THE SHOCK OF MY LIFE!

I saw my doctor today, and he gave me the shock of my life...literally speaking!  He is my neurologist who is a movement specialist.  And did he ever move me today.  My limbs flew up in the air quite rigid.  My body felt like a bolt of lightening hit me but stayed for at least a good minute before my doctor was able to put the lead back on.  The lead  fell off when I bolted. I couldn't speak or move.  I thought my eyes were going to pop out, and my face was contorted as we as my whole body.  I thought for an moment I was in serious trouble.  My mind was telling my doctor to hurry and fix it. but he couldn't hear me.  But he was right there in control.  Thank God I was able to shake it off...literally speaking.  Lol, I have Essential tremors 

My doctor apologized for the episode today.  He was just as shocked as I when that happened.  I could feel his fingers moving quickly as he was trying to adjust the lead and fix the electrical input controlling my DBS implant. Thank God it lasted only a minute.

I was born with Essential Tremors aka ET.  They have progressed tremendously with age.  I have a full body tremor which looks like I am having a seizure that does not stop as long as  I am awake.  Again I say thank God for doctors and scientists who forge ahead in the name of science.  2010, I had brain surgery to implant my DBS aka Deep Brain Stimulator.  It's truly a God given gift to not have a rigid body full of tremors.  It's a calmness I can't explain.  I still have tremors but not as gravely.  That's why I saw my neurologist today to adjust the voltage on my new battery my neurosurgeon had just put in the week before.

I see my neurologist about a year after I have had a new battery put in my chest, and right after I've had a replacement to adjust the settings.  It starts failing me about a year.  He always adjusts it and put me on heavy anti-seizure medication until my next battery replacement.  They won't replace the battery even though they can see it's failing until the second year when it literally reads on the computer that its failing.  I think that's the insurance company.  Normally the battery would last 5 years. Not me. I go through batteries every two years.  What can I say...I must be special right? 

I go back to se my neurologist nest week.  Hopefully it just the normal diagnostic shocking procedure and not like today.  I think it will be fine because as we three (my friend was with me) settled down he made some large notes to not go that far again.  Phew...what an experience.  Next on my agenda is to get weaned off these anti-seizure medication.  They don't let me think.

Well that's about it for now so till the next time...Lots of love and God Bless.

Mary Helen

Living With Essential Tremors: BACK ON THE BOTTLE AGAIN!

Living With Essential Tremors: BACK ON THE BOTTLE AGAIN!: Mary Helen Vasquez, born with ET (Essential Tremors) has to put life on hold. Hi everyone, I don't know if anyone has realize...

BACK ON THE BOTTLE AGAIN!

Mary Helen Vasquez, born with ET (Essential
Tremors) has to put life on hold.

Hi everyone,

I don't know if anyone has realized I havent been very productive here with my blogs for almost a year now. Quite depressing I must say. It's been such a joy to live without all those medications and alcohol. I had to take hundreds of pills monthly, just be somewhat normal...so I thought. Since my brain surgery almost four years ago, my tremors have progressed this last year to the point where I have had no choice but to get back on the bottle again...pills.

For those who don't know, I was born with major full body essential tremors. It runs on my mothers side. So at a young age I started on tranquilizers, beta blockers, anti-depressants, and alcohol. They all worked somewhat. I never really drank a lot, just to tranquil my shakey body when I went out with family and friends. I will be the first to say alcohol and drugs don't mix! I would totally black out in my mind, not in body. I had no idea what I was doing...but I was so out of character. Imagine waking up and to remember nothing the next day. I would feel so bad not knowing what really happened. I've ruined a few beautiful moments in my lifetime. Not purposely! Like I said, I hardly drank because alcohol and drugs don't mix.

For three years I've taken no medications at all. It was like a new beginning for me. My brain was really going. I felt such a creative surge come over. I started blogging, photos, cooking (which I couldn't hold a knife or camera before) making beautiful flowers recycled from plastic bottles, and jewelry. I even played with clay. Every day I woke up with such clarity. I was on fire so to speak, always busy and needing little sleep. I never felt better untill my tremors came back along with it's sidekick, depression.

