October 8th, 2001

Al stopped taking his fish oil and nerve ending builder pills sometime in August. I didn't realize it for about a month until he started to get bad spasms through his body again and slurring his words more. I guess he decided to go without. Taking the fish oil is the part he hates the most. He says it is from when he was a lobster man, it smells like bait. In addition, he said he hasn't been going back to Dr. Espy because it cost too much. I knew I needed to turn him around so we had a long talk. I reminded him that the money has been raised so he can afford to go for these treatments.  I would rather see the fund spent on preventive medicine that seems to be helping him and rejuvenating the muscles and nerves that he lost than to wait and use it when he is worse, in a wheel chair, on breathing and feeding tubes, etc. Why fool around with something that is working?

I could see that wasn't quite enough to turn him around so I told him I was going to take "valium" because he obviously has made a decision to give up and that I am going to need something to get through all this. He said "All right I'll be better. I can't imagine you on valium you are flaky enough." That's all it took. He just got back from Dr. Espy's. They had a long talk and she gave him hell because she could tell he hadn't been taking his fish oil, etc. She said everything was still holding, luckily.

He is waiting too long in between appointments. He is suppose to go every 3 months. He was suppose to go back middle of September not October. The spasms and weakness were increasing because he wasn't taking the fish oil. She did a blood test to check his EFA (essential fatty acids). They are suppose to be 7 but his was 2. She said his blood-work is much worse and he must take this seriously. He needs to take two tablespoons of fish oil each day if they are to keep blood flow in his hands and fingers. When he over works at the house he is using up the reserve she has been building up in his body to be able to go onto Phase II.

By the time his appointment was over I think he had a much better understanding of what she is doing and what he needs to do. She told him she thought she could start Phase II at the next appointment which originally she thought it would be another year before that. He feels much better, stronger, and continues to get more usage of his hands and wrist back. He is still driving and taking care of himself. It has been 3 years this summer since his first symptom in his right thumb. This is such a miracle that he is still doing so well. We thank our blessings everyday. Thank you for all you help, love and support. Love always, Gloria and Al