Tag Archives: Multiple Sclerosis

My last MRI was not good

I had my one month post stem cell followup on Halloween and had an MRI done as well as a whole host of other tests. I got a call a few days later asking me if I felt ok.  Oddly, I asked why and was told that there was new activity on my MRI.  Apparently I had a few lesions that popped up, including a pretty large one on the left side. Surprisingly, the only symptom that had been bugging me was the spasticity in my legs.  So, in order to quiet this lesion, I was put on a 5 day IV steroid infusion… with no taper (that sucked).

I had my last IV steroid infusion on November 7th.
Then on November 9th my left eye decided to get very blurry. It felt like optic neuritis

My stupid eye is bad again and in pain! ARG! This is so frustrating!

Going to see my opthalmologist this afternoon, and will see what he says. Also, have my 2 month followup appointment for my stem cell study on Wednesday so will be getting an MRI and an entire workup.

Come on stem cells… you gotta be working somehow, right? I am thinking maybe this would be a lot worse if I hadn’t gotten you guys in my system.

Here I am 12 hours later…

Everything went well and very smoothly today! I currently have about 110 million stem cells circulating in my body right now. The viability of my cells tested around 97%, which is amazing! They try to make sure the cells have a viability of greater than 70%, so my cells far exceeded the minimum amount of viability needed for the infusion. It’s so good to know that most of my cells are active, alive, healthy and working!

I had no reaction to the infusion and did very well during my 6 hour observation. It was actually a little bit anti-climactic, as it was about 5 minutes of the stem cells going into the IV and then vitals every 10 minutes and then every 30 minutes for the next 6 hours. I know that seeing results will take time and I can’t wait to see what the future brings! I am returning tomorrow for a 24 hour followup and again on Friday. Then I will be going back weekly until November, which then turns to monthly visits until March 2013. They take a bit of blood at each appointment and then monthly they will be doing the big testing with the MRI, VEP, neuro tests, etc. to see how everything changes.

Thank you to everyone for your encouraging comments, thoughts and prayers! They mean so much to me! I will continue to keep you all updated as much as I can!

Oh, and I still smell like garlic! LOL

Stem Cell Infusion Day!!!

October 1st is finally here, and I am getting my stem cell infusion.

8:25 – sitting here in the waiting area with my husband as they prepare my stem cells. The cells have been waiting for me, cryogenically frozen for the last few months.
8:50 – hooked up to the EKG and IV.
9:25 – the cells have been thawed and are being infused right now. 110 million stem cells. Interesting garlic taste in the mouth as soon as the cells go in.
9:45 – now we do vitals checks every 10 minutes for a bit.

This is so amazingly awesome… It’s unreal that this day is finally here! I hope for great things from this!