it's getting closer

Please follow this link to hear about the latest Canadian connection to CCSVI:

CTV NEWS

I stumbled upon this clip via Facebook. I am proud that Canada is taking this seriously. Not only are Canadian doctors (and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada)following the research and findings, but they are listening to the 75,000 Canadian people living with MS...and people around the world.

Proud. So proud. And excited!

Emily

Lunch With Sally

What a grand idea - getting together with the five other woman from the MS Fatigue Workshop. A lunch date to remind me that some people just get it.

Let me tell you about the ladies:

First, there is Sally* who can get lost just turning a corner, but has a twinkle in her eyes.

Then we have Julie* who loves to read but can never remember what she has read.

And...what is her name...let's call her Sally*...who is quiet and attentive, yet may fall asleep at the table.

Betty*, who has lots of wonderful stories, and can never remember if she has told you or not.

And Sally*, the team cheerleader.

We share our symptoms, searching for commonalities. One of us uses wheels to assist in walking, but I'm sure that we all think of wheels in our future. We talk about doctors, and findings in research. We aren't too embarrassed to say that we were looking forward to our afternoon get together yet our fatigue had taken away the excitement that day.

And if I don't remember their names, and repeatedly get them wrong, I'm sure that's okay.

Emily

*names have been changed

My CCSVI Thoughts

I haven't been up to much lately. A couple of weeks ago - at the breaking of the CCVSI (Chronic Cerebral Venous Insufficiency) news, I started a post all about it, and didn't finish it. I couldn't work my thoughts in to any sort of flowing and worthwhile words.

So now that the first flow of hype about it has settled, and you know what it is...I'll just share my feelings about it. I'm glad that I don't feel the need to explain it in depth.

I am cautiously optimistic about the treatment and findings. Obviously, I feel of a bit of the, 'Pick me, pick me" feeling that you get when teams are being selected. If someone would like to check my veins and if necessary inflate some balloons in them...go for it, if it means that I won't be so darn tired and foggy everyday.

That says everything about what I am thinking about CCSVI:

1. let's do it!
2. I don't care about cause or consequence and which came first...just give us relief, which it seems to do

I have had conversations with people about the new and exciting findings...and I have a number of questions, including these:

1. How does Vitamin D fit in to the picture?
2. If narrowed veins are related to the disease, why is it primarily a disease of the northern hemisphere?
3. Why can't we just have our veins checked and fixed, and worry about the "why" later?
4. I have low feritin (stores of iron)...is this related?

Emily