Madam, – I refer to the letter from Godfrey Augustt (October 11th) relating to the new experimental CCSVI procedure for multiple sclerosis sufferers. My husband was diagnosed with MS 12 years ago. His MS has progressed over the years and has been fairly aggressive in the last four years. Despite excellent care from his neurologist, the drugs were simply not working for him. Last July we were at crisis point and my husband had to go on long-term sick leave.
We heard of the CCSVI procedure, spent hours researching it and spoke to people abroad who had had the procedure. On August 9th we flew to Warsaw in Poland. The procedure took place in an ultra-modern, clean hospital.
It took an hour and a half and was carried out under local anaesthetic. We were in Poland for a total of seven days.
My husband is now nine weeks post procedure. CCSVI is not a cure. He is still using his wheelchair and the tremor in his arms remains a problem, but it has slowly improved his quality of life. He has had significant positive and measurable changes since the procedure. In July, he thought he probably would never be able to work again, but he is now preparing to go back to work and is determined he will.
Is the CCSVI procedure a placebo? It is possible, but it doesn’t seem so to us, as this is my husband’s first real physical improvement in 12 years.
We are urging the medical profession to give serious consideration to researching this procedure which has the potential to improve the symptoms of many Irish MS sufferers. – Yours, etc,