Sunday, February 28, 2010

Take The MS Vitamin D Test

While I finish watching the so far very lame closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics, check out the vitamin D test

As for the medal count. Gold is all that counts!

I am surprised by a soup commercial that uses the song "Raise a Little Hell" as it's jingle and athletes flogging McDonald's burgers.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Rick Green Hosts ADD/ ADHD Workshop

Ran across this article in The Star health news

Rich Green, was part of the cast of two t.v. shows I always loved. "The Red Green Show" which is a comedy about dumb guys and the host and writer of "Prisoners of Gravity" a cool science fiction program.

He also has ADHD and is holding a workshop about it and ADD, at the Ontario Science Centre.

I never knew that people with ADHD tend to go into jobs that are high risk for stress, like police officers and para medics. Apparently they thrive on that high stress and are the best people to have around during a crisis.

The way Rick Green describes ADHD I'm wondering if maybe I have it in a lesser form. So many of his experiences are similar to mine and one thing I do know; I am very good in a crisis. This isn't bragging. It's just something I know about myself. When ever anything bad is going on around me, I seem to go into this state that I can only describe as automatic pilot. I know what I have to do and I do it. No screaming no panicking. I was always the one at home who checked if there was an odd noise at night or creepy crawlies lurking. I enjoy the rush of fear and other extreme emotions. Not that I think that is a good thing. I also know that I do enjoy stressful situations. I can give numerous examples, but as usual I'm too darn tired.

Maybe MS has dampened my adrenaline cravings? Now, I'm not making light of these conditions; ADD or ADHD. I know what a struggle it can be for people. I just find it very interesting when a person shares their experiences and I can relate to them in a way that shocks me. Suddenly a light turns on in my head and I think "Hey that's me!"

So lets keep talking and sharing. So long as we don't judge. Keeping things hidden in the closet doesn't do any good, and it the end it all comes out anyway. Often in a bad way.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

An MS Vetran

Today I'm posting a link to Anne's blog Disabled Not Dead. She has a very good post about her long history with MS and the things she does to cope. You might get some good tips there. She has given me some helpful ones.

The Niagara photos I posted where from a day trip I took last Saturday. I had heard about the casino bus and thought I would give it a try. Well, if that isn't the best deal in town! $10.00 round trip and the beauty is you don't even have to go in the casino. If you want to register they give you your $10.00 back as a gift card and you can get a good deal on a lunch buffet. I didn't bother. What I did is check out the nice mall that is part of the casino complex.

Then I went out and took about a hundred photos of the Falls. I have only ever been there during the winter in the evening, for New Years or when they do the Christmas lights. They really do look amazing in day time with the snow and icy mist.

After that I went up on Clifton Hill where all the crazy attractions are. Didn't do any of those because I was really there to look for postcards. Yeah, I have a crazy addiction to postcards since I joined Postcrossing.

And that else did I find by accident? A head shop that sells seeds. Yes, someone, somewhere, is going to grow Marijuana plants for me again this year. Last year's crop turned out fair. This year we know more about it, so I hoping to get a big enough crop to last me the entire season. That way I know what I'm getting and I don't have to worry about any additives in my dope. When you buy it from others, even dependable sources, you never know what your getting until you smoke the stuff.

This isn't a grow op. It's just a few plants scattered around outside for medicinal use. Kind of like the old ladies with the still, who make moonshine and call it medicine.

The man at the store was so nice. An older guy, who like me smokes for various health problems. It was funny, because a bunch of young people came in the store acting like they were so cool because they knew about all the drug paraphernalia that was on sale, unaware that at the counter a couple of old folks were talking serious dope.

Stupid conservative government in Canada not going ahead with decriminalizing. What hypocrisy, considering we are becoming more like America, awash in prescription medications and at the same time wagging our fingers in disapproval at drugs. Yes, take drugs, just don't have any fun doing it, and don't worry about all the side effects of those pills the doctors give you that don't work.

I'm not suggesting people sit around doing dope. Moderation in all things is my motto. I just think we need to relax and treat people like adults and have an intelligent discussion of it. If people want to ruin their lives, let them. They are doing it anyway. I'm advocating tight regulation similar to that with cigarettes No sales to minors, restrictions on use, and education about the product.

OK back to my Falls trip. I had decent meal in the casino food court and sat the rest of the time writing postcards while I waited for the bus. The atmosphere is very casual. Nobody seems to mind if you hang around as long as you aren't a nuisance. The casino staff and the bus driver were very friendly.

So if you want a cheap day trip and want to see one Mother Nature's wonders. Check out the casino bus to Niagara Falls. I had a good time, but as usual, I needed two days to recover.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Friday, February 19, 2010

More CCVSI Info

Thanks to Herrad at Access Denied, for emailing me about this news story on CCSVI:
Chronic Cerebro Spinal Venous Insufficiency. Everything you want and need to know about
it, including videos and related links is there.

Seems like people are going ahead and getting this procedure done, so now I am even more determined to find a doctor who will do it for me.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Return Of The Falcons

Looking out my office window today I saw the falcons swooping down and around my neighbourhood. Won't be long before they are nesting again at the Sheraton Hotel downtown

Don't have much to say. I'm having more hassles at work, which I'm hoping will be resolved soon. We have a change in management coming in the new fiscal year and Oh!, how they love to put their own stamp on the place. Just as long as it doesn't land on me.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Dr. Zamboni Comes To Hamilton

Italian vascular surgeon Dr. Paolo Zamboni was in Hamilton on February 8th 2010!!

