Finally a good day

The string of days with bad flare ups has broken clean for now.  It's good, maybe even great, but I have no idea how long it will last this good or better.

I'm no longer being punished with pain, excess fatigue (just a touch hanging around), and just some of the muscle weakness. This level of discomfort is cake now, but the same level was annoying a year or two ago.

I'm not sure what else to report at this time.  I have a small snafu with disability benefits. I wish I had called to verify how much expected income would result from an approved claim. This would let me know in advance how much income I have to work with.  Last year I opted to pay taxes up front in the belief taxes would not be taken from any award benefits.  It's on my #todo list to recheck for long term disability.  I guess I have to review internal policy and search online for related answers etc.  General Q+A before, including my existing plan stated I'll receive 66% or so of my former income. The dumb math in my head didn't think I'd be taxed on the 66% I receive as I paid taxes up front on the premium.  Knowing the right amount is good to plan for "what if". E.g, how will you proceed if it comes to this?

In the meantime, I will need to ask my land lord if they are willing to dissolve the lease so I can move to a more affordable area. I could always move back if my new treatment allows me to return to work.  I'm out of answers. I don't know how to fight these things - as any and all available options apparent to me are drying up.  I think my best strategy moving forward is to accept my current outcome, and make arrangements to allow myself the best quality of life in my new circumstances.

I haven't had time to reflect how to express my inner poet on one matter. Ever since my earliest childhood, I adopted the idea of trying to be articulate as much as possible.  I think I do this, because if someone else gets it as clearly as I do, we might be able to teach each other to unlock secrets no one else might unlock (without a lot of time).  So thus, here are my current thoughts, as a rough draft on one issue:

My career and my passion in my career might just be over.  I (kind of) cheated early in life. I decided to choose a career that was something I'd love to do.  I have been happier than a six year old wanting to be a fireman when he grows up.  I guess this was my dream.  It was given to me in some ways. My other other dream that I wanted to try, was working for Google.  I still gravitate to trying that if and when I can heal, and can perform again.  I was loving so much of it (even if it was insane in some ways day to day).  Some aspects of my job were less difficult for me than other things I could of done to keep the lights on. Learning the inner workings of how technology runs all of the Internet in 2014 was not hard for me.  It's end to end troubleshooting has many moving parts.  There are ways issues express itself I can see in my mind, quickly confining the problem to a specific area.  Further logical tests probe visibility hidden, known ways it was put together, and how it's suppose to tick with this angle of testing. I have a deep respect for the doctors and researchers in the medical field.  No one gave them the manual.  In some ways, they are physicists too. They have to approach their practice with an understanding of how biology works, of how substances in medication interact with biology, and why a disease gets better with a specific medication.  The average (non specialist) doctor only has to know these to a certain level.  Each doctor can refer or escalate a case through new doctor or new specialist.

So to my point now.  My passion is to solve these problems, and to build tools to solve technology problems (with technology of my own). Right now, my passion is a caged animal at the rescue zoo.  It wants so badly to get outside and roam free.  How long am I going to be trapped here?  How am I going to make sure I keep getting help?  Who is, or what is in control?  I'm still not comfortable with accepting this fact.  I'm trying to swallow this big nasty pill, but it will take effect eventually.

Signing off - #synapticmhz

5HT3-R 3D neuroreceptor imaging

EPFL scientists reveal for the first time the 3D structure of a crucial neuroreceptor. The achievement has great implications for understanding the basic mechanism of electrical signal transmission between neurons and might help to design novel medicines to treat various neurological diseases.

Neurons are the cells of our brain, spinal cord, and overall nervous system. They form complex networks to communicate with each other through electrical signals that are carried by chemicals. These chemicals bind to structures on the surface of neurons that are called neuroreceptors, opening or closing electrical pathways that allow transmission of the signal from neuron to neuron. One neuroreceptor, called 5HT3-R, is involved in conditions like chemotherapy-induced nausea, anxiety, and various neurological disorders such as schizophrenia. Despite its clinical importance, the exact way that 5HT3-R works has been elusive because its complexity has prevented scientists from determining its three-dimensional structure.

Publishing in Nature, EPFL researchers have now uncovered for the first time the 3D structure of 5HT3-R, opening the way to understanding other neuroreceptors as well.

More at: http://phys.org/news/2014-08-uncovering-d-key-neuroreceptor.html

Neurology, MRI, Blood work, EEG, Stanford, UCSF

Today (7/15/2014) I visited my doctor in regards to the recent MRI's and blood tests.

I'm still wrapping my head around the cranial MRI (no pun intended). It's largely normal, and I'm not sure what to make of some of the notes in the report. My followup is pretty clear there is more work to do.

The blood work is good. No Vitamin D3 deficiency as before. Most of Americans are rightly afraid of skin cancer and sun exposure. Vitamin D milk (among your normal diet) is likely not enough. I'm just over twice the limit on Vitamin B6 (water soluble) which can lead to nerve damage. Sugar levels are right at the limit. High levels of sugar in the blood can lead to blood vessel and nerve damage (as in diabetic neuropathy).

EEG. I know they want a copy of my brain. I'm that good. ;)

I'm also on the waiting list for Stanford and UCSF.