Numbness

I developed numbness in my left shin. I reported it to the doctor's office.

(Update 4/15/09: numbness is gone, lasted about two weeks and did not spread.)

Doctor visit and medical update

I saw Dr Gitt, my neurologist today. He suggested I go into the trial for alemtuzumab. It is an IV drug that has been used for a type of leukemia and is being tested for MS. The results have been promising. Mary sent me this: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/126550.php It is administered by IV for five days (a few hours each day). Then it is administered for three days a year later. Two thirds of the trial gets alemtuzumab and one third gets Rebif, which is similar to the Betaseron I take now except it is 3x/week instead of every other day. (MS trials do not use placebo groups; they use one of the current treatments for the control group.) The side effects are ITP-idiopathich thrombocytopenic purpura, which is fatal if not treated, but easily treated, and thryroid problems, which are not desirable but also treatable. It's a big decision but the pros as I see it are: careful monitoring (more than standard care), treatment paid for, 2:1 possibility of not giving myself injections for the next two years, and improved MS. The cons are possible thyroid problems, continuing injections if I end up in the control group, and developing ITP.

Court affirms moment-of-silence law

Go, freedom! I love it when the constitution is interpreted the way our founders intended. :)

From the Houston Chronicle:

DALLAS — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a Texas law that requires public school students to observe a daily minute of silence in order to pray, reflect or otherwise remain quiet.

A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans affirmed a district court ruling, saying the law, which took effect in 2003, is constitutional because it expressly allows any silent use of that minute, whether religious or not.

David and Shannon Croft sued on behalf of their three children, who are enrolled in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. The suburban Dallas couple contended that including the word “pray” in the mandatory moment of silence law was a way for lawmakers to advance religion in schools. Another family joined the Crofts in filing the lawsuit but chose to remain anonymous.

CHAVEZ FOUGHT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Check out this great post about Cesar Chavez:

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/Jim8413/49027

and the followup by another blogger:

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/Mike1633/49051

Learning from Dog Training Shows

I just caught up on my Dog Whisperer and It's Me or the Dog episodes. I certainly don't agree with Cesar or Victoria on everything but here's what I picked up this time. Cesar says "You don't always get the dog you want, but you get the dog you need." I like that; it applies to alot of things in life! He also showed what we have been doing wrong with Teka--when she snaps at a dog, she gets removed or the other dog gets removed. I don't know that we have enough control over it (who wants to leave their dog there for our training purposes?) but she should not be removed, just calmed and walked back in to greet. I'll see what I can do. I think she is going to visit my sister soon. :) (5 dogs on 10 acres, they'll teach her what's up.)

Victoria showed some home adaptations for an older dog that was going blind. I've never dealt with something like that so it was interesting. She recommended putting a different scented (unlit) candle in each room so the dog knows where it is. Also, for places the dog will have to step up or down, put a mat with a different texture than the rest of the flooring to signify the change. That might also work for locations that the door is sometimes closed but not always.

Who decides what we think?

I couldn't have said it better myself. Well, maybe if I had more time. :)

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/TedThayer/48911

Raving Fans

I listened to Raving Fans, an old book on customer service. It was cute, like a parable type of style, but I don't know that I'd recommend it. There wasn't anything new there (it is old) but maybe it would serve as a reminder of how to treat people.