Day 81-94

Full agenda - FOOD!

Now I have not posted in a few weeks. I feel very good. I'm alert all day, but still do not want the left leg as much as your head - yet. It takes a long time to walk. Walking distance has gotten a little better, but I'm still depend only of crutches outdoors. 

Now it has been seven weeks since the transplant. I have not experienced any negative side effects that I can connect to the treatment. What I have noticed is a mild cold. However, without fever. I have not been sick for the past 8 years apart from my MS. It has almost been nice to cough and blow my nose. :) 

I got a present on my 50th birthday, a culinary trip to San Sebastian in Spain. 

San Sebastian (Basque: Donostia, official name: Donostia-San Sebastian, French: Saint-Sébastien) is the provincial capital of the region of Gipuzkoa and the Basque Country's premier tourist destinations. The city is like most coastal towns marked by fishing and picturesque harbor area, but where fish sheds require low available today upscale seafood restaurants. The city's central areas and promenades goes in Victorian architecture - the city was around the turn of the century a major tourist city for the Spanish royal family and nobility. 

Every year a big festival in town, semana grande, with bullfights, festivals and activities such as concerts, amusement parks and rowing competitions. The city is also known for its international film festival each fall. 

One reason that San Sebastian is one of the Basque Country's major tourist destinations are the two large sandy beaches that stretch out on either side of the city center. La Concha (Shell) is the largest of the beaches and counted as one of the world's finest. On the other side, Zurriola, the more youthful beach. It is known for its big waves and good surfing opportunities. The city's youth culture is highly influenced by just surfing.
Donostia-San Sebastián has been named the European Capital of Culture 2016. 

Last week we went, me and four friends. The food orgy we experienced have turned my tough diet upside down. I'm still adjusting back to the program I received during my rehab in Poland.
Current menu contains no bread, alcohol, pork, pasta, lactose, and sugar. I dream of Pata Negra, Gin & Tonic, white bread dipped in olive oil and salt, seafood, desserts ...

Day two we had lunch at Mugaritz, which has two Michelin stars. It was a 22 course tasting menu with a dozen wines. Damn it, it was good!  

For the first few months were really full stomach, and maybe a little drunk ... 

The day did not end there. We had not eaten dinner yet. It was a wobbly walk between the bars of Fermin Kalbeton in Parte Vieja. Pintxos and a glass of wine here and pintxos and a beer there. Finally I was drunk for real. Then my friends supported me to the taxi. Alcohol kill my legs.

After a good night's sleep, we were on track with our culinary journey again. We had a fairly light lunch and finish with dinner at three star Akelare.  

We were still full from yesterday, so we contented ourselves with an eight course menu. Very full and satisfied, we returned late at night to the hotel.

Thanks Kjelle for the experience!

 

Day 43:15 Porno - Legal

Want to skip the history? - Scroll down to the black text. 

... September 2011, Racing

Believe it or not. I became a little more alert after surgery two in Warsaw. So spirited that I dared to Finland with two good friends. We went to Hämeenlinna. When thinking about it, what the hell is there to do in Hämeenlinna.

Racing, Camaro Cup.
They have an old but beautiful race track there. Another friend was there with his team and drove the cup with your own car. For those not familiar, I can tell you that it's probably one of the most expensive hobbies. The money he put on his car, travel and the team could feed a small village. Something always goes down in the maximum trimmed cars. It is certainly easy to repair, but he must have with him almost two cars in spare parts. He need spare parts in lots. 

This race was no exception. The car went bad at high engine speeds. The team scratched their heads. I hung on my crutch and watched the spectacle. I have run the race and have both formula and racing license. I have also spent much time with a wrench in my hand. The team changed the spark plugs, alternator, belts, cables without finding fault. 

I asked to borrow a multimeter. I measured the voltage across the battery, and it was too low. The driver started the car and I measured again. It was better but still only 13 volts. If the spark at the spark plug should be good at high revs the voltage must be 14.8 volts. We changed the battery. The former had probably been damaged a bit in a crash. The car went like clockwork. It was probably a bit embarrassing when a cripple with a crutch solve the problem as the boys struggled with for several hours. 

We had the night ferry back to Sweden. All Russian truck drivers fighting for food on the ferry. After 45 minutes we sat alone in the dining room on a Saturday night. It was only just before 11pm and I was wondering where everyone had gone. 

Mystery of the missing drivers had explained a little later. I turn on the TV in the cab to watch on something when I am falling asleep. It did not make any difference what channel I chose, it was porn.

That day, I wanted racing - not porn.
To be continued...

