This is an update on/for Brenda. She was being seen by a nueurologist in Charlotte, NC, 2 1/2 years ago when I met her again after a number of years. We discovered that we both had MSi. She had been on ONLY Rifampin and flagyli, and at my urgent request, my doctor, who was taking no new patients, took her. She has been on Doxyi for about a year now in addition to Rifampin and flagyl. She called today to catch up on news and while we were talking about John (farandwide)and his rocky journey, she realized that she had just walked out into the yard to the workers doing repairs on her roof and then walked back. It hit her that she had forgotten her cane!

The title was suggested by a conversation between two of our most battle-hardened warriors, and I couldn't resist it. This has been one of the most eventful years of my life - busy, too. Beginning in January with surgery and moving through kidding season, then a very, very good show season, this last taking a temporary break after the best Nationals in years, then linear classification of our goats, now a break for the really bad August heat (this is AFTER the really bad July heat), then a resumption of show season next month, which wil begin my fifth year of MSi treatment.

Six days after surgery for double mastectomy in Jan, 08, I "did a pulse", thinking since I would be out of action for a while, I wouldn't waste time doing nothing. Boy, did I get the pot stirred! I think all the flagyli went straight to the surgical site - and I understand that cpni bugs are found in cancer cells. I don't know if this is common, but maybe the experts can comment. In my last blog I mentioned that I am the third known case on our site of this kind of cancer (DCIS or a close cousin), and have since learned of at least three other stage four cancer cases of close friends or relatives of members.

This is for Brenda who finally, after two years of Rifampin and flagyli, got her Doxycycline. She has been on it only for two weeks and today called to say: My grandchildren told me that I am walking better. I can lie on my back and draw my legs up and push them out again without cramps. I can turn over. Today I carried laundry out and hung it on the line. The feeling that I am dirty and have to get in the shower every ten minutes because my legs have movement under the skin, is going away (this was undoubtedly muscle spasms). I have lots more energy. AND .... her grandchildren came home with honor roll report cards.

Today I had my post-op checkup - "spectacular", got the drains and the Iron Maiden (my name for the ace bandage) removed, permission to drive (hot dog!), restrictions - don't lift 50# bags of grain for 4 weeks - not even 25# buckets. Will do. The very best part, though all that was pretty good - absolutely clean path report.

Today I am eighty days post twenty-six day flagyli pulse and though I have not been around the world, I feel as though I have climbed my share of mountains. I was going to do another long pulse in January but have postponed it for two reasons: the first reason is that I have noticed, as have many of us, that the longer and more intense the pulse, the longer the recovery. It has been no exception with this extended (for me) one. I find this as a signpost for us - don't feel that "this is not working" if you choose to go outside the boundaries of the written protocol. This applies with the regular protocol, also, especially early on when this foe is lining up its defenses. We are writing in blood the new rules.

My being compelled to do a blog is based on the fact that a lot is happening on our site and, as usual, I have to jump right in. I was going to wait until after my extended pulse, (this is my 16th consecutive day) but I don't know when that will be - a thrill in itself!

So we bid farewell to a successful and exciting show season.

No blowouts this time and our faithful diesel cruised to the show. But the fair people had forgotten to stop the entries at the usual limit of 300 goats, so we were crowded at 480. We have French Alpines and the basic Alpine philosophy is that the last one left standing is the winner so we were very busy with keeping everyone occupied with something to do. Treats, new hay often, back scratches, peanuts, and for the really determined basher, a little water in the face - the penultimate insult.

This is another of those combined blogs, one by author, one by proxy, two by confusion, too confusing? Not for us. We know how to deal with the confusing, the confused, and the unexpected: give flagyli.

But a Daisy will do very, very well. This is at Daisy's request and has been on my mind since she asked. I realized it will be long and will need almost daily editing as I think of more improvements, so please forgive me if I bring it up too many times. Just tell me to stop and I will. Daisy asked me to enumerate in one post the improvements since I began this incredible journey. First was return of energy, not all at once but when you are starting from near zero, ANY feels really good. Now my bladder works on demand, though it took a long time.

As Joyce has said "What a bizarre group we are". The title of this blog stands for: Blog By Proxy - Blood Pressure/Gum Disease. For years Dr R (Richard) has fought bad breath and gum disease with meticulous attention to an heroic dental routine and visited the dentist alternating with the periodontist for a total of 6 times a year. His gums have inexorably receded and bled. Several months ago in a matter of a few days, his bad breath disappeared, becoming almost overnight as sweet as a baby's.

It seems much longer than the 20 days that have elapsed since my adventure in Wyoming. After returning only 3 weeks ago tomorrow, we (Richard and I) began flagyli 2 days later on Thursday night. My own response was the usual short hour until loss of function - a little less than usual - and mental confusion - much more than usual and the lethargy lasting for days. I still have the emotional flatness and great amounts of slow, fuzzy thinking. And the vertigo, something always present, this time in huge waves requiring me to hold on and wait till it passed every time I changed position. Even now, 13 days after ending the pulse, if I move suddenly, I must stop and wait, but briefly now. I look at this pulse in wonder.

Day 1 - The Easiest Day.

.....perseverance, defiance, stubbornness, terror, bull-headedness - these all apply. Another level of recovery has come, another mountain has been climbed. Beginning 16 days ago, I clipped goats, packed the showboxes, mowed, did daily upkeep and in general worked like the proverbial dog. (That somewhat mystifies me because our dogs don't work very hard but that will require more thought.) So we got to the show and spent Friday clipping 18 bodies (the legs, heads, and tails were clipped and feet were done), spent Saturday in the ring, except during the famous PPMSi Clan meeting, went Reserve Grand Champion, went out for a well-deserved meal, then sleep.