It's been a busy week for me, ALS-wise. I did a study visit on Thrusday, in which I did a number of strength tests and my pin cushion impression. I must've dressed like a voodoo doll on Friday, because I gave a command performance in Houston the next day. The blood tests are the same (except they take more in Houston), but thats about the only similarity.

In San Antonio, where I go for creatine study follow up visits, they have me lay on a table and have me pull for 30 seconds per muscle group against a measuring device to ascertain the strength of my deltoids, biceps, triceps, and grip. I used to do FVC (forced vital capacity), but didn't have to this time. I then answer some questions about how I "feeeel", and get a free lunch of hospital food for my trouble. The testing leaves me tired, but I get my cigar on for the ride back, so its all good. The two notable incidents from this past visit were (1) a research update concerning the excitement in the ALS research community around astrocytes, glial cells, and other neuronal supporting cells ("looo-keeen gooood"), and (2) I turned in my noc-ox (nocturnal oximetry) results that morning, which will inform the doc whether or not my BiPAP is having the desired effect of stabilizing my blood oxygen saturation level during the night. I don't yet know if it is or isn't yet; I've yet to check back with the doc.

In Houston, I am interviewed by a physical therapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, dietician, and, optionally, a lawyer, financial accountant and counselor. I am put through a number of assessments having to do with timed activities, hand strength, and breathing. I am given a neurological exam, which includes large muscle group strength testing and usually reflex measurement. Happily, nearly all of my measurements from those exams were the same or better than I scored in September. Those that went up were fine motor activities: one-minute counts for putting peg-washer-sleeve combinations into a peg board and turning over wooden plugs. That was all welcome news, but the most interesting outcome was when the doctor herself, not the dietician, suggested I begin taking a supplement called Juice Plus+. She mentioned that she was on it, had several members of her family on it, and was trying to get independent lab testing lined up for it to assess the nutritional advantages over standard vitamin supplements. She claimed that because it is a natural derivative, the absorption rate was anywhere from 17 to 26 times that of standard, OTC supplements. She certainly sold Linda and me on it. I will need to cut down on the other pills if and when I start taking Juice Plus+, to avoid over-saturation. I'm excited by the news, however. I'm especially worked up about the fact that a researcher and physician from one of the premier ALS research shops in the world was talking this stuff up. Hell yeah, I'll try it.

Otherwise, life grinds on. Linda has some hot job leads for picking up a gig mid-schoolyear (i.e., in January), and Rupert and the kids are all fast friends. The Live Oak Trio hasn't met for a gig or a rehearsal in over a month. At this point, I'm expecting that if we go on at all, we go on with a different bass player (it's because of his repeated cancellations that we haven't been getting together). If we do throw in the towel, I'll probably try to form another (jazz) trio or quartet. It's just too much fun not to.