multiple sclerosis

multiple sclerosis

Play-doh Brain

I spend hours researching and reading articles and studies that reference the brain.
Specifically remapping. The brains amazing plasticity. Many of us have watched
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor’s stroke of insight video. I am not as interested in the nirvana stuff she talks about but the info about the abilities of the brain.

Until the answers to the questions of  what causes multiple sclerosis, what will it do to me, and is there a cure?  are not “don’t know”  I am thinking (augh my brain may get bigger LOL) that it is up to me to do the best I can and learn whatever I can.

Functional MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to image the body. It can identify signs that neurons in a specific area of the brain are firing,  processing information and giving commands to the body. Way cool wish I could have one done. Seems a better reason to spend time in the tube than checking on MS lesions.

Studies show that what we do with our minds alters the neural circuits and sometimes results in the building of brain tissue.  This interests me greatly. If a part of the brain is damaged by lesions it is possible (maybe) to train another part – create new synaptic connections? I choose to believe so. Oh yeah the psychology of motivation with a bit of prayer and meditation throw in can hurt.

A few years back at the National Institutes of Health functional MRI was used to scan brain action in jazz musicians.  When the musicians improvised the area of the brain that is involved in the integration of information to support complex goals and purpose (medial prefrontal cortex) became more active while the area that is involved in inhibiting behavior and monitoring thinking and associated with anxiety (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex)  became less active.  There is even a study done on Taxi drivers showing that responsible parts of the brain for navigation – spacial relations (hippocampus) was bigger in cab drivers than in non cab drivers.

Lots of studies have been done on Neuroplasticity (also known as cortical re-mapping) mostly in involving stroke recovery. I leave the Google stuff  to you for reference on this one.

The brain seems to be able to rewire itself and it grows in areas that are used.   Gray does matter when counting brain cells.  A study done at the Massachusetts General Hospital using MRI found that people who practiced meditation had more gray matter in the part of the brain linked with attention and sensory processing.

Of course exercise and what we eat influence our brains also.

Enough sleep is good too so if I have put you to sleep with what is running around in my play-doh mind I have accomplished something positive.

Boxes and Tubes

Yah, yah, it as been like forever since I posted – again.  This time it is just cause –

I have been plugging along going to PE and swimming classes, trying to eat more and I have finally put on a few pounds – trust me this is a good thing. Mr Catfish and I have spent a lot of time reading in the afternoons and staying cool under the air.  This week is going to be cooler YEAH and it is looking like maybe we will get some rain. If not,  the lower night time temperatures are super good on me although a nice rain shower would smell wonderful to me right now.

KRP and I went to the new Goodwill and I tried to look for books and navigator around the store. Whoa – talk about too many oblivious to there surrounds people Yikes! I got trapped in the middle of one isle and no matter what way I tied to go so huge person or someone with a cart popped up in front of me and boxed me in. I was about to go nuclear when KRP found me a shoved her way to me and rescued me. Seriously it was totally unbelievable.

In the middle of the isle on a shelf there was 6″ a poly-stone pelican. I was holding on to it at the time KRP saved me and he kind of grew on me.
So, I now own pelican statue – it cost me a whole 66cents – I think it should have been 99 but the gal rung up 66 – without a decimal point who’s to argue?

I made the mistake of telling my PCP ( I like my PCP) that my eye was still all wonky. She made a same day appointment with the eye Dr. What the heck this is not new hello? I guess the staying that way for three months since the last time I saw her umm … anyway.

The eye Dr did all the test that eye docs do and while I sat there blinded by the room light because my eyes were dilated he decided that I might do a steroid drip deal? I am like ugh why? It is not like this just happened and my understanding it is more helpful if done early on not months into the deal and doing so will not change the outcome right? Just speed up a recovery. Yes and possibly and talk it over with your neuro etc. . So I say NO.  Then he decided that I need an MRI with contrast urgently – OK??? I gave up and came home knowing what I already knew DUH optic neuritis . …

Now I am still trying to decide if I want a MRI with Contrast – don’t get me wrong the MRI only brings on slight claustrophobia, more so with the full closed tube deal but the idea of having something shot into my blood the gando something or other  while stuck in the tube – now that sort of scares me – a lot.   Ok back to train of thought . … I get a call from my neurologists office to make an appointment ASAP. WT? come on now I have not gotten into see you in over a year because the auto appointments were messed up I guess, I see I have an appointment scheduled by you all in DEC. why now?

