The Old Men's League

A meeting today of the League of Old Men, attended by representatives from four nations, Australia, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia and the USA (not otherwise known as 'the big four') resulted in no agreements, decisions nor recommendations for the future. The meeting took place at JCO Donuts, in Sanur, Bali. Local and international issues were discussed one by one in no very intelligible way until, at last, the meeting was adjourned due to the threat of rain. In a general sense, Switzerland remained doggedly neutral while Czechoslovakia struck a position of stubborn irritation (probably due to stomach discomfort). The representative from the USA was of the general frame of mind that a rousing chorus of Yankee Doodle would probably be most helpful in every case, which was countered by Australia's conviction that cloves of raw garlic, chewed, can counteract most any ill (whose representative then fell asleep). More meetings are planned for the future, subject to the weather, and old men from other countries are welcome to attend. Coffee is served, compliments of JCO (for Rp. 26000).

Just a heads up to support movie about one woman's struggle with MS. See teaser below.


Please view the extended trailer for PC594 here.

Circle K

Five boys roll up to the Circle K on two motorbikes. I'd say the oldest is 10. Two of them are wearing dark glasses. I didn't notice whether they were driving or not. It's about 8 o'clock at night and it's raining lightly. Three more show up on another bike. They all gather at the table next to the door. Not one of the eight has a helmet, although they are all wearing hats. Because it's raining. Someone in the little warung next door is playing a guitar that is in dire need of tuning, as is his own heart-filled crooning. The air is filled with the scent of strange spices and the trill and rattle of Balinese slang. I look up from my little story and notice that there are a number of flies swimming in my coffee. Time to go home.

Fluoxetine

Having read that fluoxetine, aka prozac, may slow the progression of MS, I started taking it some days ago at a dosage of 20 mg per day. One cannot know, in the short term, whether it is slowing progression, but I did become immediately aware that it seems to have significantly quieted the ringing in my ears and also chased away the severe daily headaches - two unanticipated benefits. I also picked up some plain old ibuprofen, which seems to deal fairly well with milder headaches. So I'm feeling much more comfortable these days and able to function much better, rather than just sitting at home with an icepack on my head. 

Lies

For a long time now, a lie has been circulated on the conspiracy theory sites to the effect that no Jews died in the attack on the WTC. The intent of the lie is to somehow implicate Israel in the attack. However, this is simply not true. One can easily discover the truth for oneself by simply looking it up online. In fact, more than 370 Jews died in the buildings. You can find their names, photographs and short biographies.

Benefits

The great thing about having MS is that you can re-read a book or re-watch a movie, and it's always like the first time you've seen it.

Unacceptable

I have long been a supporter of President Obama and his policies in general, but I must say that I cannot support his approach to negotiations with Iran. I do agree that we should negotiate a deal with Iran regarding their nuclear program. In fact, I don't even see that the possession of a nuclear weapon by that country would be particularly meaningful, as it would not be useful to them in any practical sense, given that using such a weapon would only guarantee the total destruction of their own country. However, to even speak with a leadership that continues without apology to call for the annihilation of the Jews and refuses even to recognize Israel seems to me abhorrent in the extreme. Here is where the line must be drawn and never removed. We may say, 'Oh, it's only talk. ' I suppose that many said the same thing about the Nazis in the 1930s. It may be only talk - but it is talk that belongs on no one's lips in the 21st century.

Latest MS Report

And now for an MS update. My biggest problem recently has been a daily headache. Headache is too mild a term actually. It has been relentless and severe enough to make me fel nauseated and as if I am about to vomit. Aspirin is useless. Ibuprofen is useless. Antihistamines are useless. However, the good news is that I finally went to the neurologist last night and he has prescribed soemthing that may be effective. It's a mix of paracematol and diazepam and the first tablet has kept the headache pretty much at bay since this morning, although it it just now, at 5:30, returning to my left eye.

We also talked about Prozac and information I had recently read that it 'may' slow down MS progression. He was aware of this study as well, so gave me a prescription. We shall see what happens, if anything.

There is still nothing that has been very successful is stopping the ringing in my ears. I continue to take clonazepam when needed - which really only puts me to sleep at night, and only in that sense improves the problem of the ringing. The ringing itself is unpredictable. Can be very loud and then sometimes much quieter, for no rhyme or reason that I've been able to discover.

