My story is the same as many others living with Multiple Sclerosis; it’s not pretty. MS is a chronic debilitating disease that lasts a lifetime. The only treatments available are unpleasant, expensive and the unfortunate reality is, they don’t work!
With MS, my life changed with symptoms like chronic fatigue, bladder control, and loss of mobility, balance and coordination. People often thought I was drunk; staring or making comments. Basic human functions (e.g. walking, balance, coordination, speaking, bowel and bladder control, etc.) become at times insurmountable tasks. Ultimately, these impediments affect virtually every area of life (work, getting a shower, driving, cognitive function, tolerance to heat, light, noise, etc.). Your abilities and life in general start to devolve and your scope of involvement in the world becomes much smaller, isolating you from friends, social activities, community events, physical activities, etc.; all the things that we identify with being a healthy, happy functioning human being. Everything becomes more difficult – period. You get the idea. Recently; I was told that I should not work and I am on the last treatment available to me. The next step of this devolution was going to be a wheelchair.
Thankfully, I was able to participate in a clinical trial of CCSVI and my life changes again in a very good way! I travel to the Clinic of the heart in Cabos SanLucas, Mexico with my friend (who has MS) and my sister-in-law, who is a Critical Care Nurse. I didn’t know what to expect going to a foreign country not knowing the language or the medical system. It turns out I had nothing to be afraid of; or anxious about!
At the Clinic of the Heart Dr. Moguel and his team of specialists are performing the CCSVI Liberation Procedure. I couldn’t have been more delighted and surprised with the small, clean and proficient clinic and its excellent staff. Everyone on staff was sincere, professional, attentive and caring. I felt reassured as soon as I walked through the door; language was no barrier even though I don’t speak a word of Spanish. The first day I was examined by a Neurologist, had an MRI and a Doppler Ultrasound. The day of my Liberation Procedure I was taken into the Cath Lab where it’s very cold because of the equipment. Dr. Moguel begins the cauterization going in through the groin; I could feel him unblocking the viens in my neck! After the procedure I went to recovery, I’m lying there and feel my feet and hands are hot! I started to think something’s wrong here!? Then as I became more awake I realize that’s what my hands and feet used to feel like years ago! The next day I didn’t need my cane, my fatigue was gone and my walking, balance, coordination, speaking, bowel and bladder control was much better!! My friend who used a cane since 1992 didn’t need her cane either! This is a truly amazing and life changing experience for me, I feel blessed. I would recommend this Clinic with its exemplary staff without hesitation I honestly have never met doctors like this in my life! I owe these beautiful people a debt of gratitude. Their skill, professionalism, and compassion made this a wonderful experience. Many thanks to Dr. Moguel and his team!!!
Sincerely,
Michelle MacNeil
7308 East Bay Hwy
Big Pond, Nova Scotia, Canada
B1J 1V3
Michelle, HELP, We want to leave a testimony as well and I can’t figure out how to do so on here!!
We too went to Cabo for the 10 person CCSVI Study.
In our household it is my husband who has MS and life and symptoms for him was much the same as with Michelle.(Testimony above) My husband has SPMS and was the second patient and the first male to be tested and treated by this excellent staff. We can not say enough nice things about the care and kindness that we received.
The clinic (In Canada we would probably refer to it as a small hospital) was very clean and up to date. The Specialist’s were well educated and compassionate. This is an understatement…..
Although my husband has so far not been able to completely give up the use of his cane, his foot does not drag as it did before. It was not uncommon for me to have to push him in a wheel chair if we were going out for a “walk” of any distance over 40 feet. I haven’t had to do that since we have returned home.
He does not “melt” in 10 minutes after being out in the heat.There is no more having to stay inside in bed for most of the day with the air conditioner on a normal summer day. He can now hold a cup in his left hand with out it either falling out of his grip or with out his hand shaking so much the contents are all over the place. Is it perfect, is this a cure for his MS no but there are marked improvements in his symptoms. His speech is clearer.
His blood pressure dropped and improved since the procedure!!
Both of his jugular veins had been blocked 90 percent. He also had a valve that would not open to alllow proper blood flow. No one should have blockage like that! Proper blood flow and drainage is important for everyones good health regardless if they have MS or not.
He is now enrolled in therapy to help strengthen muscle tone that he had lost before.
We are hopeful that one day soon he too may be able to be rid of using a cane. Has this been a cure for his MS, No, and we did not go there thinking that it was. I had done many months of research on this topic before we left for the study in Mexico.
However,We can state that having this treatment has greatly improved my husbands quality of life and mine.
Your maybe asking why mine.. The answer to that is because as the one without MS in the household many jobs fall upon you that you did not have before.
For example, my arms used to ache from pushing my husband around as he weighs more than me and many times you have to push up hill, or hold on tight so the chair doesn’t slip away from your grip.There is hope in my husband’s eyes that I haven’t seen for a very long time. It is not easy to live with someone that is sad and without any hope much of the time.Seeing him have some of his hope and health restored and being able to do somethings he thought lost to him forever has improved the “mood” in our household.
Not to mention I had the pleasure of witnessing a group of people, not just one find some renewed good health where there was no hope of it before.. The staff treated me as kindly as they did him.Last but not least, One can not witness miracles and not be affected by it..
Never before has my husband seen improvements in his symptoms as he has had with having his veins repaired.
This was a wonderful experience and we highly recommend our new friends Dr. Moguel and his wonderful team!