So, after refusing to go to an appointment at 10:15 this morning because I have PE and an hour notice is not exactly spiffy for me. The office calls back and says how about Friday? So I have an appointment scheduled for Friday. Now really I am thinking what is going on surely this big drive for now now now must be based on something other than my eye?  So, I wrote my neurologist and she emailed back that yes I was correct about the steroids, that she did not get the urgency either other than the eye Doc thinks that I am having a worsening of my MS symptoms based on what is going on with my eye and that he requested she see me soon.

Ok whatevers – kind of another DUH I think – my MS symptoms getting worse that is and I might add that no one has seemed to give a diddle doo about it but me. Who ever was suppose to take my docs load when she was out on maternity leave dropped the ball and left me hanging.

So, I figure if I gotta go into a tube, get filled full of the contast chems, I want some cool pics of my spine also.  What fun are brain pics without the spine? I had a few brain lesions and a spine full of lesions last time I want the spine LOL the film pics/slices are way cooler to look at if I have the spine ones to go with em.  So, being the brat that I am I emailed back and mentioned that most of my lesions where in my spine,  that my Lhermitte electrical zaps drive me nuts and never go away, that how about doing the spine also? We shall see.

Strange how when you want an MRI no one will do one and when you could not care less . … well at least that is my experience. I am getting better at this I suppose, that part where I try not to let the doctor opinions over rule my own opinions on how I feel or what does or does not work in my own body.

Alright enough venting about docs but I rather be stuck in the isle sometimes over dealing with em.

Beam Me Up

I should know better than to let all the electrical impulses bounce around in my mind where they inevitably form thoughts, thoughts can be good, bad, or indifferent.  The what if, should-a, could-a, would- a’s, are fodder for the squirrel that runs around in his cage in my brain.  If reality is a magic trick of electrical impulses – then who is watching?

As the name of this blog states: lots of forks or paths to meander down. Somethings are consistent on the main artery but where it gets interesting is wondering off along one of the many side paths. The detours along the way run the gamut of fun to unfortunate.

Visiting friends, taking a trip, figuring out how to do something new, all can be fun and exciting.  Being diagnosed with MS would be one of the crappy paths. The balancing act for me is trying to keep the fun things on the main roadway and the less desirable stuff limited to a side path. Not always an easy thing to do.  Sometimes the squirrel in the cage reminds me has it goes around in circles getting nowhere of the old saying: “even if your on the right track you will get run over if you just sit there”.

I do not spend a lot of writing here giving reports on the latest ailment of the day , what went numb, what hurts, cog fog, etc. although I do like to b a bit. I prefer sharing the ordinary everyday stuff and maybe sometimes I succeed in doing so.  Amongst all the haphazardly written posts is my quest to fight off the sucko stuff of MS and entertain myself along the way.

I wonder if on of these days the squirrel cage is gonna break and the squirrel will just get flung out by the centrifugal forces – then what?  Is the flag moving, or is it the wind?

Beam me u p – please! (another hokey kmilyun video):


Yah I get to Go Go

On the more positive front our my friend Mike purchased a new four wheel scooter/chair. And – here is the good news – he gave me his Go Go Traveler Elite scooter – just gave it to me!

Not only that his friend who owns a durable medical equipment store installed a new seat, cup holder, extra duty upgrade batteries,  and new tires. I even got a spare tire and wheel.  His pal then gave me the pack for the back of the chair. How cool is that!!

Now when we go to San Francisco on the Ferry I can zip along  and not end up tired and stumbling all over the place. Maybe I can motivate around the Wildlife refuge and get some photos in ummm . … I could ponder on the slap in the face multiple sclerosis reality – that I need one of these things –  but why bother.

So look out – crazy woman on scooter at large – known associates Catfish and Annie.