Pins & Needles

It is Wednesday 7 September. In South Africa we celebrate springday on the first day of September. On this day a week into our spring, after agrueling hard, unforgiving winter, I was on my way to UNITAS Hospital, toundergo admittance for “disease modification treatment”. Stewart took me andassisted me in checking into Hospital. Luckily, my Doctors rooms already filledout most forms on my behalf and I just needed to ensure that all of the “t’s”are crossed and “i’s” dotted!

Everything happened at such a fast pace. Monday I had myconsultation and my MRI scans. Tuesday, I received the diagnosis of mycondition. Then on Wednesday, being admitted into Hospital for the next fivedays. The advantage about situations in your life happening at such a fastpace, you either swim, or you sink like a rock to the bottom of the pond.

I was uncertain what would happen with me whilst in hospital and Iwas scared and anxious. But from the minute I stepped into the hospital I wastreated like a Royal! What a professional environment, and what a pleasuredealing with the Administration staff at UNITAS Hospital.

I was admitted into the Oncology ward, which is the cancer ward.Once again, the nurses and staff working in this ward will close their eyes onearth and open them in Heaven. What a pleasure and such a fantastic welcominghere at the Hospital.

One of the first things the Hospital do with you is to startmonitoring your vitals like blood pressure, glucose and temperature. After allthe checking in was complete and vitals checked and settled in, the nurse toldme that they are going to perform some blood tests as well and one of the moreimportant test that I need to undergo is a Lumbar Puncture (LP). This is thepart where I started getting really scared, but once again, the Doctor thatperformed the LP was so professional and knew what he was doing. He explainedexactly what I must do; lay on my side in a fetal position, and try to relax asmuch as possible. I made a point not to look at the needle the Doctor and thenurse used.

A Lumbar Puncture is an extremely common, and informative,procedure in the world of neurology, where they take a sample of cerebro-spinalfluid (CSF) and test it for everything they can think of. CFS is the fluid thatbathes the brain and spinal cord. If you have been referred to a neurologist inrelation to the loss of sight in one eye, a lumber puncture would not be anunusual investigation. In basically gives them an idea of the physiologicalstate of environment in which your brain and spinal cord float. Available: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/lymphomas/626850-what-lumbar-punch.html

After the LP, I was ready for my bed in ward 5D. Breakfast wasserved and right after breakfast, I started with my first Solu-Medrol intervein treatment. I will tell you a bit later about the Good, the Bad and theUgly about Solu-Medrol. 

Even though that this episode was a very dark chapter in my lifeand no one can predict the future, I was, and still am lucky to have amazingpeople in my life. Stewart, my Family and my Wonderful Friends, which you willget too know as well throughout this journey with me. (I hope they don’t mind,since they are in this with me :-) )

Today's Picture

Pins and Needles...

This is a desert tree in my garden, it is called a “Half Man –Tree”. It is beautiful but it has the most amazing thorn covered bark.

November 2007

Pretoria

South Africa

The Bridge...

On September the 6^th, I got into my car, drove to work, almost forgot about the previous day’s events. On this day I was scheduled to conduct training at the Johannesburg office. Giving training is not my primary function at the company I work for, but it does form part of my job description. Like a dream I started the training day, and like a nightmare I heard my cell phone ring. Strange, since normally I would not take the phone call while busy at work, but then all of a sudden I remembered the previous day’s events. I recognized the area code and decided to step out of the office and take the call. It was my Doctor…

Yes, your medical results show that you have Multiple Sclerosis.

Funny, how calm I stayed when I heard the news. I remember walking past someone’s desk and grabbed a pen and paper. I started writing down every word the Doctor was saying. Well, I thought I was writing everything down until only later I looked at the paper and realized it was a black pen ink mess. The only thing I could make out was the two words M and S and an attempt at the word “disease modification treatment”

I called my boss aside, and broke the news to him. I went upstairs to my colleague and broke the news to her. I then asked for help with training for the rest of the day, and that the schedule gets re-done since I will be off work for the next 12 days. My boss helped, my colleague helped, I decided that this would not be my secret to carry. But I also decided that I just don’t feel up to it to explain what MS is right now to anyone apart from my boss and colleague.

The support was amazing. I wrapped up everything within an hour from finding out my fate, and left the office. I drove home, thinking. I was not sad, yes, I was not happy, but I was OK. All of a sudden I felt lighter.

I phoned Stewart and luckily he was at home. He could hear that something was wrong, I did not want to discuss my news with him over the phone. All I said was “ are you at home?” He said “yes”, I said, “I will be there in the next 30 minutes”

Arriving home, I took Stewart to the patio and broke the news to him. Thank goodness Stewart comes from a Medical background, his father was a Doctor, his Brother is a Doctor and he worked in the Medical Devices field for 12 years. He looked at me and said, “this is not a death sentence” I said, “you must decide right now, well today preferably if you want to stick around me through all of this” He laughed, can you believe he laughed at me and said “Off course, are you silly?” I then for the first time in a very long time burst into tears and sobbed for a good hour or so.

I then got up, washed my face, looked at myself in the mirror and made a decision that MS will be part of me; I will not be part of MS.

I am a 30-year-old male, with awesome support, great family and friends, Picasso my Jack Russell and Stewart! Life is worth this effort!

Today's Picture

Across the Bridge...

This is what a MS diagnosis do to you, you realize that you are on one side MS is the wooden bridge and you need to cross it.

November 2007

Sun City

South Africa

Discover...

The MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) Scan is of critical importance detecting Multiple Sclerosis. At the X Ray department at UNITAS Hospital I once again had to fill in forms, initial and sign at all the right places. At the back of my mind I was getting extremely concerned what my medical bill will be after all this.

Waiting for approximately forty minutes it was now my turn to go for the MRI scans. In July 2008 I also went for a MRI scan, so therefore I knew what to expect.  I will tell you more about my full medical history in later posts.

The MRI scan takes “photo’s” of the human body. More specific in testing for MS, the MRI takes “photo’s” of the brain and the spinal cord. In testing for MS, the MRI scan actually does not use X-ray technology but rather magnetic radio waves and computer technology to produce a clear image of the brain and spinal cord.

After about forty-five minutes the scan was complete. Remember, the MRI scan is painless, but you need to understand that the MRI machine is not a claustrophobic’s friend. Part of the lists and forms that you will need to complete before your MRI scan is questions like, “do you have a pacemaker”? “Are you pregnant”?  Please follow the following link for excellent information about the MRI scans and a comprehensive list on what needs to be declared before the MRI scan. http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/guide/diagnosing-ms-mri You will be asked to remove all jewelry and your clothes except your underwear and you will be given an unflattering gown to wear.

Laying flat on your back, your legs will be strapped in, over your neck they will place a device to ensure that you cant move your neck or head. Luckily, they also place a headset over your ears to protect your ears from the noise that the MRI machine makes. The best advice I can give anyone going for a MRI scan, is prepare yourself mentally for the process, remember that it is painless, close your eyes, ensure that you have a empty bladder, be friendly towards the radiologist. After forty-five to an hour the MRI will be over and your report will be ready in approximately forty minutes after the scan. Your Neurologist will receive a copy of this report and will either consult with you on the day of the MRI scan or the following day. In my case, I only got the diagnoses the following morning. 

Today's picture:

Discovery...

In December 2008 we travelled through Egypt. While we where in Luxor, I decided to take a hot air balloon trip over the Valley of the Kings. In the photo is another hot air balloon travelling over the valley.
 

December 2008
Luxor 

Egypt 

Looking in...

I eventually got referred to a Neurologist on Sunday afternoon 28 August 2011. On Tuesday 30 August I finally managed to get around scheduling an appointment with the Neurologist. The very first available time and date that the Doctor could see me was for Monday 5 September. 

I decided to put a day's leave in, to ensure that I have ample time to ask all the relevant questions that I do have for the Doctor and to be perfectly honest with you, to ensure that I do get my full R 630 worth of Doctors visit! Well, was I surprised? 

After the usual filling out of forms, writing out all the details necessary, putting down my signature, which is pretty much normal procedure, I meet my Doctor. What I absolutely loved was for the very first time in a very long time I got the idea that the Doctor are really interested in what I have to say. There were notes made, questions asked, more questions asked and tying to get me to answer in the best possible way. 


One thing that I did well before I had my appointment was, I made a full list of my medical history to present to the Doctor. This was extremely helpful for both myself and I would like to believe the Doctor as well. The benefit my list held for me was, that I did not forget to mention anything that could have been vital in my diagnosis. I will post my list very shortly on the MS Parachute blog for your reference.


After a thorough consultation where the Doctor also did various test on me, we decided that it will be in my best interest to go for a MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scan. In the next few days I will tell you more from my experience with the MRI scan and why the MRI scan plays such a vital role in detecting Multiple Sclerosis.

I trust you all had an extremely good weekend, and I would like to believe that the week ahead would also serve you well! 
Today's picture:

Overexposure...

This shot was taken at a wedding last year November. It was an outside open air wedding and very close to nature. The ceremony was held in the middle of a bit of a clearing amongst these beautiful trees. What I take out of this photo is that with just a little bit of creativity, you can get a complete different picture than initially intended for.

13 November 2010
Balfour
South Africa

Dot Dot Dot

Since this is my first post, I would like to warn any reader or follower that this might go a bit slow in the beginning.

Hi, my name is Richard Barry and I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The news broke on Tuesday morning 6 September 2011. I think, well actually I know, this will be one of those defining moments in life, where you will always remember where you have been, who surrounded you, even in my case, the frantic search for a pen and paper to write down the details.

Yes, the news of finally getting a diagnosis shook my world, and just over a week later knowing what I know today, it still shakes my world. The reason for blogging about me and my condition is to make more people aware of MS and what to expect should you go through the same journey as I am.

Over the next few weeks, I will be writing about myself, my background, how we got to this stage and also a extremely truthful reflection of MS. This online diary is for myself and for once in my life I am going to be extremely selfish talking about my feelings, my expectations, my symptoms and my journey. But I do encourage you to walk with me through this journey and please feel free to contact me should you have some remarkable stories to share or any questions in general. I will try and answer as best to my possibility and if I cant, I will try and get the best answer for you.

Since MS is part of me and I am not part of MS, MS need to fit into my lifestyle and will not stand in the way of me being me. Therefore, this blog is going to be my online diary and also a very personal view of my life.

One of my passions in life is photography, and all photo's that will be posted on this blog is my own. I would try to always start or end my post with a picture that I took.

I hope you enjoy this journey with me!

Today's picture:

Faces of confusion...

I took this picture when we visited the Jewish museum in Berlin, June 2007. This picture have always been very close to me and always have been an unspoken truth about life. Even the metal faces is dead, it is loaded with emotion, and confusion.

June 2007
Berlin
Germany