Weekend Update

Clinic Visit

First things first, my Neurology Clinic visit went really, really well. I have officially been diagnosed with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis. I was also told that I'm in fabulous shape neurologically speaking, although my right big toe does not feel vibrations at the level it should (there goes my dance career; always with the heart break).

My physician really wants me to take Tysbari, a second generation drug that is delivered via a monthly infusion. During the first stage of clinical trials, this drug caused three participants to develop progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, opportunistic, viral infection of the brain that is usually fatal. Research has discovered that Tysabri, when used in conjunction with immunosuppresents, causes a person to have a higher risk of developing PML, as does the presence of the JC virus. Patients, therefore, now have their blood drawn so that DNA can be tested for the presence of this virus. I've had that done and the results should be available in about five weeks. If I have the virus, Tysbari is out; however, I am pretty sure I'm just not going to go for it anyway. The fact is, this drug has not been researched for many years so there are no clinical studies covering decades of usage. I don't want to end up one of those people who is used as a statistic in peer-reviewed literature years from now, one of those who took this drug and had her organs dissolve or something. So I will go for one of the other treatments, the first generation injectibles, instead.

Mom's Visit

My mother had a great time visiting me here in Columbus. The last time she came up was in August four years ago, when I first moved here. Then I didn't really know anything or anywhere so we basically just got lost and went to chain restaurants. This time I was able to take her to my office and introduce her to people that she's heard about. We went to my favorite pub, went up the scenic bypass, and spent quality time together. She appreciated seeing the clinic where I'll have my treatment handled, and I think she was relieved to know what my physician is like and enjoyed having the opportunity to have her questions answered. I also let her buy me stuff. Usually I try to dissuade her from doing so but this time I didn't fight it. Thus, I now have two pairs of new jeans, four pairs of new shoes, and a few bits of miscellany. I also have left overs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because of our various meals out.

I think she really enjoyed herself although she seemed to have a hard time understanding why I like Ohio. I'm not sure what that was all about but she asked me a few times if I was here to stay and what did I like about it, etc. But I'm from Delaware, a crappy place, and she lives in the fucking desert so who knows what she was thinking. She did say that she liked it but referred to it as 'city-fied' something I would never have thought because I don't live downtown and we never went there. But, as I said, she lives in the desert so she's used to have wide open spaces with a single shopping center.

I dropped her off at the airport this morning and then took the wrong exit to get back home. Unfortunately, it was raining heavily so I had trouble seeing, causing me to make bad decisions. Then my windows fogged up. Long story short, I ended up on an absurd road, almost in tears, contemplating calling my friend to find out if he knew where I was. But I made it home in one piece.

And now? Now I am going to get trashed as I watch a Real Housewives of New Jersey marathon.