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Today 
It was a long day yesterday. We had a good hotel breakfast in the morning. The I drove my wife back home and my daughter to school. After that, straight to office. I had a long meeting with the company lawyer. We have a trial that will start on Thursday. Our cases have to be examined one last time before we end up in the courtroom. Although I was quite OK after yesterday's practice was todays sitting with lawyer annoying.

The day did not end there. It ended the evening with the Annual General Meeting of VISITA Stockholm, where I am board member. It was, about 50 members at the meeting. When the meeting was finished appellate I have been on stage four times. I had completed my term time in six years. I was properly thanked for it. Then it came up that I turned 50 years. So I was acclaimed for it also.

The day ended with the board dinner at a nice restaurant.

Can I sleep now?

Day 32 : 4 - Post training & Post CCSVI

... April 2011, after surgery 

It was unbelievable, the first time after the operation of AMEDS in Poland. I was almost without MS symptoms. It was like all the problems disappeared overnight. Cardiologist Piotr Pavluksuc I met in Uppsala on CCSVI lecture a week later. I said to him, Poland has a new citizen. Dennis Johansson, born 27 April 2011. Thus, I have two nationalities, a Swedish since 1963, and a new self-imposed Polish from 2011. 

My status 
The right jugular vein had no flow at all in a sitting or standing position. There was a very small flow when I lay down. Left side worked and other veins were ok. EEDS estimated at 5.0 by the neurologist in Poland, the latest Swedish test was in Dec-10 4.5 (KS), and in Oct-10 4.5 (rehab). Last flare in Dec-10 made apparently some residual symptoms. 

The right vein was blasted 2 times with different sizes of balloons. The flow was restored, from 0% to 75% of normal. There was some discomfort at the surgery, but still quite affordable. What I experienced as the hardest was to lie still on my back for so many hours afterwards. 

Best experience of the operation was that the feet were warm again after surgery and the pizza my wife fed me after the surgery. I was hungry as a galley slave. 

I had obviously noticed some improvements before lunch, but it had only been a few hours since I got out of bed. My thought was that any improvements will probably sneaking in coming months. 

Oh so wrong I was. Four days later, I can say; 

-Dressing without problems 
-Can stand on one leg again 
-No problem with stairs 
-Left hand works much better 
-Balance work 
-No panic to the toilet 
-No brain fog 
-No fatigue 
-No heat intolerance

I've probably forgotten something, but it feels like the clock screwed back a few years. 
 

CCSVI conference in Uppsala 
As I mentioned at the conference, I've barely been home a week after the surgery in Poland. My day started at 5:30 this morning, with activity all day. This had absolutely not been possible before my trip to Ameds. The volume was at maximum with house music in the car between Uppsala and Stockholm. It has not been like that the last 5 years! 

It just gives me more water on CCSVI mill. Cognition has rebounded as well. Summarizes I week, I wonder what the heck I've been doing the last few years. I've been struggling with strategies to get the energy to suffice the most important. Extinguish fires, and to ensure that everyone in your family have food in your stomach. Not even I have been particularly successful at. There, my wife took more and more responsibility.  

Sauna have to wait until tomorrow, when who should be filled up with beer in the fridge grossly neglected her duties. I'm thinking of sacking that fuck. :)
To be continued..

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Today
Food again

Breakfast

I has been a lot talking about the diet in this the blog. I am getting more and more convinced that food is one of the keys to mastering MS. I don´t really care about the 7 kilos I have lost in less than five weeks. I was not fat before, 82kg and 183 centimetres tall. What I care about is the change in power and how good I am feeling right now.


It's not a big sacrifice to opt out of certain raw materials. Profit is tenfold greater. I am very happy to have got to get started and teach me how I should proceed. I do not undergo a diet is the hardest part. It comes later in everyday life. 

We humans are basically collectors since the Stone Age. It's all about planning and organizing. Sure, it takes a lot of time. But it's worth it. It's about finding your innate heritage, and practice them.

AMEDS Rehabilitation Program
My evaluation will be posted under the topic in the side bar. 

Stem cell
Next on the agenda will be stem cell transplant. The first date is confirmed to 16th of April. The second treatment will be in September.

I am currently not taking any drugs against my MS. I hope I do not get relapses during treatment. Should it happen, stem cell treatment may be discontinued.

I will eat my carrots and hope for the best. :) 

Day 30-31 : 2-3 - Full speed ahead, finding food

Want to skip the history? - Scroll down to the black text.

I will continue with my history during the weekend. The time has not been enough this week.

I will tell about the time after CCSVI next. 
To be continued..

_______________________________

Today 
The days are flying...
Now I am back at work again. I am feeling good after the rehab in Poland. I have used a lot of time to get food according to my new diet.

It is not only carb to take into account. It should also be gluten, lactose and basically meatless. As spice to everything, it must be anti-inflammatory and organic.

I am looking to take my gun and go into the woods and hunt any wild animal. Finding ingredients to the diet is not easy. I've been in five stores and found some here and there. When everything is collected the cooking starts, and planning for next meal.

Yesterday menu
07:00 Breakfast, Tomato soup with wild rice
10:00 Snack, Green Apple
12:00 Lunch, Salomon with Carrot, Zucchini and Asparagus
16:00 Snack, Carrot Ginger and Celery Juice
19:00 Dinner, Black Quinoa with Feta and Kalamati Olives 

All meals with Green Tea and Flaxseed Oil. To all meals, a handful vitamins. 

Despite all efforts to find the right ingredients, I feel very good on the diet. With planning, it's probably not that difficult over time. I have definitely changed my eating habits for good. It may sound simple, but I probably would not have able to do all this on my own.

Diet has made ​​a big difference in my life. Thanks Ma ... I mean Olga for the support!  

Day 22 - Muscle Soreness

Want to skip the history? - Scroll down to the black text.

...march 2011

I used a lot of energy to get through the various meetings during the winter. Clothing, crutches and portfolio. Half the energy was spent shovelling the car out of the snow and take me to different places. I slept probably 10 hours a night, and two hours in the afternoon. I do not know how I had time to suffice, but it went in some how.  

I started thinking about how my situation would be resolved. I started searching on CCSVI treatments, and found a handful of clinics around the world who performed the surgery. I decision was not made then, it had to wait until I got home from my next trip. 

Thailand
My previous plan, to travel as much as possible while I can still walk, was not flagged. One of the trips went to Thailand. Father in law has a back injury, so he spends like the cold season there. It suited me perfectly.  I found it hard to take me up on the snow and ice on the one hand. On the other hand, I also had problems with the heat.
  
Pneumonia

The evening before my departure, my wife fell ill suddenly. In the middle of the night we went to the hospital. She had almost 40 degree fever. I decided to cancel the trip. I could not leave her at home with three kids and be really sick. Almost at the same moment, the doctor in with sample answers and some tablets. She got a really strong antibiotics. We went home and she went to sleep a few hours and woke up in the morning and was feeling much better. 

My flight would be leaving at 13:40, so there was still time to catch up with. Everything was packed in the bag. My wife says, you can go, I feel better and I know what the problem is. After the agony, I decided to go anyway. It did not feel right, but she knew I needed to get away from the cold. Thank you! 
 
The problem with the heat worked out the best way. On the day I could be in the pool or in my air-conditioned bedroom and rest. We went to Hua Hin for dinner every night. If two men are very few days, craps is not the kitchen unnecessarily. 

It was ten really lazy and lazy days. While I allowed myself massages almost daily. Then says the jealous, yes, yes, with happy ending. No, it was not so. It helped me a lot with the warm climate and massage. I became more mobile and got a little better contact with the legs. It is much easier to move around without a lot of clothes on. 

During the warm evenings / nights, I and my father in law sat on his porch, talking shit and drank whiskey.
To be continued...

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Today at the Rehab

Me and Amir Katoozian

This morning my legs were a little bit achy after yesterdays Nordic walking. But that is good. This afternoon I had some time to think. Justyna from AMEDS asked me about the Rehab so fare. Well this is my 22nd day here. I can´t say that I am missing anything at all. Of cause, my family, but nothing else.

Item 1

The funny thing, people always come up with negative things. They are more easy to find, and others will listen with more attention. I try to think, yes, I found one. The first week here I woke up one night at 3am dreaming about food. The bed was soaked with sweat.
  
MEGA SIZE BIG MAC MEAL, PLEASE!

Three weeks ago I was addicted to sugar. My new diet don´t not contain any sugar at all. Today I am cured. The next AA meting at home, I can open with "I am a sugar addict..."

Item 2

I just come up with item two. I need go shopping when I got back home. My pants fall off. My check-in weight was 82.2kg, this morning 77.6kg.

I HATE GO SHOPPING! 

After all it is not a complain, it is just corrections of my bad habits. Then it is easy to say, couldn´t you fixed that on you own, at home. Did you need to go to Poland to have that done? My quick answer will be, those two items are just side effects of the treatment here. And they both are good.

I see if I can find something else to complain to during my sleep. I let you know tomorrow.