Last Thursday I went and saw my neurologist. I explained what I was going through and she said it could be the natural progression of the disease or I indeed could have a cold or a touch of the flu. She said at my stage a cold or something like that can knock your nervous system for a loop and you are essentially bedridden until you get over it.

She did strength tests on my left and right sides. I couldn't even get my right leg or arm into position for her to do the test [the test is essentially lift your leg or arm against her resistance]. Of course she said I am significantly weaker than from my last visit.

She wants to put me on steroids to give my nervous system an added little boost. It sounds ok to me. She did caution me though, that there were side effects. I told her I know, I know, I'll end up being a buff angry young man. She said not quite. My emotions will become, ah, heightened. She said I'll cry more readily, anger more easily, and have feelings of hopelessness and depression. Irene was there and said "Oh terrific.", which made me laugh. Dr. Devonshire snickered, but she said yes, it is often just as hard on those around you. We all had to pause and remember it was the steroids.

 Three or fours days after swimming my strength just seemed to be waning. Getting up the stairs to our bedroom just got harder and harder. It got to he point where Irene had to lift my right leg and place it on the next step.
And, believe it or not, getting down was almost impossible. To get down the stairs I essentially had to fall to the floor and slide down the steps.  At the bottom of the stairs Irene and I had to struggle to get me up standing.

Over the next few days my right leg basically became dead weight. Even when standing I really couldn't do anything. A few times Irene and I would struggle and get me upstairs and I'd be too weak to go the ten feet to our bedroom. I fell a couple of times, but luckily onto the soft wall to wall carpet.

I experienced weakness like this a year or so ago when I caught some kind stomach flue. It pasted after a few days, but this time I just didn't seem to improve, but  continuously get worse.

Eventually I had to use a wheelchair just to get around the house. Last weekend we asked Calvin and Mihn to bring a bed downstairs and we set up a bedroom for me in the living room.

I've got Fraser health coming in January to assess the house and my needs. And later this week I've got an appointment with my neurologist. Lets hope she has some good news.

 Shortly after my last post my brother Greg was in town and he took me swimming to Eileen Daily pool. It is a great pool with a gentle slope into a shallow wading part of the pool. They have wheel chairs that can go into the pool so it is perfect. I don't really swim any more but just getting in the water is great. Greg's daughters Eleanor, with her three year old daughter Christina, and Liz met us there, so it was great. We talked, caught up and splashed around. I got over to the five foot deep area and practiced walking without fear of falling. It was a great evening and I slept the soundest I have for a long time.