Roofied, Naked Old Men & Snapping

Blog # 6, Day 13

And here we go again 

This morning Deena started her 2nd (and hopefully last) Antibiotic Augmented Thermoeradication treatment. For those who have been following you’ll know that this comes with very little pain, just 2-3 days of deep deep sleep…. Where can I sign up !!

Update - Deena is now out of  the “Heat Tent’’ and in a recovery room until tomorrow morning. She hit 107 F (42 C ) for 125 minutes, a new St.Georges Clinic world record.  I managed to get a few words with her, but she is completely knocked out - guessing this is how it feels to be roofied.

We had fun at the weekend with Mimi visiting. It was nearly a normal 48 hours, as there was very little therapy, so we took the chance to dine at  each of the 3 fine restaurants in the town. Mimi visited Bad Aibling’s Therma Spa for a Sauna, followed by a dip in a freezing cold plunge pool, and then a massage. Picture Mimi and her friend entering a very very large Sauna surrounded by dozens of old men and women stark naked sprawled across the wooden benches . It wasn’t just the sauna, there were naked bodies everywhere, unisex changing rooms, plunge pools and even the Restaurent.  German culture we’ve since learned, but Mimi is still traumatized, she may never go back in a sauna again.

Many of you have asked if there have been any signs of improvement. We don’t expect anything for many months, and we don’t even know if Chronic Lymes is causing Deena’s symptoms.However ……

There are a number of tests Neuroscientists use to assess the impact of Cerebella Ataxia. Two simple ones are the ability to snap (click for UK audience) your fingers and the heel-to-shin test. May sound simple, but difficult tasks for Deena. Saturday at lunch she snapped her fingers at me and pretty loudly. She hasn’t been able to this for some years. 

The heel-to-shin test is simple for people without Cerebella Ataxia. While lying down you run one heal down the opposite leg and shin. I am sure you are all trying this now.  The expected action is a smooth straight movement of both legs.  An abnormal finding is that the patient will not be able to trace the shin in a straight line accompanied by shaking of the heal. Cerebella Ataxia is a degenerative condition, so Deena’s heel-to-shin test has got worse over the years. Last night it was pretty smooth.

Small steps but you never know ……we dream, maybe foolishly, of what it would be like if Deena regained her full balance. A 6 inch pair of Louboutins is on her list as well as cycle through Tuscany. 

Thank you as always for all your messages and comments - what do you think Deena should be doing this time next year ?