MS symptoms.Symptoms?
Yes, I know I look normal on the outside, but let me tell you what is going on under the exterior:
Loss of dexterity, strength and feeling in the right and left arm.
Numbness in the right forearm, right leg and the big toes.
Hearing loss.
Severe, sporadic muscle spasms in my rib cage (Feels like an elastic band is round my mid section.)
Weakness in my legs.
Bladder problems.
Pain and discomfort behind my right eye.
Loss of balance - this occurs when tired.
Extreme fatigue.
The past year I was introduced to optic neuritis and became temporarily blinded. That scare, accompanied with the fact that I have no more new drugs to try, had me searching for new treatments, new hope.
Where I’m Going..
After I watched the 60 minute program which featured Kristy Cruise heading to Moscow, Russia, to halt her MS I knew I had to do the same. So I sent an email to the great Dr Federenko in Russia and I am happy to announce that I will be admitted on the 19th of January 2015.
This treatment is currently in Phase II trials in Sydney, at present i am "not suitable" to receive treatment in Sydney but I will persist in seeking the treatment in Australia whilst I prepare to ultimately have it in Moscow. Even if Sydney won't, Russia will save my life!
Please follow my blog over the next year. Tell all of your friends about it. Tell people you know who have or are affected by people who have MS. Tell your hairdresser. Tell your dentist. Tell your shrink. Tell everyone!!!
My MS is getting worse, but I refuse to let it beat me! Bring on treatment....
Welcome to the blog about my journey to have hematopoietic stem cell transplant treatment.
Who Am I?
My name is Jodi Russell and I am a 37-year-old mother of two beautiful daughters, one who is 14 and the other who is 7. I am married to a man who is my rock and who would move heaven and earth for me - sometimes I really wonder why - however without him I would not be on this journey. He is the force behind it all.
Fourteen years ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after the birth of my first child.
Where I’ve Been...
After giving birth to my daughter my life was turned on it's head....
In 1999, I began to lose all coordination in my right side and eventually it became totally useless. Based on my ED admission, doctors thought that I may have had a stroke or a brain tumor. I was admitted to hospital to have further testing but I was not given a definite answer until I relapsed another time.
The following time I had weakness in my legs. After lumbar punctures and an MRI I was given the diagnosis that I had MS. Then began a long time of seasonal relapses and many, many drugs.
Since that time, I have been on three injectable drugs (Betaseron & Copaxone & Avonex), two oral drugs (Tecfidera & Aubagio), two years of chemotherapy (Mitoxantrone) and one infusible drug (Tysabri), in addition to steroids (Prednisone) that served as a band-aid between treatments. Before Tysabri, my brain and spine were a hot spot of MS activity.
Every year I have new scarring showing up on my MRI's and I have learnt to deal with new MS symptoms.