Last year I had several major falls because of my tremors making my body rigid. Not a good thing for an elderly lady. Against my wishes, the doctor started me back on medications. Every month adjusting and changing my meds. Presently, I am on an anti-seizure medication with my DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) implant on, and anti-depressants. Needless to say, I've had no desire to be creative, and I barely have control of my hands, so it's difficult to hold a glass of water, type or hold a camera now. What a couch potato! I had no desire to do anything until he added vitamins. Especially vitamin D. 5000 mg. daily!

I think the Vitamin D is really helping at least with my depression. I feel so much better. I still have the tremors. They are progressively getting worse. I pray my doctor recommends me for surgury to replace the battery in my pacemaker. Then again, I would not have to take the anti-seizure meds that make me so foggy and tired.

Till then, there would be not much blogging, cooking or photos simply because I cannot. however, I will be patient and positive. I pray the surgery will happen real soon. I will conclude that the DBS implant was the best decision I could have made for myself. To have a life with full control with your hands is simply amazing! It was and is a blessing, and I am so grateful. Thank God! Many blessings to you all and haven a wonderful new year!

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

Yes I'm a Mormon too!

I just had to share that. I'm not perfect but who is. It is because of my faith I am who I am today. I love life. I love to cook and craft especially more so, now that I can use my hands. I love people, and I love to be of service and share whenever possible. I love the principles of this church. I love Jesus Christ, my Savior. I love the Gospel and I love finding beauty in all that I see.

I have had many obstacles in my life. Tumbling all the time. Sister Turley, a member of our church once told me several years ago, that I was like a diamond in the rough. All that tumbling will make me shine like a diamond. I always liked that analogy. It made me feel good because I just knew with all the tumbling I was going to shine bright in the end. I just had to. I'm talking spiritual happiness.

I remember the first time I went to the temple. It was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life. I was truly happy, but really sick. I had to take over 300 pills a month to function somewhat normally. So needless to say, now that i think of it, it was a blur. Sixty or more pounds heavier, my happiest day at the temple was spent going to the bathroom 5 times and trying hard not to dose off. I want a do over!

A do-over I cannot have, but once again when I am temple worthy I am looking forward to experience walking in that temple completely intact, without all those medications. I never been there unmedicated. Being able to hold my head up without straining. I want to experience this now, while I feel so alive and well. I can hardly wait. But patience is a virtue.

I haven't been able to attend my ward because I have other medical issues.  However, I feel like it is going to happen real soon.  Praise God.  I am quite happy now, but I do know I was at my happiest being with my fellow Christians. Just being a part of something truly wonderful. I am grateful because I know that I am on the road to recovery to a better me all the way around.

I'm just rambling on, my depression finally lifted after three months. By the way, tremors and depression go together like peanut butter and jelly. I have not been able to leave my apartment for the last three months alone.  Not even to check the mail.  I did go out and check the mail two days ago.  Yay!  I did say it was progress, not perfection right?

Anyway, I wanted to leave you with one of my favorite verses. Thanks for stopping by.  Feel free to visit any of my other posts here on this blog or any of my other blogs.  If you have any questions, ask away.  So till the next time, stay safe and, many blessings:)

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

MY RECOVERY WITH KOMBUCHA

Since my surgery almost three years ago, I
 have lost over 60 pounds and feel so alive
most of the time.  I still deal with major
depression that lasts for months at a time,
and for no reason.  But, it's progress
not perfection.  I am so grateful, I feel
beautiful and blessed to be free.  I had
no idea how sweet life really is to be
normal.