Sincerely,
Daryl Swain and Deborah Turcotte
Box 1766
Biggar, Saskatchewan
S0K 0M0
Thank you Michelle & Deb for your detailed desciption of your CCSVI experiences at Clinics of the Heart in Mexico. Your words are very encouraging. I hope MANY MS people read what you have to say. I live in Arizona & I am signing up to be put on the waiting list. Thank you again!
I would like to know how to contact the clinic by email instead of by phone. About the CCSIV Treatment. I am from Canada and the contact us at the Clinic form is only for US address only.
Thank’s
Cristy
Can anyone give me how much it cost them to travel there and back, get the procedure done, hotel costs for 2 people, food cost, etc. A total cost of everything would be helpful also. I want to present this option to my wife who has MS but I want to give her a good idea of how much we will have to pay to do everything. Thanks Ron
Michelle I don’t live that far from you.I live on the Cabot Trail and would like to be able to talk to you about your experience down in Cabos San Lucas. I will leave my email and maybe we can get together at some time in the future.
Thank you Stephen
A member of my family is scheduled to go in for this surgery and is considering going alone… I am thinking that someone should accompany him. Can someone who has been through the procedure (themselves or with a family member) comment on whether this is a wise decision.
Thank you
Danielle
The clinic email address is on the “contact us” webpage:
http://www.cardioabroad.com/contact-us.php
If you complete the contact information and send,they will email an immediate confirmation, that they have received your inquiry. John
I too went for the treatment in-Los Cabos on July 22 we landed in their small airport and I had treatment on the 23rd, yes communications were a problem in some places however we worked our way through all hurdles and after a very long day it was all said and done by the way you do get to come home with all of your MRIs and another video of the actual procedure getting done with before and after clips of blood flow in your neck veins.
Wisely Andreas told me to save my money and not go to false Creek as they have to do their own angiogram in Mexico to determine where the blockage is.
That was a wise $1500.00 saving as it paid for a four hour flight down there, which was as enjoyable as it could get.
As I am still wheelchair bound, and cannot climb any steps or ladders,I would highly recommend going with an able-bodied traveling companion as there is very rough cobble stone like sidewalks around their that are wheelchair accessible however the wheelchair access is poor to nonexistent depending on where you are, and pretty much all taxis are SUVs which are very difficult to climb into, however when in trouble there is always a large quantity of helpful Mexicans to get you out of a bind.
Like everyone else – yes this procedure has given me much more energy and I can now move things that I have not thought possible to move as I have been confined to this wheelchair for eight years, I believe I am now healing which previously was not possible.
Oh yes when you leave the airport just walk right past the timeshare salesman without acknowledging them and get to a taxi or they will be inundating you with offers you cannot refuse!
You will be down there for a week so enjoy yourself and bring plenty of U.S. cash money there is a Wal-Mart just four or five blocks away and they sell drinking water for about $.25 a liter. We had a kitchenette so we also cooked our own meals and saved a lot of money as the restaurant on the main drag are very expensive. however there is a Mac Donald next door to the hospital and just around the corner is a Burger King, I thought I was in heaven, as a McDonald’s ice cream in Mexico tastes even better than ice cream in Canada.
My sister has ms and i would like to put her on the list for this treatment , could some one contact me with this information please my name is Bonnie and my email is bonnielynn1963@live.ca
I also live in Canada and am waiting for someone to call me back about having treatment here at this hospital in Mexico. They have been highly recommended from a couple of people I know. Hope to get treated soon!!
I too have submitted a request for CCSVI treatment. Sept 19, 2010
45 M , Northern British Columbia. MS diagnosed MRI and Spinal Tap 10 yrs. ago.
My neurologist and myself believe me to be out of the relapsing remitting stage of MS and into the progressive stage.
It is what it is which means it don’t get better than this day.
Hope to hear from them soon; as I am pretty much available anytime 2010 – 2011, Preferably off-season.
We were planning a Vacation down to the Riveria Maya November 2010 but am sure that two weeks in Cabo will be just as sweet as my Brother had it done in Poland and thought it to very untraumatic and left him with little to no ill effects commencing this procedure. ( He will determine in six months +-? as his MS relapses ; although nasty, are few and far between. )
And so I was thinking what an excellent holiday,, Rest, Relaxation, Rejuvenation and Rehabilitation.
Hola
Arthur
Please someone let me know how to get my name on a list and usually how long does it take to get excepted to go.
Thanks
nk youu very much and I truly hope that your hyusvand is getting better every day.
Thank you!
Please enter my name on the waiting list for the CCSVI treatment.
I would appreciate all information you could send me via email.
Thank you.
Deborah Vanderhulst
15 Largo St.
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
949-698-7588
debvanderhulst@yahoo.com
I am a family physician in Washington State, who specializes in treating patients who are not doing well and not getting relief with usual medical treatment. I have several patients with MS who are interested in your treatment to unblock veins of the head and neck. Since this doesn’t fit with our conventional ideas of multiple sclerosis, I don’t know how to counsel them. May I please see some of your data, particularly before- and after- vascular studies of MS patients with clinical improvement data? I understand you have a clinical trial in progress. I also understand that the data is not yet published, but need to see some of it in a preliminary fashion and will treat it with the utmost respect.
Sincerely,
Mary H Rose, MD
My wife is thinking about getting the procedure done at Clinics of the Heart. I would appreciate info if you have it relative to this facility. What have your experiences been…..thanks, Bob
There are definitely a variety of details like that to take into consideration. That may be a great level to bring up. I offer the ideas above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you convey up the place the most important thing can be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged round issues like that, but I am sure that your job is clearly recognized as a good game. Each girls and boys really feel the impression of just a second’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.