since having the procedure, fatigue and brain fog have improved. Tingling in hands and feet cleared immediately after surgery while tingling in legs has continued. (I am convinced that this is due to nerve damage from a previous relapse, but I could be wrong. At any rate, it doesn't happen all the time so, if this ends up being the only symptom I'm left with, I'll take it! Thank God!)
In summary, I am feeling great. I LOVE MY STENTS and am extremely happy to NOT BE GETTING WORSE!! (So far.)
Even more importantly, I am THRILLED to have lived this past year with less fear than I have felt in the past six years!
I'll be sending my prayers for Liberation for All!
Heather
NO NEW LESIONS
STENTS IN PLACE
BLOOD FLOWING
Woohoo!!
I KNOW, I KNOW !!! Lesion count is not every thing. But, after seeing several bright white enhancing lesions in the past couple of years, I was thrilled to receive a clear MRI.
In case you don't remember me, I was seen by Dr. Dake seen last year on October 8th and I received three stents, two in my left IJV and one in my right. When Dr. Dake's staff performed my MRV, in additon to stenosed jugular veins, they also found an actively enhancing lesion on my MRI. My EDSS, at that time, was somewhere between 1 to 1.5 and I had RRMS. I was first diagnosed with MS in 2004.
The morning after my procedure I felt like I had been hit in the base of my skull with a 2 by 4. I also had a lot of pain in my right shoulder. The lower skull pain cleared up pretty quickly, but the shoulder pain lasted for almost 8 months. In March, I also started having a daily headache just above my eyes which lasted for about 3 months. (I have no idea whether or not the headache was related to my procedure. I just thought I would add it as a disclaimer. ) Other than these "side effects", I have been feeling pretty well.
My symptoms upon arrival to Dr. Dake's office included fatigue, brain fog, tingling in hands and feet, intermitant tingling in legs after heat exposure and/or excercise.
Since having the procedure, fatigue and brain fog have improved. Tingling in hands and feet cleared immediately after surgery while tingling in legs has continued. (I am convinced that this is due to nerve damage from a previous relapse, but I could be wrong. At any rate, it doesn't happen all the time so, if this ends up being the only symptom I'm left with, I'll take it! Thank God!)
In summary, I am feeling great. I LOVE MY STENTS and am extremely happy to NOT BE GETTING WORSE!! (So far.)
Even more importantly, I am THRILLED to have lived this past year with less fear than I have felt in the past six years!
I'll be sending my prayers for Liberation for All!
Heather