Day of Electrodes

So tomorrow is hopefully the last of all my testing. I get to spend hours at the hospital with electrodes glued to my head, woo hoo! I guess the secret will be out that I’m crazy, lol. The fun begins at 9:00 am, and for approximately the next three hours I will have a VER, BAER, and SER done.

VER-Visual Evoked Response

VER's evaluate the visual nervous system for optic tumors, retinal disorders, and demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis.

As with other testing, the technician will measure, mark, and prep the scalp for the electrodes. Six will be used for the VER, 5 on the scalp and one behind the left ear. Each eye will be tested individually. An eye patch will be placed over the non-test eye, you will be seated in front of a computer monitor and a checkerboard pattern will be visible, this is the stimulus. You will be asked to focus on a small red pulsating dot in the middle of the screen for a few minutes with each eye separately, while in the background the checkerboard squares will be moving.

The procedure takes approximately 15-30 minutes.

BAER- Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response

BAER's are used to evaluate the auditory nervous system (including the brainstem) for acoustic neuromas, brainstem tumors, hearing disorders, demyelinating diseases, etc.

As with all testing, the technician will measure, mark and prep the scalp for the electrodes. Four will be used for the AER, two on the scalp and one behind each ear. Headphones will be placed over the ears to deliver a series of clicks to each ear individually. This sound is the stimulus.

The procedure takes approximately 15-30 minutes.

SER- Somatosensory Evoked Response

SER's evaluate the nerve pathway from the peripheral nerve through the spine to the somatosensory region of the brain. (Somato = body, Sensory = reception and transmission of the sense impressions). SER's evaluate spinal cord injuries or disease, neuro-musclar disease, and demyelinating diseases.

As with other testing, the technician will measure, mark, and prep the scalp and prep various other points along the nerve pathway from the arm and leg to the brain. A small electrical current is applied to the skin overlying a nerve or nerves on the arm or leg. The electrical current is the stimulus.

The procedure takes approximately 1 hour (60 minutes)- 1 ½ hour (90 minutes).

After all that I get to spend another hour or so having an EEG done.

EEG- Electroencephalogram

An EEG is a recording of electrical activity of the brain. It is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate seizure disorder, stroke, infections of the central nervous system (encephalitis etc), degenerative disorders (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), head trauma (accidents), headaches, brain tumors, etc.

The technician will measure, mark, and prep your scalp and place a small metal disk (electrode) in each of the 27 areas. The disks “pick-up” the electrical activity of the brain. This activity is transmitted through the wires to the EEG computer where they are amplified sufficiently to be seen on the recording.

The procedure takes approximately 45 -60 minutes. Activations will be done to stimulate the brain: Eye opening and closing, flashing a strobe light at different speeds, and over-breathing for about 3 minutes.

I have a feeling that it will be a very long day. To top it all off, they want me to have no more than five hours of sleep for the EEG, but to be well rested for the other tests. Ok, so how do they expect me to do that? I say get normal sleep because come noon when the EEG starts, I will be ready for a nap.

I’m just so ready for some answers. I have done test after test without results from any of them, so thank goodness this is the end.

Neuro and Canes

I finally heard from the Neurologists office today, I have an appointment July 6 to hear all the results from my blood work, LP, EEG, VER, and BER. Sounds like a fun filled day. I guess I need to decide for sure if I am going to start meds or just stick with doing things the natural way. With the way my legs feel today I would do anything to make it all better. I guess this is just a preview of what is to come. *Oh Joy* I went to the bank and post office today and it was rather difficult to get to and from the car. I hope there aren’t many more days like this just yet. I suppose it’s a good thing that I made plenty of  Baked Spaghetti last night, because I think that will be tonight’s supper as well.

When do I know it’s time to buy a cane? What kind of cane do I get? I don’t want to push it to soon and get one before its necessary, but on days like today when I feel a bit unsteady and weak, should I have one on hand?

