Roland Matthews goes to Moscow for Multiple Sclerosis treatment

The MS coaster is not as much fun as the loop at Knott’s Berry Farm. Especially when crowds are sparse and loops can be seamlessly spun. I was looking at google images of knots berry farm and the rides have certainly upped in velocity. Gone is the loop, replaced with twisted steel super structures propelling pods of adrenaline about the farm. What the coaster skilfully does is spin your head. Are the cells doing their business or aimlessly playing bull-rush in the vessels.

In my post infusion excitement I edited a video of me walking in Sumner. It was that video that gave me an appreciation of Arnie’s favourite drug. I know about the superhuman strength it imparts on one’s body. In error I forgot to get take-aways and went cold turkey upon return to New Zealand. In the turkey chill I slowly reverted back to my pre-Moscow condition. Bugger, I thought it was going to be soo easy. Nope. 25 years of destruction doesn’t resolve during a 4 week hiatus from reality.

Then there is the famed roller coaster, where the brain’s ride begins. And the research on recovery starts. Am I one of the 30% that don’t positively respond? I don’t think so. Am I feeling historic damage or new activity? Probably historic. Is the fatigue MS damage or chemo aftermath? A bit of both? My MRI two weeks ago showed no activity, but there was none before I left for Moscow. So no news is good news or not news at all. Only the years will tell.

Further research and reviews of other AHSCT recipient posts uncovered the following phrase. ‘Glacial’. And it is. Rome was not built in a day, neither was Christchurch or my body in the same period. And as of today the Christchurch cathedral will now be rebuilt in seven years after seven years of vacillation. Church (wants to finish off the quakes effort) vs. State (wants to rebuild the prosaic).

EDSS is a method of quantifying disability in multiple sclerosis and monitoring changes in the level of disability over time. Relevant levels for me are below. So to measure my progress and set targets I have resorted to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). I have also unearthed through face book with other AHSCT recipients expectations of recovery that I am going to have to surpass.

6.0 Requires a walking aid - cane, crutch, etc. - to walk about 100 metres with or without resting (medium term target).

6.5 Requires two walking aids - pair of canes, crutches, etc. - to walk about 20 metres without resting (a walk in the park when fresh).

7.0 Unable to walk beyond approximately five metres even with aid. Essentially restricted to wheelchair; though wheels self in standard wheelchair and transfers alone.

Up and about in wheelchair some 12 hours a day (pre Moscow when tired).

I departed for Moscow in high sixes. I am now below 6.5, but this depends on the time of day and level of previous activity. My functional range is frustratingly wide. Between 6.3 ish and seven. Yesterday I went pool walking, visited my lawyer twice and negotiated Auckland traffic with a final EDSS of comfortably 6.3 ish on return. After diner I pretty much collapsed on the couch.

What I want to impress on people with MS is research AHSCT ASAP because the sooner the better if you make the choice to proceed. AHSCT is not for everybody. I was three years too late for an excellent recovery back toward a high level of well-being. Don’t purely follow the advice of one medical discipline, i.e. neurologists. Look wider. This was my regrettable mistake that has made the pit that I fell into much deeper. I had been researching AHSCT for many years but it was continually dismissed by the professionals I trusted. Ironically, 14 years ago I asked my neurologist at the time what causes MS and how can it be treated. My neurologist said ‘something unknown has gone wrong in the immune system so it is attacking yourself’. I ask how do you fix it? They said ‘wipe the immune system out and start again’. Fedorenko started offering treatment for MS using AHSCT 12 years ago.

My physical activities are limited due to strength and fatigue. They include water walking and general walking. A morning start with light exercises helps begin the day. Walking is progressing slowly but surely. Yesterday I climbed the steps out of the pool a few times. This was encouraging and inspires me to go to the Pioneer Leisure Centre pool with the family. Much of this was attributed to a lower core temperature that assists nerve conduction.

My brain is still clear but gets fatigued. Core bodily functions work well. So it is now a matter of patience, persistence and exercise to build strength and rebuild my reluctant nerves. Thank you to my family and friends for all of the rehabilitation support.