Dr. Zamboni urged doctors to be more open to his ideas during a conference at St. Joseph's Hospital -- his first North American appearance since his theory of "chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency" gained worldwide attention in the fall.

The cost to fund a trial of similar research as that of Dr. Zamboni, at St Joseph's, is estimated to be $500,000. So far they have raised $50,000 with the MS Society expected to donate $100,000.

Charity Intelligence Canada, has released a report recommending that Canadians direct their MS donations to this initiative. Read the report here and please give!!

I am so excited !! I'm going to pester my doctor to try and get me into the trials when they start. I know that I have restricted blood flow in my neck veins. That was confirmed by an ultra sound last year. I will do anything I can to be a part of this.

Stay tuned for updates !!!!

Right now it's time to watch the opening games of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Doctors Should be More Like Dentists

Let's start with a bit of dental trivia or rather, something I didn't know. Be careful going out in the cold after having a local anesthetic. You can easily get frostbite.

First my dental update and then I move on to my doctor diatribe.

I have two teeth back in service, one that is on a death watch, and two that have to come out. I'm planning to get implants for those. The process to have implants done is very long and expensive. The benefit is that once they are in, they are good for at least twenty years.

I'm glad my dentist, likes being a dentist. It makes a big difference in how you are treated.

Only wish there were more doctors who liked their work or at least tried a little harder. Too many of them have become pill and test pushers and do very little to help patients get better. By better; I mean in the real sense of figuring out ways to either halt the progression of illness or at least allow the patient to have a decent quality of life.

Telling a person they might end up in a wheel chair and then sending them for counseling is not helping; that's passing the buck. Pressuring a patient to take certain drugs and when they refuse tell them they are not trying to get better; is not helping. Acting like a stern parent "I know what is best for you"; is not helping.

Here we are with the possibility of a very simple operation that might stop the progression of MS. Why can't I have access to this treatment? I'm willing to sign any waiver, assume all the risk, which on examination appears to be very little risk and has a high probability of working.

I'm talking about the procedure that is similar to an angioplasty. A doctor would insert a stent in my neck vein, which would allow increased blood flow from my brain back to my body. It has been proven that 100 % of MS sufferers have compromised blood flow of venous blood from the brain. 100%!! It has been shown that patients who have had this procedure can halt the progression of their MS.

Did you know that they can even tell what type of MS you will have by where blood pools in your brain ?

So what are we waiting for? How dare these doctors and MS organizations tell me to proceed with caution !! If I was willing to take all the poisonous drugs they think might( a very big might) help me, they wouldn't say that would they ?

No!! Go ahead girl and take all this garbage, ruin your internal organs, get type 2 diabetes, have insomnia, constipation, high blood pressure, mental disorders. We have drugs for all that stuff too! Don't worry if you are having a hard time. We will send you to a shrink and the shrink will give you even more drugs as part of your therapy.

Have a small operation to fix your MS? Oh!!! You better think hard about that one and anyway we won't let you do it even if you decide you want to.

How do you think I feel after reading a report from the MS Society that 80% of people with MS can no longer work, have trouble getting disability payments, tax credits, and decent care. Your caregiver gets hassled if they try to claim the tax credit. You are made to look like a moocher if you try to avail yourself of any of these things. You must fight, fight, for your rights. Some future to look forward to Huh?

And then they have the nerve to tell me to think positive!!
(There's a pill for that !)

I'll start thinking positive, when you stop treating me like a child !!!!!

So now my quest is to find a doctor that will do this for me. Wish me luck.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Got Milk?

So do you think it's weird we drink milk from plastic bags?

I like bag milk because I can freeze it and I always keep a couple of extras in the freezer. Saves trips to the store. Nothing more annoying than running out of milk during a snow storm.
Unlike Sheryl, I don't jiggle the bag to get it in the jug. I give it a good whack on the kitchen counter to make sure it's in there solid. I also don't cut the end with scissors. I slice it with a steak knife. Much more sanitary. Yeah I'm weird.

AND you should try ketchup and dill pickle chips!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Ground Hog Day

Looks like all the hogs are predicting six more weeks of winter!

Monday, February 1, 2010

A Plug

Today I received a very nice email from Daily Writing Tips, asking if I would give them a plug and possibly post a link to their site. Well I did do that awhile ago but it can't hurt to do it again, especially since they are celebrating 1000 posts!

If you like to write, feel the need to brush up on your grammar, or if you just find the English language fascinating, you will enjoy this site. Subscribe to the daily writing tip. I admit I have learned a few things. Amazing how the language evolves with new words and expressions emerging all the time.

Just think; twenty years ago nobody had a blog, or tweeted, or networked. Good grief! I can remember when we didn't have p.c.'s. All my work inventory was on stock cards and a typing pool did my letters. I had massive file cabinets filled with dockets. Now I can get by with a small lateral one and much of it is filled with junk(don't tell my boss).

We have to remember to try and not get sloppy with our writing. Email is so casual and txtng!! :) lol ;). Is tweeting turning us into twits? I get carried away with commas and brackets. I admit it. In my defense; I did get an almost perfect score on the grammar, spelling, and punctuation test at work. One of the very few with a level 3 in English. Not bad, considering my mushy brain and I'm surrounded by CGA's with accounting degrees, who can't even write a sentence( Hey you guys!! Can you please look up the definition of denotes? You will be surprised to find out it isn't a verb!! and No, not every silly little thing that happens is ironic!!)

So go ahead, try this site. They aren't trying to sell anything and I'm not getting a commission from them. Oh yeah! You can download a free pdf. grammar guide too. The link is in my "Other Stuff I Like" links and here

Enjoy.