Supper Tonight

Baked Spaghetti

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti, cooked

2 Tablespoons butter

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 (24 ounce) carton ricotta cheese OR cottage cheese

1 pound ground beef

1 (25.75 ounce) jar Italian-Style spaghetti sauce

1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray with non-stick cooking spray (coat well).

3. Combine hot cooked spaghetti with butter; stir until butter melts and coats spaghetti.

4. Add ½ cup Parmesan cheese; stir to coat. Arrange spaghetti in an even layer in foil-lined pan.

5. Spread ricotta cheese over spaghetti. Sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

6. Brown ground beef, drain; add pasta sauce and heat until bubbly. Spoon over cheeses.

7. Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese.

8. Cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes.

9. Remove foil cover and continue baking 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve with tossed salad and warm Italian bread.

Medicine vs Herbs

I have been reading on the Patients Like Me forum, which I highly recommend,  about Curcumin and it has sparked my interest. It is supposed to block the progression of MS, and hey, I'm all for that. Considering that I am the daughter of an Herbalist I have witnessed what herbs can do for people. For some reason I just don't want to start taking any of the Interferons quite yet. I think I will try Alpha Lipoic Acid, Turmeric (which is where the Curcumin comes from), Omega Oil, Vitamin D3 with K2 Sublingual,  FerroFood (Iron with a glandular proprietary of bovine and porcine, along with Vit.C and B12), cross my fingers and hope for a miracle. I know there is no cure for MS, but I can do whatever I can to slow down the progression of it and to help myself feel better.
I would love to be able to get back into working out a little bit. I could really stand to lose some weight, besides that, it is very important to stay active. It's been about 10 years ago since I've worked out and I loved doing it back then. I know I wouldn't be able to do even 1/3 of what I could do back then, but to just get on the bike and do some light weights would feel good. Right now my body is so sore and getting up out of a chair is painful. Maybe after starting these herbs I will be able to move about a bit more easily.

Supper Tonight

Slow Cooker Pork Steaks or Chops

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 4 hrs

Servings: Yields 4

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil

1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

2 cloves garlic, minced 

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon poultry seasoning

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

4 thick cut boneless pork chops or 2 large pork steaks

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, broth, and all dry ingredients. Pour into slow cooker. Cut small slits into to each pork chop or steak with the tip of a knife, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Place pork shops into slow cooker into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 4 hours. Baste periodically with the sauce.

Parmesan Noodles

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 20 mins

Servings: Yields 4

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package of your choice of pasta

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook pasta as directed on package, drain well.

Toss everything together and serve immediately

Baby Carrots with Dill Butter

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Servings: Yields 8

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package baby carrots

2 tablespoons margarine

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (you can use dried dill as well)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Place carrots in a saucepan with enough water to cove. Bring to boil, and cook 10 minutes, until tender. Remove from heat, and drain. Gently toss with margarine, dill and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Easy Lasagna Rolls

Ingredients

12 lasagna noodles, cooked, drained

2 cups ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese) I prefer Ricotta

1 1/2 cups mozzarella or 6 Italian Cheese, shredded

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

2 eggs

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

1 (32 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce (I have become a big fan of Classico Spinach Florentine Sauce)

1 -2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded, for topping

Directions

1. Mix ricotta cheese, 1-1/2 cup mozzarella and parmesan cheese with eggs and parsley.

2. Place one lasagna noodle on work surface.

3. Spread 1/3 cup cheese mixture on noodle evenly.

4. Roll up tightly like a pinwheel.

5. Place seam side down in microwave-safe baking pan, that has 2 cup of spaghetti sauce in bottom.

6. Cover rolls with remaining sauce and sprinkle with additional mozzarella cheese.

7.Cover with microwave-safe wrap and microcook on high 10-20 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Easy in the Kitchen

As a wife and mother dealing with the pain of MS, I try to prepare meals that are fast and easy with as few ingredients as possible. Standing in the kitchen is one of my least favorite things to do just because it causes me more pain. So on occasion, I am going to try to remember to post some delicious recipes that the whole family will love. I hope your family will enjoy them as much as mine does.