FYI, Here is an earlier post on one of my other blogs, Mary Helens Test Kitchen.  Just thought I would re-post here and share since it discusses my tremors and my recovery

Hi everyone yes Kombucha has arrived to Mary Helen's Test Kitchen, here in Hollywood.  My goal is to share this wonderful Probiotic elixer with my family, friends, and neighbors. All with the hopes of sparking an interest in probiotics as alternative to medicine.  I'm not saying stop taking your medicine by all means no. Just start by adding this to your diet little by little.  See what happens after you use it for a while.  Ask yourself.  Do you really feel better? Stronger? Pain free?   Although I have been brewing kombucha a few months, I consider myself knowledgeable enough to share with you my findings as I've done a lot of research and a lot of brews and experiments.  I always have a variety of kombucha's brewing at one time.  My SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) are all happy campers and love their, ginger, hibiscus, dandilions, and apple juice, etc. Their is no end.

My SCOBY arrived in a quart size jar and was the same diameter of the jar, just as described.  Earlier I had purchased a six gallon plastic beverage container. which I washed and rinsed well, then a double rinse with vinegar. I also had my green tea brewed and sweetened.  My SCOBY was in it's new home. I put this in a warm spot undisturbed and in 5 days I had my first gallon of kombucha.  Now because of the diameter of my 6 gallon container the diameter is larger.  This means my SCOBY is larger too.  As it takes up the diameter  Note: The plastic containers must read #1 or #2.  This number can be found at the bottom of the plastic container inside a triangle.  Also note that the kombucha does not have time to leach anything from the plastic because it is removed within a few days and it is not yet as acetic.  However, kombucha does turns into vinegar quickly, so I would recommend once it has fermented, store it in glass containers with plastic lids just to be safe.  By the time it vinegars it is known as a powerhouse of nutrition.  The cultured probiotics  multiplies as each hour passes.  A glass first thing in the morning is an excellent way to really wake up and start your day.  It wakes up every nerve in your body for sure with its tangy, slight vinegar taste alone. I like to add a very strong dose of cayenne pepper and garlic to my breakfast Kombucha drink.  Not to mention the fact you are feeding your body's cells live food.  This is cellular nutrition and rejuventation!  I started  drinking one half cup 3 times a day.  After a few days,  I went to drinking one cup 3-4 times a day.  I also drink Water Kifer and Milk Kifer.  I have a variety of probiotics going through my body all day long.  How do I feel after almost one year of probiotics?

Well, first of all I used to take about 200 pills a month.  And I still felt sick.  I was always watching my fat, and was on some sort of diabetic diet. Yet  I looked and felt very sick and quite toxic.  I even had my own power=chair equipted with a oxygen tank holder.  Yeah they pimped my ride alright.  LOL.  I had given up on life, felt hopelessly despaired, and doomed to die.  I was diabetic, I had high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.  It created neuropathy, which meant my legs gave out a lot. This was only naming a few of the illnesses.  I got bigger and bigger.  It seemed like I was losing the battle quite rapidly.  I also forgot to mention that I was born with essential tremors, which mine were severe.  They progress with age, and at this time I was in constant seizure mode.  I could no longer feed myself with a fork, for fear of stabbing my face.  Yup, ouch.  Their were a lot of things I could no longer do, like cook or hold a knife or brush my teeth.  Everything was 100 times harder.  But I had no other choice but to continue one day at a time.   My own body had become a hazard to my health.

My life changed when I  pursued the God I knew.  I won a lottery to my beautiful apartment in Hollywood.  It was a chain of events for the positive. I had two brain surgeries by a wonderful neurosurgeon at Cedars Sinai .  His name is Dr. Adam Mamelak if anyone is interested.  Today among many other things  I am temporarily tremor free.  Today I am able to write..hahaha.  Look ma I'm writing, and I'm walking too.:))

I came here in a wheel chair almost 2 years ago. and today I am medication free!  All my blood tests came out very good.  My A1C sugar is less than 6.  No sign of diabetes, or anything else.  Besides my breathing.  I am walking all over town...sometimes running to catch a bus or to get to an event on time. My energy level has increased so much, I lost 40 lbs.  My brain feels so "let's go find out".  My body says, let's get busy.  There are not enough hours in the day to do all that I do.  So I do a lot in my 18 hour no more nap days.  So my answer is yes I do feel better drinking my homemade kombucha, and milk and water kifers.  A LOT BETTER!  Thank Godl

THANK GOD FOR BRAIN SURGERY

Me today 4//17/2013  Age 63.98  haha.
Yes I do have a sense of humor after all
these years.  Thank God!

