Montel's announcement

[1eye]

Montel on CNN re pot mostly

The host says good luck on your upcoming procedure, right at the end. Otherwise it's all about CNN facing pot reality.

[Donnchadh]

Cut and pasted from the website. Article dated June 15th


For more than a decade, Emmy Award-winning television personality Montel Williams has publicly battled Multiple Sclerosis. Williams was diagnosed with MS, a potentially debilitating autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, in 1999 and has since campaigned to increase awareness of the disease.

Williams has openly touted the use of medical marijuana and recently announced his involvement in a medical marijuana consulting company. He is a proponent of fully legalizing the use of marjijuana. At the end of the month, Williams will undergo experimental surgery to correct chronic cerebrospinal venus insufficiency (CCVI), a condition associated with MS.

Williams joins American Morning to discus MS, the use of medical marijuana and his upcoming experimental surgery.

Personally, I have never cared for Montel Williams as he strikes as very opportunistic. He is a spokesman for "payday" type loans which carry usurious interest rates; marketed to the very people least able to afford them.

However, I am very concerned about him getting treated with stents. Considering their potential problems, the last thing the CCSVI community needs is a high profile treatment failure.

Donnchadh

[zinamaria]

I just wish Montel would use the word 'spokes person' rather than 'guinea pig' in the context of CCSVI. He is no guinea pig as that would imply experimental, and although CCSVI sure has a lot of research that is needed, he is certainly on among thousands and not the first.
He loves to talk and this is why he is out there as a personality, so I really do hope he experiences postive changes with the procedure, because in that way he would represent so many of us.

It is clear that he suffers and I wish him improved health, as with any and all who suffer from MS (and other problems as well).

Isn't Sclafani using stents now?

[EJC]

Personally, I have never cared for Montel Williams as he strikes as very opportunistic. He is a spokesman for "payday" type loans which carry usurious interest rates; marketed to the very people least able to afford them.

Honestly that's my opion also - Montel Williams doesn't do anything unless there's an upside for Montel Williams - at least that how it comes across to me.

The outcome and publicity of this single particular procedure could be as damaging as it could be positive.

[carollevin]

I like Montel. I give him credit for being able to cry publicly over his MS. Personally I have lost my ability to cry because I am so emotionally numb.

Montel is in a tricky position because his livelihood is a public figure and if he goes out on a limb too much for something that doesn't work out for others, it could be quite a backlash to him.

He is passionate about the use of marijuana for MS and he makes no bones about that. That is really where his passion is.

I think there is a tendency to look to him because so many of us--I should speak for myself--feel rather unempowered in this illness. When Montel talks, people listen. ... But he is still a person sufffering with a very painful form of MS, where he describes it is like a screwdriver going through his legs.

He has been open to alternative and conventional treatment and it sounds like he is going to be getting CCSVI and we are going to hear his results. We just have to patient and hope or pray for him that he (and all who undergo this treatment) that he will be one of those who does well.

[Donnchadh]

snip

Isn't Sclafani using stents now?

Judging from Dr. Scafani's posts, it would seem he regards them as the very last resort-to be used only when there's no other option.

Donnchadh

[mavis]

Personally, I have never cared for Montel Williams as he strikes as very opportunistic. He is a spokesman for "payday" type loans which carry usurious interest rates; marketed to the very people least able to afford them.

Honestly that's my opion also - Montel Williams doesn't do anything unless there's an upside for Montel Williams - at least that how it comes across to me.

The outcome and publicity of this single particular procedure could be as damaging as it could be positive.

My sentiments exactly. It's all about the pot for him and he tries to push it as it is also a business for him. And who is the "guinea pig"???? Don't make me laugh. He certainly is NOT.

[Cece]

I would say Montel is a guinea pig, as I was a guinea pig, as all of us are guinea pigs in this. He is not the one-and-only guinea pig, which is kinda how it sounds, but I wouldn't understate how much we are still at the beginning of the understanding of CCSVI.

I think there is a tendency to look to him because so many of us--I should speak for myself--feel rather unempowered in this illness. When Montel talks, people listen. ... But he is still a person sufffering with a very painful form of MS, where he describes it is like a screwdriver going through his legs.

Have we heard much from people with that particular symptom (terrible leg pain) getting relief from CCSVI treatment?

[cheerleader]

Have we heard much from people with that particular symptom (terrible leg pain) getting relief from CCSVI treatment?

In Jeff's case, angioplasty got rid of spasms (no more shaking/jumpy legs), but not his terrible neuropathic leg pain. He still gets it at the end of the day, if he's worked hard or exercised hard....maybe a bit less than before, but still there. Probably due to axonal damage...hope angioplasty might help this symptom in others.
cheer

[EJC]

Emma suffers similarly with the leg (and arm) pain and the CCSVI treatment did ease it off a little but didn't stop it.

[NHE]

I remember some time ago listening to an interview with Montell about his leg pain. He stated that he finds relief from going snow boarding. He also found that he doesn't have to actually go snow boarding, but simply strapping on the snow board and pretending to go snow boarding in his office would bring relief. The hypothesis was that he was using different muscles (or using the same muscles differently) and different nerves to communicate with the muscles which somehow provided relief from the pain. With my own neuropathic pain in my foot, I find that the less I think about it, the less it bothers me. If it's bothering me and I have to sit somewhere, say at a meeting for an hour or so, then I do origami to distract my brain. This doesn't actually relieve the pain, but makes it easier to deal with.


NHE

[1eye]

Hey, now you're on my wavelength. I get jumpy legs, both from direct heat and tiredness (which may also be from the heat of digestion, which tends to coincide). I also have burning skin on my lower legs and feet. I am getting my color back (a sandal tan) because of outdoor exercise, and I am getting a lot of sun-based vitamin D which also helps my skin. Previously, I was getting pooling of blood in my feet and mottled brown iron deposits from that, which are going away. I figure my foot pain is both neuropathy and blood-related. I think the jumpy legs start somewhere higher up, maybe even with reflux in my brain because I still have CCSVI, according to the follow-up.

[Cece]

from facebook

Montel Williams
Calm down... Calm down. I was on a plane and just read your posts about the article on CCSVI. Our communication paths were crossed and I was miss quoted. I have researched CCSVI extensively, spent many hours speaking to my doctor and I am well informed about the procedure. I have to say though, I am very happy that so many of you read the article and are on top of it as well!
Thursday at 9:40am

[blossom]

oook and ???? so he is not getting treated at this time. right? hmmmm!

[Cece]

blossom, Montel has said he is getting treated by the end of June!