New job title: Test Dummy

I have never been on the cutting edge of anything before in my life.  I am no fashion trend setter, brilliant inventor, or brave drug trial participant.  However, I am usually an excellent follower.

So it is fascinating to me that I have sought out, and taken advantage of, the opportunities I've had to spend the past 11 months being a pioneer of an amazing, life altering treatment for a condition that I didn't know existed, or that I even had!  

I educated myself about CCSVI to the best of my ability.  Then spent every available minute looking for a doctor who was willing to snake a balloon up my groin, into my tightly closed jugulars and open those suckers right up!  I never hesitated for a minute.  Who am I?!?  One very lucky lady, that's who.

What a year it's been.  To recap:

*  November 30th:  Several articles about this "Liberation Treatment" landed in my Yahoo alert email
*  February 1st:   I had a Doppler ultrasounds at Georgetown University
*  March 3rd:  I became the first venoplasty patient at Georgetown University
*  Mid March:  Began restenosing rather quickly
*  July 30th:  I was treated by Dr. Ziv Haskal for my restenosed veins before he took a break in order to get a CCSVI study approved by his hospital's IRB
*  October 1st:  Began restenosing again, but very slowly it appears this time
*  October 22:  On Friday I was the 8th or 9th patient to have Doppler ultrasound at University of MD (Oscar the tech couldn't be exactly sure)
*  Next week I meet with Dr. Haskal to discuss when I can have my 3rd venoplasty.

I will be very interested to see what my ultrasound results show.  I know that I am in the very early stages of restenosing.  When I was originally tested at Georgetown, my reflux numbers were not terribly remarkable.  When the doctor did the venoplasty he was shocked at how stenosed my veins actually were.   I don't expect that the Maryland tech found anything to get too excited about.

Luckily, I know that Haskal has a healthy skepticism for ultrasounds and MRVs.  My well documented improvements, and subsequent decline are far better indicators of restenosis in my book.  Of course, I'm no doctor.  But I bet I know a whole lot more about this than many board certified physicians at this point!

I'll let you know how the appointment goes this week.  Stay tuned...