Yesterday I Walked. Today I Tripped. Tomorrow...

...I'll be tripping my swollen body off again from the experimental ketamine infusion treatment that I began today to combat neuro disorder #4: RSD/CRPS. The good news, I'm in the hands of the world's most competent ketamine infu-sycian - my neurologist, Dr. Schwartzman.

If only I could record my thoughts and visions during any 1 of the 10 4-hour treatment sessions - I'd be the most prolific gimp writer this world has ever known, but, alas the ketamine/versad infusion doesn't welcome the use of the body in time with the mind.

Anecdotally, what made my treatment super trippy was the music: circa 1980/90's from Erasure to The Cure to Smashing Pumpkins and some hard rock band that begins with T that I can't remember. Envision underground/alternative meets strip joint/under-aged dance club for girls wearing black and white striped thigh highs (yes they were in style 20 years ago too) and boys wearing black nail polish and combat boots (another fashion that has made its debut more than once). I won't get into any more detail on this coinkydink - but it made the treatment all the more nostalgic errrrrr ummmmm.


AND THEN THERE WAS THE WALK
Yep. We did it. Walking and wheel-chairing (I think I made about 1.3 miles of the 4 upright).

And we're still doing it. We're still raising money for MS, believe it or not. Donations are still coming in, and if someone were to graciously donate $140 to me personally, I would become the #5 top individual fundraisers.

Thanks to teammate and former classmate and roommate Kathy - straight from the ocean waves of Wilmingon, NC - our team brisked the 4 mile runway in original Mel's Neuro Detour F**K MS, TM, and RSD matching tees. (And you can too, we have some extras).

Our small but valiant team, including members from Brooklyn (Rob, pictured behind me) to New Mexico (Ty) in the flesh!!! - friends of 20 years or more, mixed in with new friends from my new Philly home who will hopefully continue to be with us for what is our new annual meeting grounds regardless of zip code.

My post-trippy point, is that we rocked the MS Walk 2010 with grace, poise, comaraderie, hope, and more money than I ever was able to raise from a Junction Dance Theatre fundraiser!


TOMORROW, as in, NEXT YEAR TOMORROW
We've committed to reconvening next year, and to increase our cast and crew, so mark your calendars now, so we can move from Top Team #9 to 5 (trust me, we'll never beat #1 - they have us by 140 helpful teenagers).


TOMORROW, as in, TOMORROW TOMORROW
This sloppy, occasionally slapstick post is probably all you can expect from trippy old-bones mel for the next couple of weeks. Tho, if I had the energy following treatments it would do my writer's pen justice to record my visions.

I'm already feeling some relief in pain, and fat face is depleting, yay yay yay. Let's hope this continues, because not all RSDSers respond to this treatment (which, Aetna, my insurance will not cover BTW...surprise, surprise).

So...my visions and I will see you in a few weeks, and if we meet again sooner, won't that be nice.