My Esperanza Diary
Oxidized Naja Kaouthia Neurotoxin
My Esperanza Diary - A Blog
I decided at the very outset of my contact with Esperanza to diarize every step of the way. This is most uncharacteristic of me as I tend to be a live for the moment type of person.
20th April 2009
Phoned the Esperanza office in Darlington and got an answering machine so
I left a message.
21st April 2009
Received a call from Jackie this morning. A very pleasant young lady who
took my details and said a consultant would contact me, probably later
this week.
In fact, the consultant called in the afternoon. His name is Brian Campbell, very pleasant and talkative, obviously a salesman. He is the administrator for Esperanza UK and is not a doctor. He explained that Gerry, who I would see if I attend the clinic in Edinburgh, is a doctor. He talked about Esperanza bridging the myelin gaps to restore nerve signal transmission, a concept I find unlikely.
22nd April 2009
Received the emails Brian promised. Mostly product information and patient
testimonials, but he did include bank details for making a wire transfer of the
funds. I replied asking if I could pay on a credit card, as this method offers a
degree of protection. I also confirmed my tentative appointment at the Edinburgh
clinic for the 14th May.
Their Web Site is no longer available, see later updates about the ongoing investigation into alleged malpractice.
24th April 2009
Did some more investigation into Esperanza on the MSRC message board and
feedback was mixed. I guess this is to be expected as it won't work for
everybody.
Decided to take the plunge so have sent the cheque tothe address in Largs that
Brian gave me. Here's hoping!
27 April 2009
Received a call from Brian confirming receipt of the cheque and my appointment
for the 14th. It will be Brian I see as Gerry is in the States that week. I
asked about the clinic and he was honest saying it is just an office they rent
for the day from Regus a company who specialize in serviced offices.
14th May 2998
Today's the day!
The clinic is actually a meeting room on the third floor of Conference House on Morrison Street, Edinburgh
Brian first checked a questionnaire I was supposed to have completed in advance and discovered that I had omitted a complete section. He then conducted a few tests to determine the strength in my hands . the sensation in my hands and feet and my sense of balance. The strength in my hands is fairly good, the sensation in my hands is fairs, the sensation in my feet is poor, almost non-existent in my left foot, and my sense of balance is poor.
The first dose of the neuropeptides is administered. Two set of three sprays fifteen minutes apart.
We were then invited to sit in the reception area while Brian saw Margaret, an older lady who has been on Esperanza for a little over a year. She is apparently doing well albeit she is still walking with a stick.
After the 45 minute break I was retested and most areas showed improvement especially my balance. My left foot is still completely sensation-less. Brian video'd my own balance test which involved walking heel to toe which I can now do quite successfully where I could not do it at all beforehand.
In summary, my eyesight shows some improvement, my balance is greatly improved and I think my abdominal pains have lost some of their edge. In short, a very positive outcome but not the miraculous transformation I might have hoped for.
15th May 2009
Things are still looking very positive. Went to the club for a couple of beers
this evening. It is not too far but I would normally use my mobility scooter to
get there. On a good day I would walk, slowly, with a walking stick. Today I
walked steadily and purposefully without my stick. I had taken the stick with me
as a precaution but didn't use it.
25th May 2009
Today is Bank Holiday Monday and its now more than a week on Esperanza. There
have been no further detectable improvements but the initial improvements have
been maintained. Yesterday involved a family day out as it was sister-in-law's
birthday. We had a very pleasant buffet in the garden with a glass of wine. My
mobility is so improved I managed a kick-about on the lawn, as you can see from
the adjacent photograph.
I am still hopeful that, in time, I will see further improvements particularly with my eyesight.
6th June 2009
I have become aware, difficult to miss it actually, of a possible
side-effect. For the past week I have suffered dreadful flatulence and it
is more than a little fragrant. I have not changed my diet to any great
extent and while my IBS type symptoms have always caused some wind
problems it has never been this severe.
27th August 2009
I haven't updated this for a long whil as there has been little chenge.
However that all changed two weeks ago! My wife had laryngitis and had
been prescribed Co-Codamol for the pain. She had taken this drug for about
a week and the pain subsided. I foolishly decided to see if it would help
my abdominal pains and it did, si I continued to use them. After about
three days I noticed a sharp decrease in my mobility. My balance was
dreadful, my brain fog had returned and I had to unearth my walking stick.
I assumed I was having a relapse but my wife suggested the Co-Codamol as a
culprit. I stopped taking them, and now after a further week, All of my
functions are back to normal, whatever normal is. The moral of the story,
don't EVER use someone else's prescription medication. I knew that,
but I have had a nasty reminder.
4th September 2011
It has been a very long time since my last post to this blog! I am still
here alive and as well as one can expect. I am still taking the Esperanza
Neuropeptides and still benefiting from them. There has been no further,
discernable, improvement but I have since sold my mobility scooter so I
must have some faith in the treatment. I shall try not to leave it for two
years before my next update.
22nd February 2012
I update this blog today, as I was updating the page anyway and I have
been giving the Esperanza some thought lately. This treatment is very
expensive and while it has undoubtedly helped me in the past, I'm not sure
it is continuing to do so.. This morning I did not use the spray and still
managed to walk to the shop.
27th March 2012 IMPORTANT
Intriguingly, I received a letter from MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency) this morning. They are requesting that I agree
to be interviewed in connection with an investigation into Esperanza. At
this stage, there is no suggestion of wrong-doing, but they have visited
the Esperanza office in Scotland and obtained my details from their files.
I have agreed to be interviewed, so I shall keep you informed as soon as I know more.
29th April 2012
I have had an email from Gerry at Esperanza assuring me that all was well.
Apparently, MHRA, I have heard nothing further from, frequently make life
difficult for any homeopathic treatments. I am surprised, as my GP while
not supporting alternative therapies, does not decry them. But then, my GP
is cool!
15th July 2012
This will be my final entry in my blog. I am no longer using the Esperanza
Neuropeptides mainly because of the prohibitive cost, but also, partly,
because of the doubt cast in my previous entries. I have had no further
contact from MRHA. I am researching/trialling Sildenafil,
so maybe scope for a new blog!
14th Aug 2012
OK, so maybe the last entry wasn't the final entry. Next week, I am
expecting a visit from MHRA, I assume to interview me regarding Esperanza
Neurioetides. As I understand it, they are looking at taking criminal
proceedings, I assume, for fraud, because, in their opinion, Esperanza
Neuropeptide has no active ingredients in it.
21st Aug 2012
I have, today, had a visit from a Mr Goth of the MHRA. They are pursuing their investigation into Esperanza Neuropeptides. Despite
the claims that this is a homeopathic treatment, they view it as an unlicensed medicine, and view the sale of it as illegal. I am
just one of a number of recipients they wish to interview as they build their case. MHRA have had it tested and these tests show
it to contain no pharmaceutical ingredients or any trace of Cobra venom.
20th Jan 2014
I have had the occasional letter from MHRA assuring me the investigation is still underway, but without any real information to report.
DISCLAIMER: The content of this site does not represent a qualified medical opinion. It is simply the information amassed by an MS patient while trying to understand this condition. You should seek the advice of your medical practitioner or neurologist before trying any treatment you may read about on this site. I am not a doctor, I am a patient.
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