Brain and other tissues

A few assorted things: I got my MRI results a few weeks ago. There were abnormalities typical of CFS, but they were of course written of as "normal". I assumed there would be such punctate changes, but it's still a bit freaky to get the results, that you have brain damage that shows up even in something as unspecific and crude as an MRI. So I have objective evidence of CFS having caused me both brain lesions and heart damage. Which is just disturbing to think about, damage to two of your most important organs. The brain lesions might also explain why I still have so much trouble with memory and concentration, even though LDN, piracetam and other things have helped them and reduced my cognitive fatigability quite a bit.

On the good news side, I've managed to lose a little weight. I've never been overweight by any stretch, but for a while I could hardly fit in any of my pants due to the prednisone-caused "paunch". I can mostly thank LDN for this, as without it I wouldn't have been able to exercise nearly as much as I've done recently. Actually I probably do too much of it as my muscles and joints are frequently sore afterwards, but at least I don't get CFS crashes. But the weather is already starting to get too hot for me already, at below 20C.

I don't know if my exercise tolerance will worsen now that I will most likely have to discontinue both acetyl-L-carnitine and glucosamine at least for a while due to money issues. But then again I'm taking too many supplements as it is. For a week now I've been trying some kind of a "brain stimulator" which is a little device with a few infrared leds. NASA has used them for healing injuries, but the guy who borrowed this device for me says it's good for brainfog. I'm not convinced but I got a free trial, so I could as well try. So far I don't think I've noticed anything.

My skin still isn't doing particularly well, but I'd say my hair and nails are definitely better than they were before LDN. Not that I had much problems with them before - CFS has made my hair brittle and it gets tangled very easily, but it has always looked fairly silky, smooth and shiny. But now I think it looks better, and my nails are stronger. Not that it's really relevant, just an observation. Shows how my body is in a better shape overall.

Looking at the improvements

We made lentil pie last night. It took about three hours, but I wasn't at all exhausted. LDN really seems to be working, I don't think it can be just placebo. My seborrhea is at least 50% better than usual. I haven't applied hydrocortisone on it once since I started the LDN and still it hasn't really itched. The skin in my face seems slightly worse than before, but I'm hoping it's just the LDN "ridding the toxins out of my body" or something. Heh. The urticaria is still there, but much milder than usual.

I'm still fairly congested, I'd have expected LDN to help that since it's definitely an immune system symptom. But we'll see if it disappears later on. I can't remember feeling feverish at all the whole week. The cognitive dysfunction hasn't improved much, which is a bit discouraging, but maybe it will pick up. If not, piracetam should take care of it later. One very minor side effect seems to be that I get nauseated a little more easily, eg. I may start feeling very slightly nauseous when in a bus. Not that bad really.