Remember that video I said I would take of me and my tremors. Here it is. Imagine living like that 24/7 every day of your life. At least now I get a daily break right? Thank God! I'm such a happy camper. My doctor said this is a good idea to let others who deal with a variety of tremors, that there is hope. This surgery works for Parkinson's tremors as well.  My tremors are called Essential Tremors. I was born with them and they progress with age. Enough said. Here goes.

Aha!   Now you know why I am such a grateful happy camper!  I can use my hands and my body including my lungs is less stressed.   Isn't this absolutely amazingly wonderful?  I love all my doctors, God Bless them and keep them safe.  Today, I use my hands all the time.  Because now I can.  Well,  I could before, just not so gracefully.

If you know anyone who tremors, pass this along and feel free to share this or any of my other blogs or posts and see how I use my hands.  Ask your doctor to refer you to someone who knows about this procedure.  There is hope because there is help. Once again, thank you for allowing me to be of service.  Peace be with you and God Bless you all.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

TREMORS = ISOLATION = DEPRESSION

Today I still can produce nice crafts even with minor tremors.  I'ts better
than just being a couch potato like I was before.

Okay so today I share another part of my life and what I deal with.  I am almost not yet 64.  Lol.  I am diagnosed with major depression, I tend to isolate...a lot.  And I was born with essential tremors that has definitely progressed with age.  What a vicious cycle that has been for me.  And  you wouldn't know because most of you have never walked in my shoes.

I never really knew I had tremors until I was in Junior High (Middle School).  I do remember my mom yelling at me often to quit shaking at a very young age of 5 on up.  But I never noticed them, felt them in my belly deep inside. I realized I had no control at age 13.  So, I began to isolate at an early age.

During recess I would run to the girls bathroom and hide.  At lunch time I would pack a lunch and eat walking towards an isolated area, then find the nearest bathroom until lunch was over.  How I longed to sit and eat with my friends in the cafeteria or with a group at a table.  I had spent my elementary years being bullied, and didn't want this to happen in my new school.  So I hid for fear of being made fun of.  Besides by that time I could not always hold food on my fork.  Nor could I make a drink straight to my lips without making a mess.  And to think I thought this was normal.  Lol, now I can laugh about it.  Thank God.


I thought this was normal because my mom shook a lot.  My younger brother also shook, but not as bad as I.  So in my life tremors, shaking and jerking was the norm. I would laugh sometimes, and said I was doing a new dance called the "Shake Rattle And Roll".  I didn't really see it as odd or a disability because we still had to function.  Tremor or not.  If we didn't do our chores, we would all get our butt's whipped.   Back in my day it was allowed.  Glad that is no longer the norm.  As I got older I had to work to pay rent and bills right.  Isn't that the norm?

Anyway, I  can  really see how the TREMORS = ISOLATION = DEPRESSION can link with one another.  I really don't feel depressed because I stay busy but I also have the Lord in my life.  I guess my body recognizes depression as a safe mode. I will say that since my DBS implant my tremors and depression are much better. I still deal with the isolation part.  It's still not good, but I am working on it.  I live in a high rise building and find it very difficult to get past my door.  The mail room is on this floor but on the other side of this building.  I've made it there 3 times this month.  I have to be really needy for something to get out my door. I am single and have dated only once in 20+ years.

So my tremors have caused me major depression and isolation.  I am not complaining at all.  I feel I am right where I am supposed to be.  I am on this journey of life for a reason.  Today, I feel the need to share what it's been like, and where I am now since my DBS implant.  I am not sure where I am going but I know it's going to only get better.  I really do love to get out, when I am with a family member or a friend.  I laugh and really enjoy my company to the fullest.  It's the getting out the door that's not easy for me.  Good thing I believe in miracles.  I am a miracle.  If you only knew:)  Till then,  Many blessings.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen