Season's Greetings!

I've been in Park City since November 4th (Yeah Obama!). I wasn't supposed to stay this long but I just was so sick we decided I would spend the rest of the year in Utah getting to the root of my health problems. Gus is in Washington D.C.again for work but will pick and Dundee and I up when he returns early January.

Dundee is doing very well with his Aunt Cindy and Uncle Anthony. Dundee loves Cindy more than me :-( but I couldn't think of better person. I, in turn, have fallen in love with Bosco. Anthony is so great with Bosco and with Dundee and his re-hab from knee surgery. He really has that special quality to work with dogs.

Switching from canine to human problems....Wow, this is endless!!! So many doctors, so much info swimming in my head. Speaking of which, I got to look at my brain scans yesterday and wow, what a big hole I have in my head! I'm still amazed every day that I'm able talk and walk with so much brain tissue missing.

After my full physical and my appointment with my neurologist yesterday we now know many new things:

~ The CT and MRI showed that I have no more AVMs!!! Yay!

~ Knock on wood... I haven't had either a migraine or a bad IBS attack since being on the strict diet. 17 days so far without coffee (the hardest part), alcohol, dairy, high fat, refined sugar, etc.. I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY hoping that it's not a fluke :-)

~ My thyroid test was scary weird. It was supposed to be around 3 but it was over 3,000 so I've been referred to an endocrinologist ASAP...

~ Doc Savia is sending me to a Cerebral Palsy specialist. Huh? Well, they are really good with spasicity (I still have it since the stroke 11 years ago!), which is the main reason my body won't straighten out which, in turn, is why my back is still screwed up with the SI Joint pain and the Facet Joint pain. So he will treat me with Botox to lessen the spasicity. We'll see how that goes, maybe I can convince him to do some forehead wrinkles too (J.K.).

~ I (we) decided to do NEITHER the Baclofen pump nor the Radio Frequency Nerve Ablation in my back. Those are "last options" in my opinion and it's my body so I can say "no" if I want. Hah!

~ I was put on oral Baclofen (pills) as a trial to see if it really helps the spasticity and if so, if I can handle the fatiguing side effects.

~ I have two scary moles that have to be removed ASAP and bioposied.

~ I have a bulging disk in my neck which may be contributing to my migraines.

~ (This part is humorous but painful)... After my physical/pelvic exam the doc left the room so I could get dress and I was just getting off the table but slippery socks and linoleum don't mix. BOOM! The doc rushed back in after the fall to find me on the floor with my gown over my head exposing all my nakedness! The door was open and everyone in the hall had a nice view. It was really quite funny except for the pain. It's a good thing I have no modesty left! My whole right side is bruised and and scraped up but that will soon pass :-)


So there you have it. Some great news, some not so much. The pain in the butt is that now I have a whole slew of new doc appointments and blood labs.

For those of you in Utah, I apologize that I haven't been able to spend time with you. I just really need to be "at home" with Mom, John and Damien (who is my personal trainer while while we're both here. He helps me do all my physical therapy as well taking turns with Mom and John being chauffeur). God knows I am lacking in the motivation department.

I've had 10 doc appointments so far in December and have at least 4 more before the end of the year. I'm planning to stay with Layle, Nick and the boys very soon but I have to wait to until my next appointment in PC. I'm really not sure what my plans will be after Christmas.

I apologize to all my friends and family in Utah, South Dakota, California, etc. who have called and emailed and not heard back from me. I'm pretty overwhelmed right now with all that's happening. I'm slow, don't forget, I've been working on this message for almost three hours! My brain gets tired and confused so easily. In fact, it's my nap time now but I will write more as I learn more from the docs.

I hope you are all enjoying the snow and holiday season.

Peace,
Laney