I got a five.  I got a five.  I got a five.  I got a five.

Pardon this interruption from your regularly scheduled Tuesday, but I GOT A FIVE.

That’s right.  On my one-month follow up visit to see how I am tolerating the drug and/or placebo I started taking in May, I was tested and scored a five (out of 40) on the SARA scale.  Now, for those following along at home, you may recall that my first score (at this time a year ago) was a 6.5.  In November of last year, as a combined effort of my PT and dietary modifications, my score went down to a 6 despite the natural progression of the disease.

But all that goes down must come up, at least until we find a cure.  [More on that in my next post.]  And thus, when I was tested again in April, I scored an 8.  I will have to admit that I was bummed by the score, because it suggested that the disease was back on track despite everything I have been doing over the past year.  The ataxia specialist said that it is common to see a score fluctuate because people have good days and they have bad days.  Perhaps, I was just having an exceptionally bad day, but it is hard when you put so much in to get that kind of result.  It is like being on The Biggest Loser and gaining a pound.  Except, I didn’t cheat and eat donuts.  Seriously.  Not even one f’ing donut.

Given that I scored an 8 two months ago, I know I should take my 5 with a grain of salt.  It could be an anomaly, just as the 8 was an anomaly.  It could be the result of “placebo effect,” meaning I exhibit signs of being on the drug when I am not.

OR I could chuck the salt out with the donuts.

I got that 5 because I absolutely deserved it.  Maybe there is a drug in my system that is helping those little cells in my brain hang tight and quit dying on me.  Maybe there isn’t.  Maybe I improved because I have been devout to the ataxia diet and my physical therapy regimen.  Maybe I improved because my core strength is increasing (I somehow suckered Emily and Kate to do a 30-day ab challenge with me) and my body weight is decreasing.  Maybe I improved because I am no longer lazy on the weekends.  I am biking and playing softball and walking for miles until I cannot walk any further.

Whatever the cause, I deserved the effect.  And I am going to eat it up like an imaginary mountain of donuts.