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 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..

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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 23 - Balance

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

... April 2011, part 1

Artic cat 660 Turbo

Last year I had bought a snowmobile. I had not driven it many yards without passengers.  

In Sweden it is allowed to go off-road, crossing bridges and that the terrain is not feasible to go a short white on public roads. My general condition had become worse. I barely had the energy in the body to unload it from the trailer. 

An old friend had returned to Sweden after service abroad for many years. He still retains his cabin in the mountains. He called and asked if we could take a ride in the mountains. I told her about my difficulties, and he said, no problem, I will help you. 

We go up on a Friday afternoon. The journey takes six hours with trailer. We had two snowmobiles on the trailer. It was fortunate that I had ticked the license for heavy trailer on my to do list. 

Trailer licence

Driving test for driving license I did in the autumn. The requirement for the license is heavy vehicles over 3.5ton and heavy trailer. Driving in traffic was no problem, it was in itself not back exercise either. What created the problem was the tone of the left leg. I could not hold the draw with the clutch. The leg just shook. The inspector did not sit in the vehicle. I solved the problem with the left elbow. I kept the foot on the pedal and used the body weight on the left knee. 

Mountain

Reindeer in the mountains

The Saturday morning we went up and get dressed. We put on all the clothes we had with us. It was -20C outside and the wind was blowing. 

Three guys on snowmobiles, of course, contest was unavoidable. It was at times up to 160km/h, then you have to be 110% sharp. One small mistake and you are off, or crash. 

Fish

I got the fish

We stayed at a lake to rest. There we drilled a hole in the ice. We took out the fishing rods and start fishing. We got some trout. Good food. 

When we got back to the cabin at night we had gone 250km in the mountains. I was so tired that you can not describe. When I must drive my snowmobile around the cottage, I stuck in a snowdrift and overturned. My leg trapped under the scooter, it did not work at all. The boys dig up me and salvage snowmobile. They help me into the house and take my clothes off and put me on the couch. 

I sit there in the sofa, with a glass of whiskey in front of the fire and add up the day. This was the last ride on the mountain. Now the body can´t any more. When I get hungry again, I will remember this trip. It has been a great day. 

When I am at home again on Monday, I got contact with AMEDS. In a few hours, everything was clear. The 25/4 I'd go. There was only one thing to do before Poland. 

Africa.
To be continued...

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Today at the Rehab

Polish spring...

Yesterday I was talking about negative things. I have been thinking on something else to complain about. The only thing I can find out about, is the weather. Today we had another 15 centimetres. If I would file a complain about that, I have to go to the church.

The schedule was as always full. The timing is good, so there are time between for rest. 

Good things
Over all I had the best of service, from everyone here at AMEDS Rehabilitation program in Lask. The center witch are housing us are Columna Medica. All contacts, from the professor to the girls cleaning my room are as good they can be. I lift my hat.

Item 1, Food & Diet
What I was not expecting was the focus that the diet had. I am now completely detoxified from sugar, gluten and bad carbs. At the same time, I have learned a lot about how I will manage my diet.  

Restaurant Caina

The kitchen here has done a fantastic job, and they manage to get everything to taste very good.  

I myself am a restaurateur, so my expectations of food is very high. I thought in my simplicity that low carb diet would be dull over time. It's not if you put a little love in the preparation. 

I am not taking any MS drugs, because the stem cell treatment. Then it is even more important to be aware of what you are putting in your mouth. If I got any new relapses now, I may have to start over with the drugs. 

Then the stem cells are gone...