The doc has suggested, additionally, that I make a point of getting regular exercise - walking and swimming. I've begun to do so, since I have plenty of time and no reason not to. 

CIA

Given the power, influence and practical omnipresence ascribed to the CIA in the alternative press and social media, I reckon that fully one-third of the American population must be employed by that organization. From guarding opium fields in Afghanistan, for American business interests and the consumption of a heroin loving population, to supplying and instructing ISIS in the Middle East, to spreading ebola in Africa, supporting Boko Haram, leading Hamas, and, of course, tapping phones and listening to conversations all over the world, they are simply everywhere. One wonders how there can be any unemployment at all amongst the remaining two-thirds of our population.

I was reading an old entry this morning, from perhaps a year ago, that was sort of an update on my condition with MS. I noted in that entry that I had kind of just learned to live with the various deficits. They had become part of who I am. I must say, however, that I'm not ready at all to to take this new condition - that being the constant ringing in my ears - so much in stride. In fact, I really hate it. It's driving me crazy. Every day since early September, my ears have been ringing - sometimes just quietly, sometimes very loudly, especially at night. This, in turn, gives me a splitting headache. A paralyzing headache. Sometimes all I can do it just sit in a chair and hold a pack of ice to my head. For the ringing, the doctor has given me clonazepam, which is really only effective in so far as it puts me to sleep. This all started with a relapse in September following a flu illness in August. Of course, the ringing is not really in my ears, but in my head somewhere - the shrieking of damaged nerves, I suppose you'd say. So I've finally discovered an intolerable MS related condition - and, as it has been present for 7 months now, I fear that it is permanent. 

A long time ago

By the time we found the shallow fire pit, the coals were cold, completely cold, and the only
ashes left between the small circle of stones were the black and heavy sort that don’t fly off
with a wind. Ken un-shouldered his rifle and set the barrel against a tree while the rest of us
stood staring at the ashes. The fire had been made on a small hump of earth stacked up against
the exposed roots of a sapling so as to make use of the drier ground amid the still thick circles
of snow between the taller trees. They were mostly Douglas Fir and red cedar. Ken had not
walked far when he knelt and scooped up the rifle on the ground. He held it on his two
extended forearms like a sleeping child or a small corpse, looking quizzically at the stock and
hand grip and barrel as if he had never seen anything quite like it. He turned then, not toward
us, but away, and took two more steps toward a thicket of fruitless huckleberry bushes and
vines. The earth had been torn around the bushes and there were tatters of clothing as well.
Ken pointed to the ground. lood, he said. And we all knew what had happened to our friend.  

Ringing

I was reading an old entry this morning, from perhaps a year ago, that was sort of an update on my condition with MS. I noted in that entry that I had kind of just learned to live with the various deficits. They had become part of who I am. I must say, however, that I'm not ready at all to to take this new condition - that being the constant ringing in my ears - so much in stride. In fact, I really hate it. It's driving me crazy. Every day since early September, my ears have been ringing - sometimes just quietly, sometimes very loudly, especially at night. This, in turn, gives me a splitting headache. A paralyzing headache. Sometimes all I can do it just sit in a chair and hold a pack of ice to my head. For the ringing, the doctor has given me clonazepam, which is really only effective in so far as it puts me to sleep. This all started with a relapse in September following a flu illness in August. Of course, the ringing is not really in my ears, but in my head somewhere - the shrieking of damaged nerves, I suppose you'd say. So I've finally discovered an intolerable MS related condition - and, as it has been present for 7 months now, I fear that it is permanent. 

Share a Tattoo

Getting inked can be a powerful reminder that you’re stronger than your condition, and a great way to raise awareness.

As one of Healthline’s 2014 Best of MS Blogs, I think you and your Everyone Here is Jim Dandy followers might be interested in submitting photos of their MS-inspired tattoos to add to this powerful collection up on the Healthline site: http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/multiple-sclerosis-tattoo-winners#2

We’re currently accepting new submissions, and I’d love it if you took a look at the slideshow, then share the above link to the submission guidelines across your social media or website! All people have to do is send in a clear photo of their tattoo + short description, with the subject “My MS tattoo,” to nlascurain@healthline.com — that’s me! We’ll then feature them on the site, and help inspire others with depression by those who keep pushing on.